MyloBishop/reverse_summarization_dataset · Datasets at Hugging Face

Summarize the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Continuing Care for Recovering Families Act''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF COBRA COVERAGE PERIOD FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS. (a) ERISA Amendment.--Section 605 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1165) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(c) Temporary Extension of COBRA Election and Coverage Period for Victims of Terrorist Attacks.-- ``(1) In general.--In the case of an eligible individual and notwithstanding subsection (a), such individual may elect continuation coverage under this part during the 120-day period that begins on the later of-- ``(A) the date of enactment of the Continuing Care for Recovering Families Act; or ``(B) the date on which the individual experiences the terrorism-related loss of coverage. ``(2) Commencement of coverage; no reach-back.--Any continuation coverage elected by an eligible individual under paragraph (1) shall commence at the beginning of the 120-day election period described in such paragraph and shall not include any period prior to such 120-day election period. In no event shall the maximum period required under section 602(2)(A) be less than the period during which the individual is an eligible individual. ``(3) Preexisting conditions.--With respect to an individual who elects continuation coverage pursuant to paragraph (1), the period-- ``(A) beginning on the date of the terrorism- related loss of coverage, and ``(B) ending on the first day of the 120-day election period described in paragraph (1), shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the 63-day periods referred to in section 701(c)(2), section 2701(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, and section 9801(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. ``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection: ``(A) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' means an individual who-- ``(i)(I) is the child of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001; or ``(II) was the spouse of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, on September 11, 2001; ``(ii) has experienced a terrorism-related loss of coverage; and ``(iii) is not otherwise entitled to benefits, or enrolled, under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled under part B of such title. ``(B) Terrorism-related loss of coverage.--The term `terrorism-related loss of coverage' means, with respect to an eligible individual, the loss of health benefits coverage associated with the death, injury, or loss of employment of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.''. (b) PHSA Amendment.--Section 2205 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300bb-5) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(c) Temporary Extension of COBRA Election and Coverage Period for Victims of Terrorist Attacks.-- ``(1) In general.--In the case of an eligible individual and notwithstanding subsection (a), such individual may elect continuation coverage under this title during the 120-day period that begins on the later of-- ``(A) the date of enactment of the Continuing Care for Recovering Families Act; or ``(B) the date on which the individual experiences the terrorism-related loss of coverage. ``(2) Commencement of coverage; no reach-back.--Any continuation coverage elected by an eligible individual under paragraph (1) shall commence at the beginning of the 120-day election period described in such paragraph and shall not include any period prior to such 120-day election period. In no event shall the maximum period required under section 2202(2)(A) be less than the period during which the individual is an eligible individual. ``(3) Preexisting conditions.--With respect to an individual who elects continuation coverage pursuant to paragraph (1), the period-- ``(A) beginning on the date of the terrorism- related loss of coverage, and ``(B) ending on the first day of the 120-day election period described in paragraph (1), shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the 63-day periods referred to in section 2701(c)(2), section 701(c)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and section 9801(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. ``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection: ``(A) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' means an individual who-- ``(i)(I) is the child of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001; or ``(II) was the spouse of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, on September 11, 2001; ``(ii) has experienced a terrorism-related loss of coverage; and ``(iii) is not otherwise entitled to benefits, or enrolled, under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled under part B of such title. ``(B) Terrorism-related loss of coverage.--The term `terrorism-related loss of coverage' means, with respect to an eligible individual, the loss of health benefits coverage associated with the death, injury, or loss of employment of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.''. (c) IRC Amendments.--Paragraph (5) of section 4980B(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to election) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(D) Temporary extension of cobra election and coverage period for victims of terrorist attacks.-- ``(i) In general.--In the case of an eligible individual and notwithstanding paragraph (1), such individual may elect continuation coverage under this title during the 120-day period that begins on the later of-- ``(I) the date of enactment of the Continuing Care for Recovering Families Act; or ``(II) the date on which the individual experiences the terrorism- related loss of coverage. ``(ii) Commencement of coverage; no reach- back.--Any continuation coverage elected by an eligible individual under clause (i) shall commence at the beginning of the 120-day election period described in such clause and shall not include any period prior to such 120- day election period. In no event shall the maximum period required under paragraph (2)(B)(i) be less than the period during which the individual is an eligible individual. ``(iii) Preexisting conditions.--With respect to an individual who elects continuation coverage pursuant to clause (i), the period-- ``(I) beginning on the date of the terrorism-related loss of coverage, and ``(II) ending on the first day of the 120-day election period described in clause (i), shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the 63-day periods referred to in section 9801(c)(2), section 701(c)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and section 2701(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act. ``(iv) Definitions.--For purposes of this subparagraph: ``(I) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' means an individual who-- ``(aa)(AA) is the child of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001; or ``(BB) was the spouse of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, on September 11, 2001; ``(bb) has experienced a terrorism-related loss of coverage; and ``(cc) is not otherwise entitled to benefits, or enrolled, under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled under part B of such title. ``(II) Terrorism-related loss of coverage.--The term `terrorism-related loss of coverage' means, with respect to an eligible individual, the loss of health benefits coverage associated with the death, injury, or loss of employment of an individual described in section 405(c)(2) of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.''.

Continuing Care for Recovering Families Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to allow spouses and children of victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to purchase or continue to purchase health insurance coverage, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), if they elect to do so during a 120-day period beginning on the date when this Act is enacted or on the date when they lose their COBRA coverage, whichever is later. Requires such elected coverage to continue for such eligible individuals unless they are otherwise covered or are eligible under Medicare.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Medicaid State Long-Term Care Partnership Program Act of 2005''. SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF STATE LONG-TERM CARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In General.--Section 1917(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396p(b)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)(C)(i), by striking ``shall seek adjustment'' and inserting ``may seek adjustment''; (2) in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), by inserting ``or which has a State plan amendment that provides for a qualified State long- term care insurance partnership (as defined in clause (iii))'' after ``1993,''; (3) by adding at the end of paragraph (1)(C) the following new clauses: ``(iii) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `qualified State long-term care insurance partnership' means a State plan amendment under this title that provides for the disregard of any assets or resources in an amount equal to the insurance benefit payments that are made under a long-term care insurance policy (including a certificate issued under a group insurance contract), regardless of whether the policy was issued before the effective date of such plan amendment, if the following requirements are met: ``(I) The policy covers an insured who, when coverage first became effective under the policy, was a resident of such State or of another State that had such a partnership in effect or that had in effect a State plan amendment described in clause (ii) that was approved as of May 19, 1993. ``(II) The policy meets the requirements of State law in the State in which it is issued. ``(III) The policy is a qualified long-term care insurance policy (as defined in section 7702B(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). ``(IV) Such disregard shall not apply if the policy was originally issued to the insured when the insured resided in another State, unless that other State continues to have a qualified State long-term care insurance partnership in effect. ``(V) If the policy does not provide some level of inflation protection, the insured was offered, before the policy was sold, a long-term care insurance policy that provides some level of inflation protection. ``(VI) The State plan amendment provides for agent training for the sale of long-term care insurance policies under the partnership. ``(VII) The issuer of the policy provides regular reports to the Secretary that include, in accordance with regulations of the Secretary (promulgated after consultation with the States), notification regarding when all benefits provided under the policy have been paid and the amount of such benefits paid, when the policy otherwise terminates, and such other information as the Secretary determines may be appropriate to the administration of such partnerships. ``(VIII) The State does not impose any requirement affecting the terms or benefits of such a policy unless the State imposes such requirement on long-term care insurance policies without regard to whether the policy is covered under the partnership or is offered in connection with such a partnership. In the case of a long-term care insurance policy which is exchanged for another such policy, subclause (I) shall be applied based on the coverage of the first such policy that was exchanged. ``(iv) The Secretary-- ``(I) as appropriate, shall provide copies of the reports described in clause (iii)(VII) to the State involved; and ``(II) shall promote the education of consumers regarding qualified State long-term care insurance partnerships.''; and (4) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``(and shall include, in the case of an individual to whom paragraph (1)(C)(i) applies)''. (b) Application of Certain Requirements to Existing Partnership Programs.--Subparagraph (C) of such section, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended-- (1) in clause (ii), by inserting ``(subject to clause (v))'' after ``under a State plan of a State which''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new clause: ``(v) Clause (ii) shall continue to apply to a State plan amendment approved as of May 19, 1993, only if the State plan amendment-- ``(I) is modified by not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act to meet the requirements of subclauses (III) and (V) of clause (iii); and ``(II) is modified by not later than 1 year after such date of enactment to meet the requirement of clause (iii)(VI).''.

Medicaid State Long-Term Care Partnership Program Act of 2005 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) with respect to the requirement that a state seek adjustment or recovery of any medical assistance correctly paid on behalf of an individual under the state plan in the case of an individual who has received (or is entitled to receive) benefits under a long-term care insurance policy in connection with which assets or resources are disregarded in specified manner. Converts to a discretionary option the current requirement that the state seek adjustment or recovery from an individual's estate on account of medical assistance paid on the individual's behalf for nursing facility and other long-term care services. Exempts from application of such authority the case of an individual who received medical assistance under a state plan of a state which has a state plan amendment that provides for a qualified state long-term care insurance partnership. Defines "qualified state long-term care insurance partnership" to mean a state plan amendment under title XIX that provides for the disregard of any assets or resources in an amount equal to the insurance benefit payments that are made under a long-term care insurance policy, regardless of whether the policy was issued before the effective date of such plan amendment, if specified requirements are met. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promote the education of consumers regarding qualified state long-term care insurance partnerships.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2009''. SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Sec. 3. Findings. Sec. 4. Designation of health empowerment zones. Sec. 5. Assistance to those seeking designation. Sec. 6. Benefits of designation. Sec. 7. Definition. Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations. SEC. 3. FINDINGS. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following: (1) Numerous studies and reports, including the National Healthcare Disparities Report and Unequal Treatment, the 2002 Institute of Medicine Report, document the extensiveness to which health disparities exist across the country. (2) These studies have found that, on average, racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately afflicted with chronic and acute conditions--such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension--and suffer worse health outcomes, worse health status, and higher mortality rates than their White counterparts. (3) Several recent studies also show that health disparities are a function of not only access to health care, but also the social determinants of health--including the environment, the physical structure of communities, nutrition and food options, educational attainment, employment, race, ethnicity, geography, and language preference--that directly and indirectly affect the health, health care, and wellness of individuals and communities. (4) Integrally involving and fully supporting the communities most affected by health inequities in the assessment, planning, launch, and evaluation of health disparity elimination efforts is among the leading recommendations made to adequately address and ultimately reduce health disparities. (5) Recommendations also include supporting the efforts of community stakeholders from a broad cross section--including, but not limited to local businesses, local departments of commerce, education, labor, urban planning, and transportation, and community-based and other nonprofit organizations--to find areas of common ground around health disparity elimination and collaborate to improve the overall health and wellness of a community and its residents. SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF HEALTH EMPOWERMENT ZONES. (a) In General.--At the request of an eligible community partnership, the Secretary may designate an eligible area as a health empowerment zone. (b) Eligibility Criteria.-- (1) Eligible community partnership.--A community partnership is eligible to submit a request under this section if the partnership-- (A) demonstrates widespread public support from key individuals and entities in the eligible area, including State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community and industry leaders, for designation of the eligible area as a health empowerment zone; and (B) includes representatives of-- (i) a broad cross section of stakeholders and residents from communities in the eligible area experiencing disproportionate disparities in health status and health care; and (ii) organizations, facilities, and institutions that have a history of working within and serving such communities. (2) Eligible area.--An area is eligible to be designated as a health empowerment zone under this section if one or more communities in the area experience disproportionate disparities in health status and health care. In determining whether a community experiences such disparities, the Secretary shall consider the data collected by the Department of Health and Human Services focusing on the following areas: (A) Access to high-quality health services. (B) Arthritis, osteoporosis, and chronic back conditions. (C) Cancer. (D) Chronic kidney disease. (E) Diabetes. (F) Injury and violence prevention. (G) Maternal, infant, and child health. (H) Medical product safety. (I) Mental health and mental disorders. (J) Nutrition and overweight. (K) Disability and secondary conditions. (L) Educational and community-based health programs. (M) Environmental health. (N) Family planning. (O) Food safety. (P) Health communication. (Q) Health disease and stroke. (R) HIV/AIDS. (S) Immunization and infectious diseases. (T) Occupational safety and health. (U) Oral health. (V) Physical activity and fitness. (W) Public health infrastructure. (X) Respiratory diseases. (Y) Sexually transmitted diseases. (Z) Substance abuse. (AA) Tobacco use. (BB) Vision and hearing. (c) Procedure.-- (1) Request.--A request under subsection (a) shall-- (A) describe the bounds of the area to be designated as a health empowerment zone and the process used to select those bounds; (B) demonstrate that the partnership submitting the request is an eligible community partnership described in subsection (b)(1); (C) demonstrate that the area is an eligible area described in subsection (b)(2); (D) include a comprehensive assessment of disparities in health status and health care experience by one or more communities in the area; (E) set forth-- (i) a vision and a set of values for the area; and (ii) a comprehensive and holistic set of goals to be achieved in the area through designation as a health empowerment zone; and (F) include a strategic plan for achieving the goals described in subparagraph (E)(ii). (2) Approval.--Not later than 60 days after the receipt of a request for designation of an area as a health empowerment zone under this section, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the request. (d) Minimum Number.--The Secretary-- (1) shall designate not more than 110 health empowerment zones under this section; and (2) shall designate at least one health empowerment zone in each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and each territory or possession of the United States. SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO THOSE SEEKING DESIGNATION. At the request of any organization or entity seeking to submit a request under section 4(a), the Secretary shall provide technical assistance, and may award a grant, to assist such organization or entity-- (1) to form an eligible community partnership described in subsection (b)(1); (2) to complete a health assessment, including an assessment of health disparities under subsection (c)(1)(D); or (3) to prepare and submit a request, including a strategic plan, in accordance with section 4. SEC. 6. BENEFITS OF DESIGNATION. (a) Priority.--In awarding any competitive grant, a Federal official shall give priority to any applicant that-- (1) meets the eligibility criteria for the grant; (2) proposes to use the grant for activities in a health empowerment zone; and (3) demonstrates that such activities will directly and significantly further the goals of the strategic plan approved for such zone under section 4. (b) Grants for Initial Implementation of Strategic Plan.-- (1) In general.--Upon designating an eligible area as a health empowerment zone at the request of an eligible community partnership, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, make a grant to the community partnership for implementation of the strategic plan for such zone. (2) Grant period.--A grant under paragraph (1) for a health empowerment zone shall be for a period of 2 years and may be renewed, except that the total period of grants under paragraph (1) for such zone may not exceed 10 years. (3) Limitation.--In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall not give less priority to an applicant or reduce the amount of a grant because the Secretary rendered technical assistance or made a grant to the same applicant under section 5. (4) Reporting.--The Secretary shall require each recipient of a grant under this subsection to report to the Secretary not less than every 6 months on the progress in implementing the strategic plan for the health empowerment zone. SEC. 7. DEFINITION. In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Director of the Office of Minority Health, and in cooperation with the Director of the Office of Community Services and the Director of the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities. SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. To carry out this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), at the request of a broad-based community partnership, to designate a community that experiences disproportionate disparities in health status and health care as a health empowerment zone. Requires federal officials to give priority in awarding competitive grants to grants used in or benefiting a health empowerment zone. Directs the Secretary to provide: (1) technical assistance (or grants) to entities seeking to form a community partnership or obtain a health empowerment zone designation for a community; and (2) grants to community partnerships for implementation of the strategic plan for a health empowerment zone.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Center for Rare Disease Research Act of 1993''. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER FOR RARE DISEASE RESEARCH. Part E of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subpart: ``Subpart 4--Center for Rare Disease Research ``SEC. 485C. ESTABLISHMENT. ``(a) In General.--There shall be established in the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health a Center for Rare Disease Research (hereafter referred to in this section as the `Center'). The Director of the National Institutes of Health shall appoint an individual with expertise in rare diseases to serve as the Director of the Center (hereafter referred to in this section as the `Director'). ``(b) Purpose.--The general purpose of the Center is to promote and coordinate the conduct of research on rare diseases and to establish and manage a rare disease research clinical database. In carrying out the purpose of the Center, the Director shall-- ``(1) conduct and support research and research training; ``(2) award grants and contracts; ``(3) identify projects of research on rare diseases that should be conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health; ``(4) disseminate information among the institutes and the public on rare diseases; ``(5) develop and maintain a central database on current clinical research projects for rare diseases; ``(6) encourage the participation of a diversity of individuals in the conduct of rare disease research; and ``(7) coordinate the conduct of rare disease research among all institutes and other Federal agencies. ``(c) Strategic Research Plan.--The Director shall develop a comprehensive plan for the conduct and support of research on rare diseases. The plan shall-- ``(1) identify current research activities conducted or supported by the Federal Government and private entities, opportunities and needs for additional research and priorities for such research; ``(2) make recommendations for the improved coordination of research conducted by the Federal Government among its agencies and private entities; ``(3) give emphasis to areas with respect to which little research has been conducted; ``(4) examine the extent of research on gene therapy and genetic transfers and develop a plan to enhance the extent of research on gene therapy, particularly for rare diseases; ``(5) determine the need for registries of research subjects and epidemiological studies of rare disease populations; ``(6) identify the obstacles to the development of treatments for rare diseases; and ``(7) examine training and education requirements for physicians treating rare diseases. ``(d) Coordinating Committee.-- ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Coordinating Committee on Rare Disease Research (hereafter referred to as the `Coordinating Committee') to be composed of-- ``(A) the Directors of the agencies and institutes of the National Institutes of Health; ``(B) the Director of the Center who shall serve as the chairperson of the Coordinating Committee; ``(C) the Administrator of the Veterans Administration; ``(D) the Secretary of Defense; ``(E) the Administrator of the Food and Drug Administration; ``(F) the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration; and ``(G) the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. ``(2) Duties.--The Coordinating Committee shall-- ``(A) identify needs for research on rare diseases; ``(B) estimate the funds needed during each fiscal year to adequately fund research on rare diseases; ``(C) encourage the agencies and Institutes of the National Institutes of Health to support and conduct research on rare diseases; ``(D) coordinate research on rare diseases in the Federal Government in an effort to avoid duplication and enhance research in areas traditionally not funded; ``(E) ensure that a diversity of individuals are able to participate as research subjects in projects conducting research on rare diseases; and ``(F) biennially prepare and submit to the Secretary and the Congress a report concerning the activities of the Coordinating Committee. ``(e) National Advisory Board on Rare Disease Research.-- ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish an advisory board to be known as the Advisory Board on Rare Disease Research (hereafter referred to in this section as the `Board'). ``(2) Duties.--The Board shall review and assess Federal research needs, priorities, activities, funding and findings regarding rare diseases and shall advise the Director on the development and implementation of the research plan required under subsection (c). ``(3) Composition.--The Board shall be composed of 15 individuals to be appointed by the Director of the National Institutes of Health, of which eight individuals shall be representatives of health and scientific disciplines with respect to rare diseases and seven individuals shall be representing the interest of individuals with rare diseases. Such individuals shall not be officers or employees of the Federal Government. ``(4) Ex officio members.--The members of the Coordinating Committee shall serve as ex officio members of the Board. ``(5) Chairperson.--The members of the Board shall annually select an individual to serve as the chairperson of the Board. ``(f) National Rare Disease Clinical and Informational Database.-- ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a database that-- ``(A) identifies the extent, location, and sponsor of current research conducted on rare diseases; ``(B) connects researchers of rare diseases with patients needed as subjects for clinical trials; ``(C) provides physicians and individuals with information concerning the location and sponsors of clinical trials on rare diseases; and ``(D) connects patients with support groups in rare diseases. ``(2) Availability.--The Director shall ensure that information in the database is available to the general public. ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994 through 1996. ``(h) Definition.--As used in this section, the term `rare disease' means any disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States.''.

Center for Rare Disease Research Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish in the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health a Center for Rare Disease Research in order to promote and coordinate the conduct of research on rare diseases and to establish and maintain a rare disease clinical data base. Authorizes appropriations.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protection Against Wrongful Voter Purges Act''. SEC. 2. NOTICE AND REVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUALS FROM OFFICIAL LIST OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS BY REASON OTHER THAN CHANGE OF RESIDENCE. (a) In General.--Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-6) is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and (2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new subsection: ``(j) Notice and Review Requirements For Removal of Individuals From List of Eligible Voters by Reason Other Than Change of Residence.-- ``(1) Minimum notice prior to removal.-- ``(A) In general.--In addition to any other requirements applicable under this section, a State may not remove a registrant from the official list of eligible voters for an election for Federal office by reason other than death or a change of residence unless the State provides the registrant with a notice of removal meeting the requirements of subparagraph (B) not later than 30 days before the date of the election. ``(B) Requirements for notice.--The notice required under this subparagraph shall be sent by forwardable mail, and shall include the following: ``(i) A statement that the State intends to remove the registrant from the official list of eligible voters for elections for Federal office. ``(ii) A description of the reasons for removal, including (in the case of an individual proposed to be removed by reason of criminal conviction) sufficient identifying information on the criminal conviction alleged to be the basis for removal to enable the registrant to determine whether the registrant was convicted of the offense cited in the notice. ``(iii) A statement that the registrant may obtain a review of the removal from an appropriate State election official in accordance with paragraph (2). ``(iv) A postage pre-paid and pre-addressed envelope and a clear list of contact information for the appropriate State election official that includes a mailing address, telephone number, and fax number. ``(2) Review of decision to remove.-- ``(A) In general.--A registrant who receives a notice of removal under paragraph (1) may submit a written request to a designated State election official to withdraw the notice and retain the registrant on the official list of eligible voters, and may include in the request such information and evidence as the registrant considers appropriate to show that the registrant is not subject to removal from the list under State law, including information and evidence showing that the registrant was not convicted of the criminal offense cited in the notice or that the period of ineligibility imposed as the result of a conviction of a criminal offense has expired (in the case of an individual proposed to be removed by reason of criminal conviction). ``(B) Response by state.--Not later than 10 days after receiving a request from a registrant under subparagraph (A), the State shall review the information and evidence included and accept or reject the request, and shall notify the registrant in writing of its decision. ``(3) Special rules for removal by reason of death of registrant.--In the case of an individual proposed to be removed by reason of death-- ``(A) the notice of removal under paragraph (1) shall be addressed to the occupant of the most recent address of the registrant in the records of the appropriate State election official; ``(B) the notice shall include a statement that the occupant should notify the appropriate State election official immediately if the notice of the registrant's death is in error; ``(C) if the notice of removal was issued in error, the registrant may submit a written request under paragraph (2) to withdraw the notice and retain the registrant on the official list of eligible voters; and ``(D) if the registrant submits such a written request, the State shall notify the registrant of the decision made under paragraph (2)(B) with respect to the request. ``(4) Opportunity to cast provisional ballot.--Any registrant who receives a notice of removal under paragraph (1) and believes that the removal decision was made in error shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot in an election for Federal office in accordance with section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, and the vote cast by such a ballot shall be counted in the election (in accordance with the standards and procedures of such section) if it is determined that the removal decision was made in error. ``(5) No expansion of grounds for removal.--Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require or authorize the establishment of any grounds for the removal of a registrant from the official list of eligible voters for an election for Federal office which were not in effect prior to the enactment of this subsection.''. (b) Adoption of Voluntary Guidance Regarding Audits of Computerized List.--Section 311 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15501) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(d) Voluntary Guidance Regarding Audits of Computerized List.-- Not later than October 1, 2008, the Commission shall adopt voluntary guidance with respect to audits of the Statewide computerized voter registration list required to be maintained under section 303 so that each State will be able to ensure that the list reflects an accurate and complete count of all individuals who are validly registered to vote in elections for Federal office in the State and is secure against unauthorized uses.''. (c) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) National voter registration act of 1993.--Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg- 6) is amended-- (A) in subsection (a)(3)(B), by striking ``State law,'' and inserting ``State law and consistent with the requirements of subsection (j),''; (B) in subsection (a)(4)(A), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting and ``, consistent with the requirements of subsection (j);''; (C) in the heading for subsection (d), by inserting after ``Rolls'' the following: ``by Reason of Change of Residence''; and (D) in subsection (i)(2), by inserting after ``subsection (d)(2)'' the following: ``and all persons to whom notices described in subsection (j)''. (2) Help america vote act of 2002.--Section 303(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(a)) is amended-- (A) in paragraph (2)(A)(i), by striking ``and (e)'' and inserting ``(e), and (j)''; and (B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``Safeguards'' and inserting ``In addition to meeting the applicable notice and review requirements of section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, safeguards''. (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or any amendment made by this section may be construed-- (1) to affect the right of any individual to cast a provisional ballot under section 302(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002; or (2) to prohibit any State from providing individuals threatened with removal from the official list of eligible voters in the State with greater protections than those required under section 8(j) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (as added by subsection (a)). (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office in November 2008 and each succeeding election for Federal office. SEC. 3. CONTENTS AND TREATMENT OF VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS. (a) Opportunity To Correct Incomplete Forms.--Section 303(b)(4)(B) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(b)(4)(B)) is amended by striking ``to answer the question included on the mail voter registration form pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i)'' and inserting ``to provide any information required on any voter registration form used by the State under section 6 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993''. (b) Completed National Form Deemed Complete For All States.-- Section 303(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15483(b)) is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph: ``(5) Completed national form deemed complete for all states.-- ``(A) Treatment of completed form.--If an applicant for voter registration in a State submits a voter registration application form which contains all of the information required to be provided under the mail voter registration form developed by the Commission under section 9(a)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (whether the form submitted by the applicant is the form developed by the Commission or another form developed and used by the State under section 6(a) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993), the State may not refuse to register the applicant as a voter on the ground that the applicant failed to complete the form. ``(B) Presumption in favor of registration.--In determining whether applicants meet the requirements for registering to vote in elections for Federal office in a State, State election officials shall act under the presumption that applicants should be registered.''. SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF UPDATED INFORMATION FOR REGISTERED VOTERS. (a) Requiring States To Make Updated Information Available to Registered Voters.--Section 303(a)(1) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(a)(1)) is amended-- (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraphs: ``(B) Availability of updated version of list online and at polling places.-- ``(i) In general.--The appropriate State or local election official shall ensure that, at each polling place for an election for Federal office and on a public website of the election official of each registrar's jurisdiction, a list is available which shows-- ``(I) all individuals registered to vote in that election at all polling places located in the registrar's jurisdiction, other than any individual who requests that the appropriate official exclude the individual's name from the list; and ``(II) for each such individual, the polling place at which the individual is registered. ``(ii) Exclusion of addresses.--The list required to be made available under clause (i) may not contain the address of any individual. ``(iii) Timing.--The appropriate election official shall make the list required to be made available under clause (i)-- ``(I) available not later than 72 hours after the applicable deadline under State law for registering to vote in elections for Federal office; or ``(II) in the case of a same-day registration State, available on a weekly basis during the 30-day period which ends on the date of the election. ``(iv) Permitting individuals to opt out of inclusion in publicly-posted list.--If an individual requests that the appropriate election official exclude the individual's name from the publicly posted list under this subparagraph-- ``(I) the official shall exclude information relating to the individual from the publicly-posted list; and ``(II) the official shall notify the individual in a private and confidential manner of the polling place to which the individual is assigned in accordance with the timetable provided for making the list available under clause (iii). ``(v) Definitions.--In this subparagraph-- ``(I) the term `registrar's jurisdiction' has the meaning given such term in section 8(j) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-6(j)); and ``(II) the term `same-day registration State' means a State in which, under law that is in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of the Protection Against Wrongful Voter Purges Act, all voters in the State may register to vote at the polling place at the time of voting in a general election for Federal office. ``(C) Notification of changes in assigned polling place.--If an election official assigns an individual to a polling place which is different than the polling place at which the individual was registered to vote under the most recently available version of the list required to be made available under subparagraph (B)(i), the official shall notify the individual of the new polling place immediately upon making the assignment.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 303(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15481(a)(1)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (C)''; and (2) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by subsection (a), by striking ``requirement under subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``requirements under subparagraphs (A) and (B)''. SEC. 5. NONAPPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN STATES. This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not apply to a State in which, under a State law in effect continuously on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, there is no voter registration requirement for individuals in the State with respect to elections for Federal office. SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 303(d)(2) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(d)(2)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Each State'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subparagraph (C), each State''; (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``The provisions'' and inserting ``Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the provisions''; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(C) Delayed effective date for certain provisions.--To the extent that any provision of subsection (b) was amended by the Protection Against Wrongful Voter Purges Act, such provision shall apply with respect to the next election for Federal office held after November 2008 and each succeeding election for Federal office.''.

Protection Against Wrongful Voter Purges Act - Amends the National Voter Registration Act to establish notice and review requirements for removal of individuals from a list of eligible voters by reason other than death or a change of residence. Requires the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to adopt voluntary guidance with respect to audits of the statewide computerized voter registration list so that each state will be able to ensure that the list: (1) reflects an accurate and complete count of all individuals validly registered to vote in federal elections; and (2) is secure against unauthorized uses. Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state from refusing to register any applicant who has completed the national voter registration application form. Requires the appropriate state or local election official to ensure that, at each polling place for a federal election and on a public website of the election official of each registrar's jurisdiction, a list is available which shows: (1) all individuals registered to vote in that election at all polling places located in the registrar's jurisdiction; and (2) for each such individual, the polling place at which the individual is registered. Permits an individual to request exclusion from the list. Prohibits such list from containing an individual's address. Provides that this Act shall not apply to a state in which there is no voter registration requirement for individuals in the state with respect to federal elections.

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Provide a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT TO ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. (a) In General.--Subparagraph (B) of section 170(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: ``(B) Qualified research or education contribution.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term `qualified research or education contribution' means a charitable contribution by a corporation of tangible personal property (including computer software), but only if-- ``(i) the contribution is to-- ``(I) an educational organization described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), ``(II) a governmental unit described in subsection (c)(1), or ``(III) an organization described in section 41(e)(6)(B), ``(ii) the contribution is made not later than 3 years after the date the taxpayer acquired the property (or in the case of property constructed by the taxpayer, the date the construction of the property is substantially completed), ``(iii) the property is scientific equipment or apparatus substantially all of the use of which by the donee is for-- ``(I) research or experimentation (within the meaning of section 174), or for research training, in the United States in physical or biological sciences, or ``(II) in the case of an organization described in clause (i) (I) or (II), use within the United States for educational purposes related to the purpose or function of the organization, ``(iv) the original use of the property began with the taxpayer (or in the case of property constructed by the taxpayer, with the donee), ``(v) the property is not transferred by the donee in exchange for money, other property, or services, and ``(vi) the taxpayer receives from the donee a written statement representing that its use and disposition of the property will be in accordance with the provisions of clauses (iv) and (v).'' (b) Donations to Charity for Refurbishing.--Section 170(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) Donations to charity for refurbishing.--For purposes of this paragraph, a charitable contribution by a corporation shall be treated as a qualified research or education contribution if-- ``(i) such contribution is a contribution of property described in subparagraph (B)(iii) to an organization described in section 501(c)(3) and exempt from taxation under section 501(a), ``(ii) such organization repairs and refurbishes the property and donates the property to an organization described in subparagraph (B)(i), and ``(iii) the taxpayer receives from the organization to whom the taxpayer contributed the property a written statement representing that its use of the property (and any use by the organization to which it donates the property) meets the requirements of this paragraph.'' (c) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Paragraph (4)(A) of section 170(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``qualified research contribution'' each place it appears and inserting ``qualified research or education contribution''. (2) The heading for section 170(e)(4) of such Code is amended by inserting ``or education'' after ``research''. (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the rules concerning a "qualified research contribution," for purposes of the deduction for charitable contributions. Redefine such term as a "qualified research or education contribution."

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Summarize the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Keep America Healthy Act of 2005''. SEC. 2. OPTIONAL MEDICAID COVERAGE OF UNINSURED, POOR ADULTS. (a) Availability of Medicaid Coverage for Uninsured, Poor Adults.-- (1) Addition of optional coverage group.--Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)) is amended-- (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subclause (XVII); (B) by striking the semicolon at the end of subclause (XVIII) and inserting ``, or''; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subclause: ``(XIX) described in subsection (cc);''. (2) Eligibility standards for new eligibility group.-- Section 1902 of such Act is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(cc) Coverage of Uninsured, Poor Adults.--For purposes of subsection (a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIX), individuals described in this subsection are individuals who meet the following requirements: ``(1) Age.--The individual is at least 21 years of age but is under 65 years of age. ``(2) Income.--The income of the individual's family does not exceed a percentage (not to exceed 200 percent) specified by the State of the poverty line (as defined in section 2110(c)(5)) applicable to a family of the size involved and, at the option of a State, the individual's resources do not exceed such resource level as the State may establish, so long as such resource level is not more restrictive than the resources an individual may have and obtain benefits under the supplemental security income program under title XVI.''. (b) Provision of Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance as Incentive for States to Increase Coverage.-- (1) Application of enhanced federal medical assistance percentage.--Section 1905(b)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)(4)) is amended by inserting ``or section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIX)'' after ``section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XVIII)''. (2) Increase in medicaid payment limit for territories to accommodate expanded coverage for residents of puerto rico, the virgin islands, guam, american samoa, and the northern mariana islands.--Section 1108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended-- (A) in subsection (f), by striking ``subsection (g)'' and inserting ``subsections (g) and (h)''; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(h) Increase in Medicaid Payment Limit to Accommodate Expanded Coverage Under the Keep America Healthy Act.-- ``(1) Fiscal year 2006 and thereafter.--With respect to fiscal year 2006 and each succeeding fiscal year, if Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa provides for coverage of individuals under section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIX) in a fiscal year, the amounts otherwise determined for the respective territory under subsections (f) and (g) for such fiscal year shall be increased by a percentage (estimated by the Secretary) equal to 120 percent of the State average Keep America Healthy percentage, estimated by the Secretary under paragraph (2) for the fiscal year involved. ``(2) Annual estimation of state average keep america healthy percentage.--For each such fiscal year the Secretary shall estimate a State average Keep America Healthy percentage equal to (A) the total Federal payments under title XIX for the fiscal year for the 50 States and the District of Columbia that are attributable to individuals made eligible for benefits under section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIX), divided by (B) the total Federal payments under such title the fiscal year for such States and District.''. (c) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--(1) Section 1903(f)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(f)(4)) is amended by inserting ``1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIX),'' after ``1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XVIII),''. (2) Section 1905(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended, in the matter before paragraph (1)-- (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (xii); (B) by adding ``or'' at the end of clause (xiii); and (C) by inserting after clause (xiii) the following new clause: ``(xiv) individuals described in section 1902(cc),''. (3) Section 1905(u)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(u)(4)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``for individuals not covered under section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIX)''. (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2005.

Keep America Healthy Act of 2005 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to make a new optional Medicaid eligibility group for individuals between ages 21 and 65 whose family income does not exceed a State-specified percentage up to 200 percent of the applicable poverty line. Authorizes the State also to require the individual's resources not to exceed whatever level the State may establish, so long as it is not more restrictive than the requirements of SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income). Provides for the application to such new group of the enhanced Federal medical assistance percentage dtermined under SSA title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP). Amends SSA title XI to provide for an increase in the Medicaid payment limit for territories to accommodate expanded coverage for residents of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Create a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Accelerating Innovation in Medicine Act of 2015'' or the ``AIM Act of 2015''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds as follows: (1) Innovation in health care technology is necessary to improve health outcomes and depends in part on the ability of medical technology developers, including scientists, physicians, engineers, and patient advocates, to introduce medical devices into the marketplace. (2) Even after meeting requirements for marketing set by the Food and Drug Administration, there may be uncertainties about patient access through government health care programs, causing significant delays in bringing innovative medical devices to patients or causing medical technology developers to abandon potential health care solutions. (3) Patients covered by the Medicare program are often willing to enter into self-pay arrangements with physicians and other providers to purchase items or services, yet under current laws restricting such freedom of choice, the self-pay arrangements may be associated with regulatory impediments or a risk of civil penalties. (4) Enabling health care technology manufacturers to designate products to be directly available to self-pay patients and excluded from government health program payments at an early stage of product development will promote innovation and result in increased patient access to desired products and services, save taxpayer dollars, and reduce administrative burdens on physicians and the government. (5) Enabling health care technology manufacturers to designate their devices as available to self-pay patients would permit a window of time during which additional data may be obtained on outcomes, comparative clinical effectiveness or other data elements for possible future coverage by the Medicare program. SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MANUFACTURER OPT-OUT PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL DEVICES. (a) In General.--Section 1862 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y) is amended adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(p) Establishment of Accelerating Innovation in Medicine (AIM) List of Medical Devices Voluntarily Excluded From Coverage.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall develop and maintain a listing (in this section referred to as the `AIM list') of medical devices for which, because of their inclusion in such listing, no insurance benefit and no payment may be made for such a device (or for any items or services related to furnishing such device) under this title either directly or on a capitated basis such that no claim for payment may be submitted under this title for such a device (or for any items or services related to furnishing such device) and an individual who consents to receive such a device is responsible for payment for the device (and for any items and services related to furnishing such device). ``(2) Procedures for inclusion in aim list.-- ``(A) Requirement for written consent of manufacturer.--No medical device may be included in the AIM list without the written consent of the manufacturer of the device. ``(B) Submission process.--A manufacturer seeking to have a medical device included in the AIM list shall submit to the Secretary a request for inclusion of the device in the AIM list. In the case of such a device for which-- ``(i) there is a request for approval or clearance for marketing and sale of the device by the Food and Drug Administration pursuant to authority granted by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), including pursuant to section 510(k) or 515(c) of such Act (21 U.S.C. 360(k), 360e(c)), the request for inclusion of the device in the AIM list may not be submitted earlier than the date of the request for such approval or clearance and no later than the first business day of the month beginning at least 30 days after the date of such approval or clearance; or ``(ii) the device is exempt from such approval and clearance requirements, the request may be submitted at a time that is not later than the first business day of the month beginning at least 30 days after the date of the first sale of the device by its manufacturer. ``(3) Listing periods; removal from list.-- ``(A) 3-year listing periods.--A medical device included in the AIM list shall be initially listed for a period of 3 years and shall remain so listed for subsequent 3-year periods subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C). ``(B) Removal at request of manufacturer.--At any time a device of a manufacturer included in the AIM list shall be removed from the AIM list upon the written request of the manufacturer. Subject to subparagraph (C), such a device of a manufacturer may not be removed from the AIM list except upon the written request of the manufacturer. ``(C) Provision of data on clinical studies as a condition for continued listing.--As a condition for the continued inclusion of the device of a manufacturer in the AIM list for a subsequent 3-year listing period under subparagraph (A), the manufacturer shall provide the Secretary with published or publicly available data on clinical studies completed for the device at the end of the previous 3-year listing period. If the Secretary determines that a manufacturer of a device has materially failed to provide such data for the device, the Secretary may remove the device from the AIM list or not renew the listing for the device or both. ``(4) Medical device defined.--In this subsection, the term `medical device' has the meaning given the term `device' in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(h)). ``(5) Posting of listed devices on website.--The Secretary shall post on a public website of the Department of Health and Human Services or other publicly accessible manner a list of the medical devices included in the AIM list and shall provide for updating the website on a real-time basis (but no less frequently than monthly) to reflect changes in the medical devices in the AIM list. ``(6) Regulations not required.--Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as requiring the Secretary to promulgate regulations to carry out this subsection. ``(7) Requirement for informed consent in order for provider to charge for device.--If a physician or other entity furnishes a medical device included in the AIM list to an individual under this title and failed to obtain, before furnishing the device, an appropriate informed consent under which the individual is informed of and accepts liability under paragraph (1) for payment for the device (and for items and services related to furnishing such device), the physician or other entity is deemed to have agreed not to impose any charge under this title for such device (and for items and services related to furnishing such device).''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1862(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (24), by striking ``or'' at the end; (2) in paragraph (25), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (25) the following new paragraph: ``(26) where such expenses are for a medical device included in the AIM list under section 1862(p) (or for items and services related to furnishing such device).''.

Accelerating Innovation in Medicine Act of 2015 or the AIM Act of 2015 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop an accelerating innovation in medicine (AIM) list of medical devices (or for any items or services related to furnishing such devices) for which, because of their inclusion on the list, insurance benefits and payments are prohibited under Medicare (either directly or on a capitated basis), with the result that no Medicare claim may be submitted and an individual who consents to receive such a device (or related items or services) is responsible for paying for it and any related items and services. Directs the Secretary to post on a public HHS website or other publicly accessible media an updated list of the medical devices on the AIM list.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education Affordability and Equity Act of 2005''. SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF DEDUCTION FOR INTEREST ON EDUCATION LOANS. (a) Repeal of Dollar Limitation; Increase in Phaseout Beginning Point.--Subsection (b) of section 221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to maximum deduction) is amended to read as follows: ``(b) Limitation Based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income.-- ``(1) In general.--The amount which would (but for this subsection) be allowable as a deduction under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount determined under paragraph (2). ``(2) Amount of reduction.--The amount determined under this paragraph is the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount which would be so taken into account as-- ``(A) the excess of-- ``(i) the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over ``(ii) $100,000 ($200,000 in the case of a joint return), bears to ``(B) $15,000 ($30,000 in the case of a joint return). ``(3) Modified adjusted gross income.--The term `modified adjusted gross income' means adjusted gross income determined-- ``(A) without regard to this section and sections 199, 222, 911, 931, and 933, and ``(B) after application of sections 86, 135, 137, 219, and 469.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 221(f)(1) of such Code is amended to read as follows: ``(1) In general.--In the case of a taxable year beginning after 2006, the $100,000 and $200,000 amounts in subsection (b) shall each be increased by an amount equal to-- ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting `calendar year 2005' for `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof.''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005. SEC. 3. DEDUCTION FOR QUALIFIED TUITION AND RELATED EXPENSES MADE PERMANENT. (a) Repeal of Termination.--Section 222 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking subsection (e). (b) Conforming Amendments.--Subparagraph (B) of section 222(b)(2) of such Code is amended-- (1) by striking ``2004 or 2005'' and inserting ``2004 or thereafter'', and (2) in the heading by striking ``and 2005'' and inserting ``and thereafter''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005. SEC. 4. EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. (a) Increase in Allowable Contributions.-- (1) In general.--Clause (iii) of section 530(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''. (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 4973(e)(1)(A) of such Code is amended by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''. (b) Reports.--Subsection (h) of section 530 of such Code is amended by striking the period at the end of the last sentence and inserting ``, except that reports shall be so filed and furnished for any calendar year not later than June 30 of the following year.''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005. SEC. 5. ALLOWANCE OF ROOM, BOARD, AND SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES IN THE CASE OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION REDUCTION PROGRAMS WITH RESPECT TO HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 117(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining qualified scholarship) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``or, in the case of enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution, for qualified higher education expenses.''. (b) Definitions.--Subsection (b) of section 117 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) Qualified higher education expenses; eligible educational institution.--The terms `qualified higher education expenses' and `eligible educational institution' have the meanings given such terms in section 529(e).''. (c) Tuition Reduction Programs.--Paragraph (5) of section 117(d) of such Code (relating to special rules for teaching and research assistants) is amended by striking ``shall be applied as if it did not contain the phrase `(below the graduate level)'.'' and inserting ``shall be applied-- ``(A) as if it did not contain the phrase `(below the graduate level)', and ``(B) by substituting `qualified higher education expenses' for `tuition' the second place it appears.''. (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to expenses paid after December 31, 2005 (in taxable years ending after such date), for education furnished in academic periods beginning after such date. SEC. 6. TREATMENT OF PREPAYMENT AND SAVINGS PLANS UNDER STUDENT FINANCIAL AID NEEDS ANALYSIS. (a) Definition of Assets.--Subsection (f) of section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(j)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``qualified education benefit (except as provided in paragraph (3)),'' after ``tax shelters,''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: ``(3) A qualified education benefit shall not be considered an asset of the student under section 475 of this part. ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `qualified education benefit' means-- ``(A) a program which is described in clause (i) of section 529(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and which meets the requirements of section 529(b)(1)(B) of such Code; ``(B) a State tuition program described in clause (ii) of section 529(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which meets the requirements of section 529(b)(1)(B) of such Code; and ``(C) a Coverdell education savings account (as defined in section 530(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).''. (b) Definition of Other Financial Assistance.--Subsection (j) of section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(j)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``; Tuition Prepayment Plans'' in the heading of such subsection; (2) by striking ``(1) For purposes'' and inserting ``For purposes''; and (3) by striking paragraph (2). (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to determinations of need under part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 for academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2006. SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES ALLOWED AS PART OF HOPE SCHOLARSHIP CREDIT. (a) Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses Expanded to Include Books, Supplies, and Equipment.--Paragraph (1) of section 25A(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining qualified tuition and related expenses) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) Additional expenses allowed for hope scholarship credit.--For purposes of the Hope Scholarship Credit, such term shall include fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at the eligible educational institution.''. (b) Hope Scholarship Credit not Reduced by Federal Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.--Subsection (g) of section 25A of such Code (relating to special rules) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(8) Pell and seog grants.--For purposes of the Hope Scholarship Credit, paragraph (2) shall not apply to amounts paid for an individual as a Federal Pell Grant or a Federal supplemental educational opportunity grant under subparts 1 and 3, respectively, of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a and 1070b et seq., respectively).''. (c) Expanded Hope Expenses not Subject to Information Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (e) of section 6050S of such Code (relating to definitions) is amended by striking ``subsection (g)(2)'' and inserting ``subsections (f)(1)(D) and (g)(2)''. (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to expenses paid after December 31, 2005 (in tax years ending after such date), for education furnished in academic periods beginning after such date. SEC. 8. REPEAL OF EGTRRA SUNSET APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN EDUCATION PROVISIONS. Title IX of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (relating to sunset of provisions of such Act) shall not apply to subtitles A, B, and D of title IV of such Act.

Higher Education Affordability and Equity Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the dollar limitation on the tax deduction for interest on education loans and expand eligibility for such deduction by revising the modified adjusted gross income phaseout for such deduction; (2) make the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses permanent; (3) increase from $2,000 to $5,000 the maximum allowable contribution to a Coverdell savings account; (4) exclude from gross income amounts received for qualified higher education expenses (e.g., books, supplies, room, board, and special needs services); and (5) allow certain additional expenses (e.g., fees, books, supplies, and equipment) for purposes of the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and provide that such tax credit shall not be reduced by Federal Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity (SEOG) Grants. Repeals the sunset provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) applicable to title IV, subtitles A, B, and D (Affordable Education Provisions) of such Act. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to provide that a qualified education benefit shall not be considered an asset of a student for purposes of a student financial need analysis. Defines "qualified education benefit" as a tax-exempt tuition credits program, a State education prepayment plan, and a Coverdell education savings account.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Honest FHA Originator Act of 2009''. SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR FHA-APPROVED MORTGAGEES. (a) Mortgagee Review Board.--Paragraph (2) of section 202(c) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(c)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period; and (3) by striking subparagraph (G). (b) Limitations on Participation and Mortgagee Approval and Use of Name.--Section 202 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708) is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively; (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection: ``(d) Limitations on Participation in Origination and Mortgagee Approval.-- ``(1) Requirement.--Any person or entity that is not approved by the Secretary to serve as a mortgagee, as such term is defined in subsection (c)(7), shall not participate in the origination of an FHA-insured loan except as authorized by the Secretary. ``(2) Eligibility for approval.--In order to be eligible for approval by the Secretary, an applicant mortgagee shall not be, and shall not have any officer, partner, director, principal, or employee of the applicant mortgagee who is-- ``(A) currently suspended, debarred, under a limited denial of participation (LDP), or otherwise restricted under part 24 or 25 of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations to such parts, or under similar provisions of any other Federal agency; ``(B) under indictment for, or has been convicted of, an offense that reflects adversely upon the applicant's integrity, competence or fitness to meet the responsibilities of an approved mortgagee; ``(C) subject to unresolved findings contained in a Department of Housing and Urban Development or other governmental audit, investigation, or review; ``(D) engaged in business practices that do not conform to generally accepted practices of prudent mortgagees or that demonstrate irresponsibility; ``(E) convicted of, or who has pled guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony related to participation in the real estate or mortgage loan industry-- ``(i) during the 7-year period preceding the date of the application for licensing and registration; or ``(ii) at any time preceding such date of application, if such felony involved an act of fraud, dishonesty, or a breach of trust, or money laundering; ``(F) in violation of provisions of the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) or any applicable provision of State law; or ``(G) in violation of any other requirement as established by the Secretary.''; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(h) Use of Name.--The Secretary shall, by regulation, require each mortgagee approved by the Secretary for participation in the FHA mortgage insurance programs of the Secretary-- ``(1) to use the business name of the mortgagee that is registered with the Secretary in connection with such approval in all advertisements and promotional materials, as such terms are defined by the Secretary, relating to the business of such mortgagee in such mortgage insurance programs; and ``(2) to maintain copies of all such advertisements and promotional materials, in such form and for such period as the Secretary requires.''. (c) Change of Status.--The National Housing Act is amended by striking section 532 (12 U.S.C. 1735f-10) and inserting the following new section: ``SEC. 532. CHANGE OF MORTGAGEE STATUS. ``(a) Notification.--Upon the occurrence of any action described in subsection (b), an approved mortgagee shall immediately submit to the Secretary, in writing, notification of such occurrence. ``(b) Actions.--The actions described in this subsection are as follows: ``(1) The debarment, suspension of a Limited Denial of Participation (LDP), or application of other sanctions, fines, or penalties applied to the mortgagee or to any officer, partner, director, principal, manager, supervisor, loan processor, loan underwriter, or loan originator of the mortgagee pursuant to applicable provisions of State or Federal law. ``(2) The revocation of a State-issued mortgage loan originator license issued pursuant to the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) or any other similar declaration of ineligibility pursuant to State law.''. (d) Civil Money Penalties.--Section 536 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1735f-14) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or any of its owners, officers, or directors'' after ``mortgagee or lender''; (ii) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``title I'' and all that follows through ``Act of 1989)'' and inserting ``title I or II''; and (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following: ``(K) Violation of section 202(d) of this Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(d)).''; and (B) in paragraph (2)-- (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or'' at the end; (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) causing or participating in any of the violations set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection.''; and (2) in subsection (g), by striking ``The term'' and all that follows through the end of the sentence and inserting ``For purposes of this section, a person acts knowingly when a person has actual knowledge of acts or should have known of the acts.''. (e) Expanded Review of FHA Mortgagee Applicants and Newly Approved Mortgagees.--Not later than the expiration of the 3-month period beginning upon the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall-- (1) expand the existing process for reviewing new applicants for approval for participation in the mortgage insurance programs of the Secretary for mortgages on 1- to 4- family residences for the purpose of identifying applicants who represent a high risk to the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund; and (2) implement procedures that, for mortgagees approved during the 12-month period ending upon such date of enactment-- (A) expand the number of mortgages originated by such mortgagees that are reviewed for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; and (B) include a process for random reviews of such mortgagees and a process for reviews that is based on volume of mortgages originated by such mortgagees.

Honest FHA Originator Act of 2009 - Amends the National Housing Act to remove the Director of the Enforcement Center from the Mortgagee Review Board of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Declares that any person or entity that is not approved by the HUD Secretary is prohibited from serving as a mortgagee and from participating in the origination of an FHA-insured loan. Sets forth mortgagee eligibility criteria. Directs the Secretary to require each mortgagee approved for participation in the FHA mortgage insurance programs to: (1) use the business name of the mortgagee that is registered with the Secretary in all advertisements and promotional materials relating to the business of such mortgagee in the mortgage insurance programs; and (2) maintain copies of such advertisements and promotional materials. Requires an approved mortgagee to submit immediate written notification of the following actions: (1) the debarment, suspension of a Limited Denial of Participation (LDP), or application of other sanctions, fines, or penalties applied to the mortgagee or to any officer, partner, director, principal, manager, supervisor, loan processor, loan underwriter, or loan originator of the mortgagee pursuant to applicable state or federal law; or (2) the revocation of a state-issued mortgage loan originator license or any other similar declaration of ineligibility pursuant to state law. Instructs the Secretary to expand the review of FHA mortgagee applicants and newly approved mortgagees.

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Summarize the following text: SECTION 1. CANADIAN TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE. (a) In General.--Subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 4011. CANADIAN TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE. ``(a) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Agreement.--The term `Agreement' means-- ``(A) the Agreement Concerning the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste between the United States and Canada, signed at Ottawa on October 28, 1986 (TIAS 11099); and ``(B) any regulations promulgated to implement and enforce that Agreement. ``(2) Municipal solid waste.--The term `municipal solid waste' has the meaning given the term in the Agreement. ``(b) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person to import, transport, or export municipal solid waste, for final disposal or incineration, in violation of the Agreement. ``(c) Authority of Administrator.-- ``(1) In general.--Beginning immediately after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall-- ``(A) perform the functions of the Designated Authority of the United States described in the Agreement with respect to the importation and exportation of municipal solid waste under the Agreement; and ``(B) implement and enforce the Agreement (including notice and consent provisions of the Agreement). ``(2) Consent to importation.--In considering whether to consent to the importation of municipal solid waste under article 3(c) of the Agreement, the Administrator shall-- ``(A)(i) give substantial weight to the views of each State into which the municipal solid waste is to be imported; and ``(ii) consider the views of the local government having jurisdiction over the location at which municipal solid waste is to be disposed of; and ``(B) consider the impact of the importation on-- ``(i) continued public support for, and adherence to, State and local recycling programs; ``(ii) landfill capacity, as provided in comprehensive waste management plans; ``(iii) air emissions resulting from increased vehicular traffic; ``(iv) road deterioration resulting from increased vehicular traffic; and ``(v) public health and the environment. ``(d) Compliance Orders.-- ``(1) In general.--If, on the basis of any information, the Administrator determines that a person has violated or is in violation of this section, the Administrator may-- ``(A) issue an order that-- ``(i) assesses a civil penalty against the person for any past or current violation of the person; or ``(ii) requires compliance by the person with this section immediately or by a specified date; or ``(B) bring a civil action against the person for appropriate relief (including a temporary or permanent injunction) in the United States district court for the district in which the violation occurred. ``(2) Specificity.-- ``(A) In general.--Any order issued under paragraph (1) for a violation of this subsection shall state with reasonable specificity the nature of the violation. ``(B) Penalties.-- ``(i) Maximum penalty.--Any penalty assessed by an order issued under paragraph (1) shall not exceed $25,000 per day of noncompliance for each violation. ``(ii) Considerations.--In assessing a penalty under this section, the Administrator shall take into account-- ``(I) the seriousness of the violation for which the penalty is assessed; and ``(II) any good faith efforts of the person against which the penalty is assessed to comply with applicable requirements. ``(e) Public Hearing.-- ``(1) In general.--Any order issued under this section shall become final unless, not later than 30 days after the date of issuance of the order, the person or persons against which the order is issued submit to the Administrator a request for a public hearing. ``(2) Hearing.--On receipt of a request under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall promptly conduct a public hearing. ``(3) Subpoenas.--In connection with any hearing under this subsection, the Administrator may-- ``(A) issue subpoenas for-- ``(i) the attendance and testimony of witnesses; and ``(ii) the production of relevant papers, books, and documents; and ``(B) promulgate regulations that provide for procedures for discovery. ``(f) Violation of Compliance Orders.--If a person against which an order is issued fails to take corrective action as specified in the order, the Administrator may assess a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each day of continued noncompliance with the order.''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. prec. 6901) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle D the following: ``Sec. 4011. Canadian transboundary movement of municipal solid waste.''.

Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit any person from importing, transporting, or exporting municipal solid waste (MSW), for final disposal or incineration, in violation of the Agreement Concerning the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste between the United States and Canada, signed at Ottawa on October 28, 1986.Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to perform the functions of the Designated Authority of the United States with respect to the importation and exportation of MSW under the Agreement and to implement and enforce the Agreement.Sets forth factors for consideration in the Administrator's determinations of whether to consent to importation.Provides procedures for issuance of compliance orders, assessment of civil penalties, and conduct of public hearings.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: 67, and approved by Congress, allow for such further authorizations. TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS SEC. 201. ANNUAL REPORT. Section 3(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862(f)) is amended to read as follows: ``(f) The Foundation shall provide an annual report to the President which shall be submitted by the Director to the Congress at the time of the President's annual budget submission. The report shall-- ``(1) contain a strategic plan, or an update to a previous strategic plan, which-- ``(A) defines for a three-year period the overall goals for the Foundation and specific goals for each major activity of the Foundation, including each scientific directorate, the education directorate, and the polar programs office; and ``(B) describe how the identified goals relate to national needs and will exploit new opportunities in science and technology; ``(2) identify the criteria and describe the procedures which the Foundation will use to assess progress toward achieving the goals identified in accordance with paragraph (1); ``(3) review the activities of the Foundation during the preceding year which have contributed toward achievement of goals identified in accordance with paragraph (1) and summarize planned activities for the coming three years in the context of the identified goals, with particular emphasis on the Foundation's planned contributions to major multi-agency research and education initiatives; ``(4) contain such recommendations as the Foundation considers appropriate; and ``(5) include information on the acquisition and disposition by the Foundation of any patents and patent rights.''. SEC. 202. NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES. (a) Facilities Plan.--The Director shall provide to Congress annually, as a part of the report required under section 3(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, a plan for the proposed construction of, and repair and upgrades to, national research facilities. The plan shall include estimates of the cost for such construction, repairs, and upgrades, and estimates of the cost for the operation and maintenance of existing and proposed new facilities. For proposed new construction and for major upgrades to existing facilities, the plan shall include funding profiles by fiscal year and milestones for major phases of the construction. The plan shall include cost estimates in the categories of construction, repair, and upgrades for the year in which the plan is submitted to Congress and for not fewer than the succeeding 4 years. (b) Limitation on Obligation of Unauthorized Appropriations.--No funds appropriated for any project which involves construction of new national research facilities or construction necessary for upgrading the capabilities of existing national research facilities shall be obligated unless the funds are specifically authorized for such purpose by this Act or any other Act which is not an appropriations Act, or unless the total estimated cost to the Foundation of the construction project is less than $50,000,000. This subsection shall not apply to construction projects approved by the National Science Board prior to June 30, 1994. SEC. 203. ELIGIBILITY FOR RESEARCH FACILITY AWARDS. Section 203(b) of the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988 is amended by striking the final sentence of paragraph (3) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``The Director shall give priority to institutions or consortia that have not received such funds in the preceding 5 years, except that this sentence shall not apply to previous funding received for the same multiyear project.''. SEC. 204. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS. (a) National Science Foundation Act of 1950 Amendments.--The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) is amended-- (1) by redesignating the subsection (k) of section 4 (42 U.S.C. 1863(k)) that was added by section 108 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 as subsection (l); (2) in section 5(e) (42 U.S.C. 1864(e)) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: ``(2) Any delegation of authority or imposition of conditions under paragraph (1) shall be promptly published in the Federal Register and reported to the Committees on Labor and Human Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives.''; (3) by inserting ``be entitled to'' between ``shall'' and ``receive'', and by inserting ``, including traveltime,'' after ``Foundation'' in section 14(c) (42 U.S.C. 1873(c)); (4) by striking section 14(j) (42 U.S.C. 1873(j)); and (5) by striking ``Atomic Energy Commission'' in section 15(a) (42 U.S.C. 1874(a)) and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Energy''. (b) National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976 Amendments.--Section 6(a) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976 (42 U.S.C. 1881a(a)) is amended by striking ``social,'' the first place it appears. (c) National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 Amendments.--(1) Section 117(a)(1)(B)(v) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1881b(1)(B)(v)) is amended to read as follows: ``(v) from schools established outside the several States and the District of Columbia by any agency of the Federal Government for dependents of its employees.''. (2) Section 117(a)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1881b(3)(A)) is amended by striking ``Science and Engineering Education'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Education and Human Resources''. (d) Education for Economic Security Act Amendments.--Section 107 of Education for Economic Security Act (20 U.S.C. 3917) is repealed. (e) Technical Amendment.--The second subsection (g) of section 3 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 is repealed. SEC. 205. INDIRECT COSTS. (a) Matching Funds.--Matching funds required pursuant to section 204(a)(2)(C) of the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862c(a)(2)(C)) shall not be considered facilities costs for purposes of determining indirect cost rates. (b) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall prepare a report analyzing what steps would be needed to-- (1) reduce by 10 percent the proportion of Federal assistance to institutions of higher education that are allocated for indirect costs; and (2) reduce the variance among indirect cost rates of different institutions of higher education, including an evaluation of the relative benefits and burdens of each option on institutions of higher education. Such report shall be transmitted to the Congress no later than December 31, 1995. SEC. 206. RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION AND FACILITIES. The Foundation shall incorporate the guidelines set forth in Important Notice No. 91, dated March 11, 1983 (48 Fed. Reg. 15754, April 12, 1983), relating to the use and operation of Foundation- supported research instrumentation and facilities, in its notice of Grant General Conditions, and shall examine more closely the adherence of grantee organizations to such guidelines. SEC. 207. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. Persons temporarily employed by or at the Foundation shall be subject to the same financial disclosure requirements and related sanctions under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 as are permanent employees of the Foundation in equivalent positions. SEC. 208. EDUCATIONAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR ACTIVE DUTY. In order to be eligible to receive funds from the Foundation after September 30, 1995, an institution of higher education must provide that whenever any student of the institution who is a member of the National Guard, or other reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, is called or ordered to active duty, other than active duty for training, the institution shall grant the member a military leave of absence from their education. Persons on military leave of absence from their institution shall be entitled, upon release from military duty, to be restored to the educational status they had attained prior to their being ordered to military duty without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition and other fees paid prior to the commencement of the military duty. It shall be the duty of the institution to refund tuition or fees paid or to credit the tuition and fees to the next semester or term after the termination of the educational military leave of absence at the option of the student. SEC. 209. PROHIBITION OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. None of the funds authorized by this Act shall be available for any activity whose purpose is to influence legislation pending before the Congress, provided that this shall not prevent officers or employees of the United States or of its departments or agencies from communicating to Members of Congress on the request of any Member or to Congress, through the proper channels, requests for legislation or appropriations which they deem necessary for the efficient conduct of the public business. SEC. 210. SCIENCE STUDIES INSTITUTE. (a) Amendment.--Section 822 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 1991 (42 U.S.C. 6686) is amended-- (1) by striking ``Critical Technologies Institute'' in the section heading and in subsection (a), and inserting in lieu thereof ``Science Studies Institute''; (2) in subsection (b) by striking ``As determined by the chairman of the committee referred to in subsection (c), the'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``The''; (3) by striking subsection (c), and redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f), respectively; (4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated by paragraph (3) of this subsection-- (A) by inserting ``science and'' after ``developments and trends in'' in paragraph (1); (B) by striking ``with particular emphasis'' in paragraph (1) and all that follows through the end of such paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof ``and developing and maintaining relevant informational and analytical tools.''; (C) by striking ``to determine'' and all that follows through ``technology policies'' in paragraph (2) and inserting in lieu thereof ``with particular attention to the scope and content of the Federal science and technology research and develop portfolio as it affects interagency and national issues''; (D) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: ``(3) Initiation of studies and analysis of alternatives available for ensuring the long-term strength of the United States in the development and application of science and technology, including appropriate roles for the Federal Government, State governments, private industry, and institutions of higher education in the development and application of science and technology.''; (E) by inserting ``science and'' after ``Executive branch on'' in paragraph (4)(A); and (F) by amending paragraph (4)(B) to read as follows: ``(B) to the interagency committees and panels of the Federal Government concerned with science and technology.''; (5) in subsection (d), as so redesignated by paragraph (3) of this subsection, by striking ``subsection (d)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``subsection (c)''; and (6) by amending subsection (f), as so redesignated by paragraph (3) of this subsection, to read as follows: ``(f) Sponsorship.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall be the sponsor of the Institute.''. (b) Conforming Usage.--All references in Federal law or regulations to the Critical Technologies Institute shall be considered to be references to the Science Studies Institute. SEC. 211. EDUCATIONAL IMPACT. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that-- (1) Federal research funds made available to institutions of higher education often create incentives for such institutions to emphasize research over undergraduate teaching and to narrow the focus of their graduate programs; and (2) National Science Foundation funds for Research and Related Activities should be spent in the manner most likely to improve the quality of undergraduate and graduate education in institutions of higher education. (b) Educational Impact.--(1) The impact that a grant or cooperative agreement by the National Science Foundation would have on undergraduate and graduate education at an institution of higher education shall be a factor in any decision whether to award such grant or agreement to that institution. (2) Paragraph (1) shall be effective with respect to any grant or cooperative agreement awarded after September 30, 1996. (c) Report.--The Director shall provide a plan for the implementation of subsection (b) of this section, no later than December 31, 1995, to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate. SEC. 212. DIVISIONS OF THE FOUNDATION. (a) Amendment.--Section 8 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1866) is amended by inserting ``The Director may appoint, in consultation with the Board, not more than 6 Assistant Directors to assist in managing the Divisions.'' after ``time to time determine.''. (b) Report.--By November 15, 1995, the Director shall transmit to the Congress a report on the reorganization of the National Science Foundation required as a result of the amendment made by subsection (a). SEC. 213. LIMITATION ON APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Exclusive Authorization for Fiscal Year 1996.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no sums are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1996 for the activities of the National Science Foundation unless such sums are specifically authorized to be appropriated by this Act. (b) Subsequent Fiscal Years.--No sums are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year after fiscal year 1996 for the activities of the National Science Foundation unless such sums are specifically authorized to be appropriated by Act of Congress with respect to such fiscal year. SEC. 214. ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS. (a) In General.--The Director shall exclude from consideration for awards of financial assistance made by the National Science Foundation after fiscal year 1995 any person who received funds, other than those described in subsection (b), appropriated for a fiscal year after fiscal year 1995, from any Federal funding source for a project that was not subjected to a competitive, merit-based award process. Any exclusion from consideration pursuant to this section shall be effective for a period of 5 years after the person receives such Federal funds. (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to awards to persons who are members of a class specified by law for which assistance is awarded to members of the class according to a formula provided by law. HR 1852 RH----2

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization Title II: General Provisions National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1995 - Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization - Authorizes appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for FY 1996 and 1997. (Sec. 104) Provides for reprogramming of appropriations. (Sec. 105) States that nothing in this Act shall preclude additional FY 1996 authorization of appropriations for NSF. Title II: General Provisions - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to direct NSF to include in its annual report to the President a strategic plan defining its goals, criteria, and procedures. (Sec. 202) Requires NSF to submit to the Congress an annual upgrade and maintenance plan for national research facilities. (Sec. 203) Amends the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988 to give research facility grant priority to institutions or consortia that have not received such funds in the preceding five years. (Sec. 204) Makes administrative amendments to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988, and the Education for Economic Security Act. (Sec. 206) Requires certain research instrumentation and facilities guidelines to be incorporated in NSF grant notices. (Sec. 207) Subjects NSF temporary employees to the same financial disclosure requirements as apply to permanent employees. (Sec. 208) Requires an institution of higher education receiving NSF funds to grant a military-educational leave of absence to a student on active military duty (other than training). (Sec. 209) Prohibits the use of any funds authorized under this Act from being used for any lobbying activity. (Sec. 210) Renames the Critical Technologies Institute as the Science Studies Institute. (Sec. 211) Requires NSF to consider the impact of a grant on undergraduate and graduate education before its award. (Sec. 212) Authorizes the Director of NSF to appoint up to six Assistant Directors. (Sec. 214) Excludes from NSF awards for five years any person who received project funds not subject to competitive merit-based awards. (Exempts persons who are members of a law-specified class.)

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) Harriet Tubman (born Araminta ``Minty'' Ross)-- (A) was born into slavery in Maryland around 1822; (B) married John Tubman at age 25; (C) endured through her youth and young adulthood the hardships of enslaved African-Americans; and (D) boldly emancipated herself from bondage in 1849; (2) not satisfied with attaining her own freedom, Harriet Tubman-- (A) returned repeatedly for more than 10 years to the places of her enslavement in Dorchester and Caroline Counties, Maryland; and (B) under the most adverse circumstances led away many family members and acquaintances to freedom in the northern region of the United States and Canada; (3) Harriet Tubman was-- (A) called ``Moses'' by African-Americans and white abolitionists; and (B) acknowledged as one of the most prominent ``conductors'' of the resistance that came to be known as the ``Underground Railroad''; (4) in 1868, Frederick Douglass wrote that, with the exception of John Brown, Douglass knew of ``no one who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people'' than Harriet Tubman; (5) during the Civil War, Harriet Tubman-- (A) was recruited to assist Union troops as a nurse, a scout, and a spy; and (B) served in Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina, where she is credited with facilitating the rescue of hundreds of enslaved people; (6) Harriet Tubman established in Auburn, New York, one of the first incorporated homes for aged African-Americans in the United States, which, 10 years before her death, she bequeathed to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; (7) there are nationally significant resources comprised of relatively unchanged landscapes associated with the early life of Harriet Tubman in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland; (8) there are nationally significant resources relating to Harriet Tubman in Auburn, New York, including-- (A) the residence of Harriet Tubman; (B) the Tubman Home for the Aged; (C) the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church; and (D) the final resting place of Harriet Tubman in Fort Hill Cemetery; (9) in developing interpretive programs, the National Park Service would benefit from increased scholarship of the African-American experience during the decades preceding the Civil War and throughout the remainder of the 19th century; and (10) it is fitting and proper that the nationally significant resources relating to Harriet Tubman be preserved for future generations as units of the National Park System so that people may understand and appreciate the contributions of Harriet Tubman to the history and culture of the United States. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to preserve and promote stewardship of the resources in Auburn, New York, and Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, relating to the life and contributions of Harriet Tubman; (2) to provide for partnerships with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the States of New York and Maryland, political subdivisions of the States, the Federal Government, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and private property owners for resource protection, research, interpretation, education, and public understanding and appreciation of the life and contributions of Harriet Tubman; (3) to sustain agricultural and forestry land uses in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, that remain evocative of the landscape during the life of Harriet Tubman; and (4) to establish a competitive grants program for scholars of African-American history relating to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Church.--The term ``Church'' means the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church located in Auburn, New York. (2) Historically black college or university.--The term ``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)). (3) Predominantly black institution.--The term ``Predominantly Black Institution'' has the meaning given the term in section 499A(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099e(c)). (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (5) Visitor center.--The term ``Visitor Center'' means the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Visitor Center to be constructed under section 5(d). SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF HARRIET TUBMAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. (a) Establishment.--On the execution of easements with the Church, the Secretary shall-- (1) establish the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (referred to in this section as the ``Historical Park'') in the City of Auburn, New York, as a unit of the National Park System; and (2) publish notice of the establishment of the Historical Park in the Federal Register. (b) Boundary.-- (1) In general.--The Historical Park shall be comprised of structures and properties associated with the Harriet Tubman home, the Tubman Home for the Aged, the Church, and the Rectory, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Harriet Tubman National Historical Park--Proposed Boundary'', numbered [____], and dated [___]. (2) Availability of map.--The map described in paragraph (1) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. (c) Acquisition of Land.--The Secretary may acquire from willing sellers, by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, land or interests in land within the boundary of the Historical Park. (d) Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may provide grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with-- (1) the Church for-- (A) historic preservation of, rehabilitation of, research on, and maintenance of properties within the boundary of the Historical Park; and (B) interpretation of the Historical Park; (2) the Fort Hill Cemetery Association for maintenance and interpretation of the gravesite of Harriet Tubman; and (3) the State of New York, any political subdivisions of the State, the City of Auburn, and nonprofit organizations for-- (A) preservation and interpretation of resources relating to Harriet Tubman in the City of Auburn, New York; (B) conducting research, including archaeological research; and (C) providing for stewardship programs, education, public access, signage, and other interpretive devices at the Historical Park for interpretive purposes. (e) Interpretation.--The Secretary may provide interpretive tours to sites located outside the boundaries of the Historical Park in Auburn, New York, that include resources relating to Harriet Tubman. (f) General Management Plan.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Church, shall complete a general management plan for the Historical Park in accordance with section 12(b) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S. C. 1a-7(b)). (2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the preparation and implementation of the general management plan for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park with-- (A) the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Maryland; and (B) the National Underground Railroad: Network to Freedom. SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. (a) Establishment.--There is established as a unit of the National Park System the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (referred to in this section as the ``Historical Park'') in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland. (b) Boundary.-- (1) In general.--The boundary of the Historical Park shall consist of certain landscapes and associated resources relating to the early life and enslavement of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park--Proposed Boundary'', numbered [____], and dated [_____]. (2) Additional sites.--The Secretary, after consultation with landowners, the State of Maryland, and units of local government, may modify the boundary of the Historical Park to include additional resources relating to Harriet Tubman that-- (A) are located within the vicinity of the Historical Park; and (B) are identified in the general management plan prepared under subsection (g) as appropriate for interpreting the life of Harriet Tubman. (3) Availability of map.--On modification of the boundary of the Historical Park under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall make available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service a revised map of the Historical Park. (c) Acquisition of Land.--The Secretary may acquire from willing sellers, by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, land or an interest in land within the boundaries of the Historical Park. (d) Grants.--In accordance with section 7(b)(2), the Secretary may provide grants-- (1) to the State of Maryland, political subdivisions of the State, and nonprofit organizations for the acquisition of less than fee title (including easements) or fee title to land in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, within the boundary of the Historical Park; and (2) on execution of a memorandum of understanding between the State of Maryland and the Director of the National Park Service, to the State of Maryland for the construction of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Visitor Center on land owned by the State of Maryland in Dorchester County, Maryland, subject to the condition that the State of Maryland provide the Director of the National Park Service, at no additional cost, sufficient office space and exhibition areas in the Visitor Center to carry out the purposes of the Historical Park. (e) Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may provide grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the State of Maryland, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, and private property owners for-- (1) the restoration or rehabilitation, public use, and interpretation of sites and resources relating to Harriet Tubman; (2) the conduct of research, including archaeological research; (3) providing stewardship programs, education, signage, and other interpretive devices at the sites and resources for interpretive purposes; and (4)(A) the design and construction of the Visitor Center; and (B) the operation and maintenance of the Visitor Center. (f) Interpretation.--The Secretary may provide interpretive tours to sites and resources located outside the boundary of the Historical Park in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, relating to the life of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. (g) General Management Plan.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary, in coordination with the State of Maryland, political subdivisions of the State, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall complete a general management plan for the Historical Park in accordance with section 12(b) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S. C. 1a-7(b)). (2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the preparation and implementation of the general management plan for the Historical Park with-- (A) the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York; (B) the National Underground Railroad: Network to Freedom; (C) the Maryland Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park; and (D) the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Dorchester and Caroline Counties, Maryland. (3) Priority treatment.--The general management plan for the Historical Park shall give priority to the adequate protection of, interpretation of, public appreciation for, archaeological investigation of, and research on Stewart's Canal, the Jacob Jackson home site, the Brodess Farm, the Ben Ross and Anthony Thompson properties on Harrisville Road, and the James Cook site, all of which are privately owned and located in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. (h) Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.-- (1) Interagency agreement.--The Secretary shall ensure that, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service enter into an interagency agreement that-- (A) promotes and mutually supports the compatible stewardship and interpretation of Harriet Tubman resources at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge; and (B) provides for the maximum level of cooperation between those Federal agencies to further the purposes of this Act. (2) Effect of act.--Nothing in this Act modifies, alters, or amends the authorities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the administration and management of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in accordance with this Act and the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System including-- (1) the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and (2) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.). (b) Park Regulations.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), regulations and policies applicable to units of the National Park System shall apply only to Federal land administrated by the National Park Service that is located within the boundary of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act (other than subsection (b)), including the provision of National Park Service personnel and National Park Service management funds for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. (b) Grants.--There are authorized to be appropriated not more than-- (1) $7,500,000 to provide grants to the Church for-- (A) historic preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of resources within the boundary of the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park; and (B) the costs of design, construction, installation, and maintenance of exhibits and other interpretive devices authorized under section 4(d)(1)(B); (2) $11,000,000 for grants to the State of Maryland for activities authorized under subsections (d)(1) and (e)(4)(A) of section 5; and (3) $200,000 for fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter for competitive grants to historically Black colleges and universities, Predominately Black Institutions, and minority serving institutions for research into the life of Harriet Tubman and the African-American experience during the years that coincide with the life of Harriet Tubman. (c) Cost-Sharing Requirement.-- (1) Church and visitor center grants.--The Federal share of the cost of activities provided grants under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) and any maintenance, construction, or utility costs incurred pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered into under section 4(d)(1)(A) or section 5(e) shall not be more than 50 percent. (2) Historically black colleges and universities.--The Federal share of the cost of activities provided assistance under subsection (b)(3) shall be not more than 75 percent. (3) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share required under this subsection may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Act - Establishes in the City of Auburn, New York, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System. Establishes in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide grant funding and enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities for the historic preservation, rehabilitation, interpretation, and maintenance of such historical parks. Requires the Secretary to complete a general management plan for them.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Child Definition Simplification Act of 2004''. SEC. 2. UNIFORM DEFINITION OF CHILD. (a) Personal Exemption.-- (1) In general.--Section 151 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection: ``(c) Additional Exemption for Qualifying Children.-- ``(1) In general.--An exemption of the exemption amount for each qualifying child. ``(2) Qualifying child.--For purposes of this section, the term `qualifying child' means, with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year, an individual-- ``(A) who bears a relationship to the taxpayer described in paragraph (3), ``(B) who has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer for more than \1/2\ of such taxable year, and ``(C) who meets the age requirements of paragraph (4). An individual shall not be treated as failing to meet the requirements of subparagraph (B) by reason of time of birth or death or by reason of temporary absences or other circumstances specified in the regulations prescribed by the Secretary. ``(3) Relationship test.-- ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (2)(A), an individual bears a relationship to the taxpayer described in this paragraph if such individual is-- ``(i) a son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of the taxpayer or a descendant of any such relative, ``(ii) a brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister of the taxpayer or a descendant of any such relative, whom the taxpayer cares for as the taxpayer's own child, or ``(iii) an eligible foster child of the taxpayer. ``(B) Adopted child.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), a child who is legally adopted, or who is placed with the taxpayer by an authorized placement agency for adoption by the taxpayer, shall be treated as a child by blood. ``(C) Eligible foster child.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `eligible foster child' means an individual-- ``(i) who is placed with the taxpayer by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction, and ``(ii) whom the taxpayer cares for as the taxpayer's own child. ``(4) Age requirements.--For purposes of paragraph (2)(C), an individual meets the requirements of this paragraph if such individual-- ``(A) has not attained the age of 19 as of the close of the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins, ``(B) is a student who has not attained the age of 24 as of the close of such calendar year, or ``(C) is permanently and totally disabled (as defined in section 22(e)(3)) at any time during the taxable year. ``(5) Special rules.-- ``(A) Married dependents.--An individual shall not be a qualifying child of a taxpayer if such individual makes a joint return with the individual's spouse under section 6013 for the taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins. ``(B) Individuals who support themselves.--An individual shall not be a qualifying child of a taxpayer if such individual provides over half of such individual's own support for the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins. ``(C) Only 1 exemption amount.--An individual who is a qualifying child of any taxpayer shall not be treated as the dependent of any taxpayer for purposes of this part. ``(6) Special rule relating to 2 or more claiming qualifying child.-- ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (7), if an individual would (but for this paragraph) be a qualifying child of 2 or more taxpayers for taxable years beginning in the same calendar year, such individual shall be treated as the qualifying child of the taxpayer who is-- ``(i) a parent of the individual, or ``(ii) if none of such taxpayers is a parent of the individual, the taxpayer with the highest adjusted gross income for such taxable year. ``(B) Parents not filing joint returns.--If an individual would (but for this paragraph) be a qualifying child of both parents of such individual and such parents do not file a joint return together, such child shall be treated as the qualifying child of-- ``(i) the parent with whom the child resided for the longest period during the taxable year, or ``(ii) if the child resides with both parents for the same length of time during such taxable year, the parent with the highest adjusted gross income. ``(C) Foster children.--For purposes of this paragraph, the taxpayer shall be treated as a parent of any eligible foster child who has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer for more than one-half of such taxable year. ``(7) Special rule for certain pre-2006 instruments.-- ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (6), a child who has parents who-- ``(i) are divorced or legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance, ``(ii) are separated under a written separation agreement, or ``(iii) live apart at all times during the last 6 months of the calendar year, shall be treated as being the qualifying child of the noncustodial parent for a calendar year if the requirements of subparagraph (B) are met. ``(B) Requirements.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), the requirements of this subparagraph are met if-- ``(i) such child would, but for this paragraph, be the qualifying child of the custodial parent, and ``(ii) a qualified pre-2006 instrument between the parents is applicable to such child for the taxable year beginning in such calendar year. In the case of an agreement executed before January 1, 1985, the requirements of this subparagraph are met only if, in addition to meeting the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii), the noncustodial parent provides at least $600 for the support of such child during such calendar year. ``(C) Qualified pre-2006 instrument.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term `qualified pre-2006 instrument' means any written declaration referred to in subsection (e)(2) (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Child Definition Simplification Act of 2004)-- ``(i) which is executed before January 1, 2006, and ``(ii) which is not modified on or after such date in a modification which expressly provides that this subsection shall not apply to such declaration. ``(D) Custodial parent and noncustodial parent.-- For purposes of this subsection-- ``(i) Custodial parent.--The term `custodial parent' means the parent with whom a child shared the same principal place of abode for the greater portion of the calendar year. ``(ii) Noncustodial parent.--The term `noncustodial parent' means the parent who is not the custodial parent. ``(E) Special rules for support.--For purposes of this subsection-- ``(i) amounts expended for the support of a child or children shall be treated as received from the noncustodial parent to the extent that such parent provided amounts for such support, and ``(ii) in the case of the remarriage of a parent, support of a child received from the parent's spouse shall be treated as received from the parent.''. (2) Conforming amendments.-- (A) Section 152 of such Code is amended by striking subsection (e) (relating to support test in case of child of divorced parents, etc.). (B) Paragraph (6) of section 1(f) of such Code is amended-- (i) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``151(d)(4)'' and inserting ``151(e)(4)'', and (ii) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``151(d)(3)(A)'' and inserting ``151(e)(3)(A)''. (C) Paragraph (5) of section 21(e) of such Code is amended-- (i) by striking ``paragraph (2) or (4) of section 152(e)'' and inserting ``section 151(c)(7)'', and (ii) by striking ``section 152(e)(1)'' and inserting ``section 151(c)(7)''. (D) Sections 21(e)(6) and 129(c) of such Code are each amended-- (i) by striking ``151(c)'' and inserting ``151(d)'', and (ii) by striking ``151(c)(3)'' and inserting ``151(d)(3)''. (E) Sections 25B(c)(2)(B), 32(c)(3)(C)(ii), 152(d)(2), and 2032A(c)(7)(D) of such Code are each amended by striking ``151(c)(4)'' and inserting ``151(d)(4)''. (F) Sections 72(t)(7)(A)(iii) and 132(h)(2)(B) of such Code are each amended by striking ``151(c)(3)'' and inserting ``151(d)(3)''. (G) Clause (i) of section 642(b)(2)(C) of such Code is amended-- (i) by striking ``151(d)'' and inserting ``151(e)'', and (ii) by striking `` 151(d)(3)(C)(iii)'' and inserting `` 151(e)(3)(C)(iii)''. (H) Paragraph (1) of section 3402(f) of such Code is amended-- (i) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``151(d)(2)'' and inserting ``151(e)(2)'', and (ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``151(c)'' and inserting ``151(d)''. (I) Subparagraph (B) of section 3402(r)(2) of such Code is amended by striking ``151(d)'' and inserting ``151(e)''. (J) Paragraph (1) of section 6012(a) of such Code is amended-- (i) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``151(c)'' and inserting ``151(d)'', and (ii) in subparagraph (D)(ii)-- (I) by striking ``151(d)'' and inserting ``151(e)'', and (II) by striking ``151(d)(2)'' and inserting ``151(e)(2)''. (K) The last sentence of section 6013(b)(3)(A) of such Code is amended by striking ``151(d)'' and inserting ``151(e)''. (L) Section 7703(b)(1) of such Code is amended by striking ``151(c)(3)'' and inserting ``151(c)(2)''. (b) Application of Uniform Definition to Dependent Care Credit.-- (1) In general.--Section 21(b)(1)(A) of such Code is amended to read as follows: ``(A) a qualifying child of the taxpayer (as defined in section 151(c)) who has not attained age 13,''. (2) Repeal of maintenance of household test.--Section 21(a)(1) of such Code is amended by striking ``who maintains a household which includes as a member'' and inserting ``with respect to whom there are''. (c) Application of Uniform Definition to Child Tax Credit.--Section 24(c)(1) of such Code is amended to read as follows: ``(1) In general.--The term `qualifying child' means a qualifying child of the taxpayer (as defined in section 151(c)) who has not attained age 17 as of the close of the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins.''. (d) Application of Uniform Definition to Earned Income Credit.-- (1) In general.--Paragraph (3) of section 32(c) of such Code is amended to read as follows: ``(3) Qualifying child.-- ``(A) In general.--The term `qualifying child' means a qualifying child of the taxpayer (as defined in section 151(c)). ``(B) Place of abode.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), the requirements of section 151(c)(2)(B) shall be met only if the principal place of abode is in the United States. ``(C) Identification requirements.-- ``(i) In general.--A qualifying child shall not be taken into account under subsection (b) unless the taxpayer includes the name, age, and TIN of the qualifying child on the return of tax for the taxable year. ``(ii) Other methods.--The Secretary may prescribe other methods for providing the information described in clause (i).''. (2) Conforming amendments.-- (A) Section 32(c)(1) of such Code is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and by redesignating subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (F), respectively. (B) Section 32(c)(4) of such Code is amended by striking ``(3)(E)'' and inserting ``(3)(B)''. (C) Section 32(m) of such Code is amended by striking ``subsections (c)(1)(F)'' and inserting ``subsections (c)(1)(E)''. (e) Application of Uniform Definition to Credit for Health Insurance Costs of Eligible Individuals.--Section 35(d)(1)(B) of such Code is amended to read as follows: ``(B) a qualifying child of the taxpayer (as defined in section 151(c)).''. (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004. (g) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue regulations or other guidance defining place of abode and principal place of abode for purposes of sections 151(c), 21, 24, 32, and 35 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by this section. SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF GOVERNMENT BENEFITS IN DETERMINING SUPPORT AND COST OF MAINTAINING HOUSEHOLD. (a) Dependency Exemption.--Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(f) Special Rule Relating to Treatment of Government Benefits in Determining Support.--For purposes of this part, any means-tested benefits obtained under programs described in section 6103(l)(7) or substantially similar government programs shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining-- ``(1) whether over half of the support of an individual for a calendar year is received from a taxpayer, and ``(2) whether over half of the cost of maintaining a household is furnished by a taxpayer.''. (b) Dependent Care Credit.--Section 21(e)(1) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Any means-tested benefits obtained under programs described in section 6103(l)(7) or substantially similar government programs shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether over half of the cost of maintaining a household is furnished by the individual.''. (c) Marital Status.--Section 7703 of such Code (relating to determination of marital status) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(c) Special Rule Relating to Treatment of Government Benefits in Determining Cost of Maintaining Household.--For purposes of subsection (b)(2), any means-tested benefits obtained under programs described in section 6103(l)(7) or substantially similar government programs shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether over half of the cost of maintaining a household is furnished by the individual.''. (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004.

Child Definition Simplification Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to redefine "child" based upon residence, age, and relationship to the taxpayer, for purposes of the personal exemption, the dependent care credit, the child tax credit, the earned income credit, and the health insurance credit. Excludes any means-tested benefits received by a taxpayer under the Social Security Act or other substantially similar government programs from the tests for determining eligibility for the personal exemption and the dependent care credit and for determining marital status.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``File Once FAFSA Act of 2016''. SEC. 2. FAFSA SIMPLIFICATION. (a) One-Time FAFSA Filing for Dependent Students.--Section 483(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(13) One-time fafsa filing for dependent students.-- ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), an applicant who submits a FAFSA for the first time during the period required for the completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study being pursued by such applicant and is determined to be a dependent student who is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for the academic year for which the applicant submitted such FAFSA-- ``(i) for any succeeding academic year for which the applicant does not submit a FAFSA and for which the applicant submits a certification form described in subparagraph (D) based on which the Secretary confirms that the applicant is a dependent student for such year-- ``(I) shall not be required to submit a FAFSA to receive financial assistance under this title; and ``(II) shall have an expected family contribution for such year that is equal to the expected family contribution of the applicant determined for the academic year for which the applicant submitted a FAFSA during such period, except that an adjustment to such expected family contribution may be made under section 479A; ``(ii) if the applicant submits a FAFSA for any succeeding academic year-- ``(I) shall have an expected family contribution for such year that is determined based on such FAFSA; and ``(II) shall be required to submit a FAFSA for any other academic year for which the applicant seeks financial assistance under this title; and ``(iii) if the applicant is determined to be an independent student for any succeeding academic year or does not submit a certification form described in subparagraph (D), shall submit a FAFSA for such succeeding academic year and any other academic year for which the applicant seeks financial assistance under this title. ``(B) Adjustment of expected family contribution.-- With respect to an applicant described in subparagraph (A)(i) who receives an adjustment under section 479A to the expected family contribution of the applicant for an academic year, for any succeeding academic year after the academic year for which the adjustment was made, subclause (II) of such subparagraph shall be applied to such applicant by substituting `expected family contribution of the applicant as most recently adjusted under section 479A for such applicant' for the `expected family contribution of the applicant determined for the academic year for which the applicant submitted a FAFSA during such period'. ``(C) Rule for certain students.--With respect to an applicant who submits a FAFSA for academic year 2016-2017 and enrolls in an institution of higher education for such year, subparagraph (A) shall be applied-- ``(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by substituting `academic year 2016-2017' for `the first time'; and ``(ii) in clause (i)(II), by substituting `academic year 2016-2017' for `the academic year for which the applicant submitted a FAFSA during such period'. ``(D) Dependent student certification form.--The Secretary, in cooperation with representatives of agencies and organizations involved in student financial assistance, shall use behavioral science insights to produce, distribute, and process free of charge a short and simple consumer-tested dependent student certification form that uses skip logic to bypass fields that are inapplicable to an applicant. Such form shall not require an applicant to provide data that the Secretary may otherwise obtain with respect to the applicant (such as age or active duty military status), and may only contain the data elements required for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)-- ``(i) to confirm that the applicant is a dependent student; ``(ii) to allow the applicant to update the contact information of such applicant or the Federal School Code of the institution of higher education in which the applicant is, or will be enrolled, for the academic year for which the applicant submits such form; and ``(iii) to ask whether the applicant's need and eligibility for financial assistance under this title has not changed substantially since the most recent of the following: ``(I) The applicant submitted a FAFSA. ``(II) The applicant received an adjustment under section 479A to the expected family contribution of the applicant. ``(E) Succeeding academic year defined.--In this paragraph, the term `succeeding academic year'-- ``(i) when used with respect to an applicant who submits a FAFSA for the first time for an academic year during the period required for the completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study being pursued by such applicant, means any academic year during such period that follows the academic year for which the applicant submits such FAFSA; and ``(ii) when used with respect to an applicant described in subparagraph (C), means any academic year after academic year 2016-2017 during the period required for the completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study being pursued by such applicant.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall be effective with respect to determining the expected family contribution of applicants for award year 2017-2018 and each succeeding award year.

File Once FAFSA Act of 2016 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process for low-income students applying for Federal Pell Grants. Specifically, the bill allows dependent students to apply for aid once. Thus, students who receive Pell Grants need not apply again in subsequent years, unless they become independent of their family.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2015''. SEC. 2. ENHANCEMENT OF CHILD AND DEPENDENT CARE TAX CREDIT. (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 21(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: ``(2) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the term `applicable percentage' means-- ``(A) in the case of employment-related expenses incurred for the care of a qualifying individual who has not attained 5 years of age before the close of the taxable year, 50-percent reduced (but not below 20 percent) by 1 percentage point for each $2,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for the taxable year exceeds $120,000, and ``(B) in the case of any employment-related expenses which are not described in subparagraph (A), 35-percent reduced (but not below 20 percent) by 1 percentage point for each $2,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for the taxable year exceeds $120,000.''. (b) Increase in Dollar Limit on Amount Creditable.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 21(c) of such Code are amended to read as follows: ``(1) in the case of 1 qualifying individual with respect to the taxpayer for such taxable year-- ``(A) if such qualifying individual has attained 5 years of age before the close of the taxable year, $3,000, or ``(B) if such qualifying individual has not attained 5 years of age before the close of the taxable year, $6,000, or ``(2) in the case of 2 or more qualifying individuals with respect to the taxpayer for such taxable year-- ``(A) if 1 of such qualifying individuals has not attained 5 years of age before the close of the taxable year, $9,000, or ``(B) if 2 or more of such qualifying individuals have not attained 5 years of age before the close of the taxable year, $12,000.''. (c) Adjustment for Inflation.--Section 21 of such Code is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g), and (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection: ``(f) Inflation Adjustment.-- ``(1) In general.--In the case of a calendar year beginning after 2016, the $120,000 dollar amounts in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(2) and the dollar amounts in subsection (c) shall each be increased by an amount equal to-- ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting `calendar year 2015' for `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof. ``(2) Rounding.--If any dollar amount, after being increased under paragraph (1), is not a multiple of $100, such dollar amount shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $100.''. (d) Credit To Be Refundable.-- (1) In general.--The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended-- (A) by redesignating section 21 as section 36C, and (B) by moving section 36C, as so redesignated, from subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 to the location immediately before section 37 in subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1. (2) Technical amendments.-- (A) Paragraph (1) of section 23(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``21(e)'' and inserting ``36C(e)''. (B) Paragraph (6) of section 35(g) of such Code is amended by striking ``21(e)'' and inserting ``36C(e)''. (C) Paragraph (1) of section 36C(a) of such Code (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) is amended by striking ``this chapter'' and inserting ``this subtitle''. (D) Subparagraph (C) of section 129(a)(2) of such Code is amended by striking ``section 21(e)'' and inserting ``section 36C(e)''. (E) Paragraph (2) of section 129(b) of such Code is amended by striking ``section 21(d)(2)'' and inserting ``section 36C(d)(2)''. (F) Paragraph (1) of section 129(e) of such Code is amended by striking ``section 21(b)(2)'' and inserting ``section 36C(b)(2)''. (G) Subsection (e) of section 213 of such Code is amended by striking ``section 21'' and inserting ``section 36C''. (H) Subparagraph (H) of section 6213(g)(2) of such Code is amended by striking ``section 21'' and inserting ``section 36C''. (I) Subparagraph (L) of section 6213(g)(2) of such Code is amended by striking ``section 21, 24, or 32,'' and inserting ``section 24, 32, or 36C,''. (J) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``36C,'' after ``36B,''. (K) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 36B the following: ``Sec. 36C. Expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment.''. (L) The table of sections for subpart A of such part IV is amended by striking the item relating to section 21. (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2015 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for employment-related expenses incurred for the care of a taxpayer's dependent, to: (1) increase to $120,000, the adjusted gross income threshold level above which such credit is incrementally reduced; (2) increase the dollar limit on the allowable amount of such credit; (3) allow an inflation adjustment to the threshold amount and the maximum credit amounts, beginning after 2016; and (4) make such credit refundable.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``School And Family Education about the Internet Act of 2009'' or the ``SAFE Internet Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) The Internet is an invaluable tool that is critical to the ability of the Nation to compete in a global economy. The Internet provides instant access to research and boundless information, and establishes digital connections between individuals around the world. (2) About 93 percent of youth ages 12 through 17 years are online and nearly 45 percent of children ages 3 to 11 years will use the Internet on a monthly basis in 2009. Eighty-nine percent of youth 13 through 19 years of age have a profile on social-networking sites. Eighty percent of teens 13 through 17 years of age use cell phones, most of which have built-in cameras. (3) Internet safety education, coupled with technology tools, is the most effective way to resolve and prevent the problems and dangers relating to misuse of the Internet and other new media. (4) According to an empirical study of 1,379 fourth grade students in Virginia, the first State to mandate Internet safety education in its schools, the students improved their responses to 8 of 10 questions after completing an Internet safety education program, especially in 2 major areas, uncomfortable content and cyberbullying. (5) As a result of the enactment of the Children's Internet Protection Act (Public Law 106-554; 114 Stat. 2763A-336) in 2000, which mandated that schools implement Internet safety policies and technology protection measures to receive E-Rate funding, most schools have developed acceptable use policies and implemented filtering and other technology-based solutions to help protect children. (6) Most elementary and secondary school educators have received little or no professional development training on Internet safety. As a result, many students receive little or no education on safe, responsible, and ethical use of Internet and other new media. (7) The widespread use of the Internet, cell phones, interactive gaming, and other electronic communication devices by children both inside and outside of school suggest that acceptable use policies and filtering alone cannot resolve Internet safety concerns, and that a greater focus on education would be beneficial. (8) In a national poll on children's health, parents ranked Internet safety fifth among their top health concerns for children. Educating parents about Internet safety is key to empowering them to understand actual risks and to take an active role in protecting their children. (9) The problem of online harassment or cyberbullying of youth by other youths is widespread, and results in a range of children's experiences from minor irritation to severe emotional harm. The Bureau of Justice Statistics has found that online harassment tends to begin in third and fourth grade, peaks in seventh and eighth grade, and continues in reduced amounts throughout high school, college, and professional schools. (10) Young people face greater risks in the form of electronic aggression and sexual solicitation from other young people known to them than from strangers. (11) Gang members increasingly are using the Internet as a recruitment tool to entice would-be members and as an intimidation tool to threaten rival gangs. Gang members use the Internet in particular to promote their message. (12) More research is needed in several areas of youth online safety, including-- (A) minor-to-minor solicitation to use the Internet in an inappropriate manner; (B) the creation of problematic content by youths; (C) lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and youth with disabilities who may be particularly vulnerable; (D) the interplay between socioeconomic class and risk factors; (E) the role that pervasive digital image and video capture devices play in harassment of youth by other youth and youth production of problematic content; (F) the intersection of different mobile and Internet-based technologies; and (G) the online activities of registered sex offenders. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to-- (1) facilitate research and identify best practices in Internet safety education; and (2) establish a competitive grant program for State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and nonprofit organizations to promote Internet safety education in the community. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Applicable agency heads.--The term ``applicable agency heads'' means the Director, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance. (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means-- (A) a partnership between a State educational agency and 1 or more local educational agencies (as those terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) of the State; (B) a local educational agency; (C) a nonprofit organization; or (D) a consortium of elementary schools or secondary schools (as those terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) collaborating with an entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C). (4) Grant guidance.--The term ``grant guidance'' means the grant guidance issued under section 4(e)(1). (5) Internet safety education program.--The term ``Internet safety education program'' means an age-appropriate, research- based program that encourages safe, ethical, and responsible use of the Internet, promotes an informed, critical understanding of the Internet, and educates children and communities about how to prevent or respond to problems or dangers related to the Internet or new media. (6) New media.--The term ``new media''-- (A) means emerging digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies that often have interactive capabilities; and (B) includes e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, websites, blogs, interactive gaming, social media, cell phones, and mobile devices. (7) Nonprofit.--The term ``nonprofit'' means that a person is an organization that is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of that Code. SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Authority To Make Grants.-- (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (e)(1), the Director, after consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may make grants to eligible entities to carry out an Internet safety education program and other activities relating to Internet safety. (2) Period.--A grant under this section shall be for a 2- year period. (b) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Director, which shall include-- (1) a description of the partnership arrangements, if any, of the eligible entity relating to the activities to be carried out with the grant; (2) a description of the measurable goals of the eligible entity relating to the activities to be carried out with the grant; (3) a description of how the Internet safety education program of the eligible entity shall achieve the measurable goals described in paragraph (2); (4) a description of the plan of the eligible entity to continue to implement the Internet safety education program after the grant under this section ends; (5) a description of how funds under the grant may be used and coordinated with Internet safety education programs being carried out on the date of enactment of this Act or other Internet safety education programs established with grants under this section; (6) a description of the demographics of the individuals that shall be targeted under the proposed Internet safety education program; and (7) any other information or assurances required by the Director. (c) Prioritization.--In making grants under this section, the Director shall give priority to an eligible entity that-- (1) is comprised of a partnership between 1 or more nonprofit groups and education agencies; (2) identifies and targets at-risk children; (3) works in partnership with the private sector, law enforcement, the philanthropic community, the media, researchers, social services organizations, or other community- based groups; (4) provides Internet safety education programs at no cost to students or schools; (5) accommodates different languages and language proficiencies; (6) accommodates differing levels of technological sophistication; or (7) has a viable plan to sustain the Internet safety education program after the grant program ends. (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use a grant under this section to-- (1) identify, develop, and implement Internet safety education programs, including educational technology, multimedia and interactive applications, online resources, and lesson plans; (2) provide professional training to elementary and secondary teachers, administrators, and other staff on Internet safety and new media literacy; (3) develop online-risk prevention programs for children; (4) train and support peer-driven Internet safety education initiatives; (5) coordinate and fund research initiatives that investigate online risks to children and Internet safety education; (6) develop and implement public education campaigns to promote awareness of online risks to children and Internet safety education; (7) educate parents about teaching their children how to use the Internet and new media safely, responsibly, and ethically and help parents identify and protect their children from risks relating to use of the Internet and new media; or (8) carry out any other activity approved by the Director. (e) Grant Guidance.-- (1) In general.--Before making grants under this section, and not later than 1 month after the date on which the study under paragraph (3)(A) is completed, the applicable agency heads, in consultation with education groups, Internet safety groups, and other relevant experts in the field of new media, shall issue detailed guidance for the grant program under this section. (2) Contents of guidance.--The grant guidance shall be in accordance with best practices relating to Internet education and the research-based recommendations derived from the study conducted under paragraph (3)(A). (3) Internet safety research.-- (A) Initial research.--The applicable agency heads shall enter into contracts with one or more private companies, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations to complete a study, not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, regarding-- (i) the nature and prevalence of Internet safety education programs and any evidence- based research conducted relating to the programs; (ii) findings regarding at-risk children; (iii) gaps in Internet safety education and youth online risk research; and (iv) any other area determined appropriate by the applicable agency heads. (B) Additional research.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the applicable agency heads shall enter into contracts with private companies, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations to conduct additional research regarding the issues described in subparagraph (A). Any research conducted under this subparagraph shall be included in the reports under subsection (g)(3). (f) Technical Assistance.--The applicable agency heads shall provide technical assistance to eligible entities that receive a grant under this section, which may include maintaining a website to facilitate outreach and communication among the eligible entities that receive a grant under this section. (g) Reports.-- (1) By eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall issue publically an annual report regarding the activities carried out using funds made available under the grant, which shall include-- (A) a description of how the eligible entity implemented the Internet safety education program carried out with the grant; (B) the number and demographic characteristics of the individuals reached; (C) an analysis of whether and to what degree the goals for the Internet safety education program were met; and (D) an analysis of the challenges, if any, that interfered with achieving the goals described in subparagraph (C). (2) Compilation of annual reports for revised grant guidance.--The applicable agency heads shall-- (A) review the report under paragraph (1) issued by each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section during the first fiscal year for which grants under this section are made; and (B) not later than 6 months after the date on which all reports described in subparagraph (A) are issued, modify the grant guidance based on the reports. (3) Reports to congress.--Not later than 27 months after the date on which the Director makes the first grant under this section, and annually thereafter, the applicable agency heads shall submit to Congress a report regarding the grant program under this section, which shall include-- (A) a compilation of the information and findings of the annual reports issued under paragraph (1); (B) the findings and conclusions of the applicable agency heads, including findings and conclusions relating to the effectiveness of Internet safety education programs carried out using a grant under this section; and (C) best practices identified by the applicable agency heads relating to Internet safety education. (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Of amounts made available to carry out this section, not more than 5 percent shall be available to carry out subsections (e), (f), and (g)(2).

School And Family Education about the Internet Act of 2009 or the SAFE Internet Act - Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to eligible entities to carry out an age-appropriate, research-based Internet safety education program and other activities relating to Internet safety. Defines "eligible entity" as: (1) a local educational agency, a nonprofit organization, or a partnership between a state educational agency and one or more local educational agencies; or (2) a consortium of elementary schools or secondary schools collaborating with such an entity. Requires the Director, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) enter into contracts with one or more private companies, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations to complete a study on Internet safety; and (2) provide technical assistance to recipients of such grants.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) Paraprofessionals are not substitutes for certified teachers. (2) Small class size is fundamental to all learning, but particularly in the early grades. (3) Putting more adults in the classroom helps to increase the attention paid to each student and to improve discipline. (4) Expanding the availability of entry-level classroom jobs that include opportunities for training and professional development should encourage more adults to enter teacher training and careers in education. SEC. 2. FUNDS FOR RECRUITING, HIRING, AND TRAINING PARAPROFESSIONALS. (a) State Allocations.--From the amount appropriated to carry out this Act for each fiscal year, the Secretary of Education-- (1) shall make available 1 percent of such amount to the Secretary of the Interior (on behalf of the Bureau of Indian Affairs) and the outlying areas for activities under this Act; and (2) shall allocate the remainder by providing each State the same percentage of that remainder as it received of the funds allocated to States under section 306(a)(2) of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, as enacted by section 1(a)(1) of Public Law 106-554. (b) Local Agency Allocations.--Each State that receives funds under this Act shall distribute 100 percent of such funds to local educational agencies, of which-- (1) 80 percent of such amount shall be allocated to local educational agencies in proportion to the number of children, aged 5 to 17, who reside in the school district served by a local educational agency from families with incomes below the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) applicable to a family of the size involved for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available compared to the number of such individuals who reside in the school districts served by all the local educational agencies in the State for that fiscal year; and (2) 20 percent of such amount shall be allocated to local educational agencies in accordance with the relative enrollments of children, aged 5 to 17, in public and private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools within the boundaries of such agencies. (c) Uses of Funds.-- (1) Purpose.--The basic purpose and intent of this Act is to decrease the ratio of students to personnel in public elementary and secondary school classrooms by assisting local educational agencies in the recruitment, hiring, and training of 100,000 new classroom paraprofessionals. Each local educational agency that receives funds under this Act shall use such funds to carry out effective approaches to achieving such ratio reductions in order to improve educational achievement for both regular and special needs children, with particular consideration given to making such reductions in the early elementary grades. (2) Recruitment, hiring, and training.-- (A) In general.--Each local educational agency that receives funds under this Act-- (i) may use up to 100 percent of the funds under this Act for recruiting (including through the use of signing bonuses and other financial incentives), hiring, and training paraprofessionals to assist teachers, including teachers employed in bilingual education, special education, and migrant education; and (ii) may use up to 25 percent of the funds under this Act-- (I) for providing professional development (which may include such activities as those described in section 2210 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110; 115 Stat. 1425)), opportunities for paraprofessionals to attend multi-week institutes, such as those made available during the summer months, that provide intensive professional development in partnership with local educational agencies, and initiatives that promote retention and mentoring), to paraprofessionals, including paraprofessionals who assist teachers employed in bilingual education, special education, and migrant education; or (II) to provide assistance to new and existing paraprofessionals to ensure that such individuals are highly qualified consistent with the requirements of subsections (c) and (d) of section 1119 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6319). (B) Special rule.--In the case of a local educational agency that has already reduced the ratio of students to instructional personnel in grades kindergarten through 3 to 18 or less (or has already reduced such ratio to a State or local goal that was in effect on the day before the enactment of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-554; 114 Stat. 2763), if that State or local educational agency goal is 20 or less) may use 100 percent of the funds received under this Act-- (i) to make further student-to-personnel ratio reductions in grades kindergarten through 3; (ii) to reduce the student-to-personnel ratio in other grades; (iii) to carry out activities to improve paraprofessional quality, including professional development; or (iv) to assist paraprofessionals to obtain the education necessary to become licensed and certified teachers. (3) Supplement, not supplant.--Each local educational agency that receives funds under this Act shall use such funds only to supplement, and not to supplant, State and local funds that, in the absence of funds under this Act, would otherwise be spent for activities under this Act. (4) Limitation.--No funds made available under this Act may be used to increase the salaries or provide benefits, other than participation in professional development, education, or enrichment programs, to paraprofessionals who are not hired under this Act. (d) Reporting.-- (1) In general.--Each State receiving funds under this Act shall submit to the Secretary on a biennial basis a report containing data on the use of funds, the types of services furnished, and the students served under this Act. (2) Reports to parents.--Each State and local educational agency receiving funds under this Act shall publicly report to parents on its progress in decreasing the ratio of students to personnel in elementary and secondary school classrooms by recruiting, hiring, and training paraprofessionals and on the impact such activities have had, if any, on increasing student academic achievement. (3) Disclosure of qualifications.--Each school receiving funds under this Act shall provide to parents, upon request, the qualifications of each member of their child's classroom instructional staff. (e) Administrative Costs.--A local educational agency that receives funds under this Act may use not more than 2 percent of such funds for local administrative costs. (f) Application.--Each local educational agency that desires to receive funds under this Act shall include in the application required under section 5133 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7215b) a description of the agency's program to reduce the ratio of students to personnel in elementary and secondary school classrooms by recruiting, hiring, and training paraprofessionals. (g) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act: (1) The term ``paraprofessional'' means an individual who is employed in a public elementary or secondary school under the supervision of a certified or licensed teacher, including individuals employed in bilingual education, special education, and migrant education. (2) The term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning given to that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Education. (4) The term ``State'' is defined as that term is used in section 306(a)(2) of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, as enacted by section 1(a)(1) of Public Law 106-554. (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.

Directs the Secretary of Education to allot funds to states for distribution to local educational agencies (LEAs) to recruit, hire, and train 100,000 new classroom paraprofessionals in order to improve educational achievement for children. Requires that 80% of a state's allotment be allocated to LEAs on the basis of each LEA's proportion of low-income schoolchildren in the state, and that the remainder be allocated on the basis of each LEA's proportion of the overall population of schoolchildren in the state.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Responsibility Act of 1995''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to promote compliance with Article I of the United States Constitution, which grants legislative powers solely to Congress. Article I ensures that Federal regulations will not take effect unless passed by a majority of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives and signed by the President, or that the members of the Senate and House of Representatives override the President's veto. This Act ends the practice whereby Congress delegates its responsibility for making regulations to unelected, unaccountable officials of the executive branch and requires that regulations proposed by agencies of the executive branch be affirmatively enacted by Congress before they become effective. The Act will result in a more democratic and accountable Congress and protect the public from regulations for which elected, accountable officials are unwilling to take responsibility. SEC. 3. ENACTMENT OF AGENCY REGULATIONS. (a) Congressional Approval.--A regulation shall not take effect before the date of the enactment of a bill described in section 4(a) comprised solely of the text of the regulation. (b) Agency Report.--Whenever an agency promulgates a regulation, the agency shall submit to each House of Congress a report containing the text of the proposed regulation and an explanation of the proposed regulation. The explanation shall consist of the concise general statement of their basis and purpose required by section 553 of title 5, United States Code and such explanatory documents as are mandated by other statutory requirements. SEC. 4. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL PROCEDURES FOR AGENCY REGULATIONS. (a) Introduction.--Not later than three legislative days after the date on which an agency submits a report under section 3(b), the Majority Leader of each House of Congress shall introduce (by request) a bill comprised solely of the text of the regulation contained in the report. If such a bill is not introduced in a House of Congress as provided in the preceding sentence, then any Member of that House may introduce such a bill. (b) Bill.--For purposes of this section, the term ``bill'' means a bill of the two Houses of Congress, the matter after the enacting clause of which is as follows: ``The following agency regulations are hereby approved and shall have the force and effect of law:'' (the text of the regulations being set forth after the semicolon). (c) Referral and Consideration.--(1) A bill described in subsection (b) shall not be referred to a committee. (2) It is in order for any Member of the respective House to move to proceed to the consideration of the bill. A Member may make the motion only on the day after the calendar day on which the Member announces to the House concerned the Member's intention to make the motion. All points of order against the bill (and against consideration of the bill) are waived. The motion is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the bill is agreed to, the respective House shall immediately proceed to consideration of the bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and the bill shall remain the unfinished business of the respective House until disposed of. (3) Debate on the bill, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than one hour, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the bill. An amendment to the bill is not in order. A motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable. A motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the bill is not in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the bill is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. (4) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the regulations of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to the bill shall be decided without debate. (d) Final Passage.--A vote on final passage of a bill described in subsection (b) shall be taken in a House of Congress on or before the close of the 60th calendar day after the date of the introduction of the bill in that House. (e) Exception.--A motion to suspend the application of subsections (c) and (d) is in order in either House of Congress and shall be considered as passed or agreed to by a vote of a majority of the Members voting. Upon the passage of such a motion, the bill shall be considered in the same manner as other bills. (f) Treatment if the Other House Has Acted.--(1) If, before the passage by one House of a bill introduced in that House described in subsection (b), that House receives from the other House a bill described in subsection (b) comprised of the same text, then: (A) The bill of the other House shall not be referred to a committee and may not be considered in the House receiving it except in the case of final passage as provided in subparagraph (B)(ii). (B) With respect to a bill described in subsection (b) of the House receiving the bill-- (i) the procedure in that House shall be the same as if no bill had been received from the other House; but (ii) the vote on final passage shall be on the bill of the other House. (2) Upon disposition of the bill received from the other House, it shall no longer be in order to consider the bill that originated in the receiving House. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act: (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code. (2) Regulation.--The term ``regulation'' has the meaning given the term ``rule'' in section 551(4) of title 5, United States Code, except that such term does not include-- (A) any regulation of particular applicability; or (B) any interpretative rule, general statement of policy, or any regulation of agency organization, personnel, procedure, or practice. SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall apply to agency regulations promulgated after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 7. JUDICIAL REVIEW. A regulation contained in a bill enacted pursuant to this Act is not an agency action for the purpose of Judicial review under chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code.

Congressional Responsibility Act of 1995 - Prohibits a regulation from taking effect before the enactment of a bill comprised solely of the text of the regulation. Requires an agency, whenever it promulgates a regulation, to submit to each House of the Congress a report containing its text and an explanation. Sets forth expedited congressional procedures for consideration of agency regulations.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare+Choice Rescue Act of 2000''. SEC. 2. INCREASE IN NATIONAL PER CAPITA MEDICARE+CHOICE GROWTH PERCENTAGE IN 2001 AND 2002. Section 1853(c)(6)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w- 23(c)(6)(B)) is amended-- (1) in clause (iv), by striking ``for 2001, 0.5 percentage points'' and inserting ``for 2001, 0 percentage points''; and (2) in clause (v), by striking ``for 2002, 0.3 percentage points'' and inserting ``for 2002, 0 percentage points''. SEC. 3. ELIMINATION OF REDUCTION IN MEDICARE+CHOICE PAYMENT RATES BY BUDGET NEUTRALITY ADJUSTMENTS. (a) In General.--Section 1853(c)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``With respect to years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, in no case shall the budget neutrality adjustment provided for in the previous sentence result in a reduction of the payment amount that would otherwise be made under this subparagraph but for such adjustment.''. SEC. 4. PAYMENT FLOOR FOR MEDICARE+CHOICE PLANS. (a) In General.--Section 1853(c)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)(1)) is amended-- (1) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking ``or (C)'' and inserting ``(C), or (D)''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) True floor based on 90 percent of the fee- for-service per capita expenditures for medicare+choice plans.--In the case of a plan, 90 percent of an amount equal to the annual per capita rate of payment described in section 1876(a)(1)(C) for the area involved.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) apply to payments for months beginning on or after January 2001. SEC. 5. CORRECTING FOR MISESTIMATES IN THE GROWTH RATE; LIMITING RETROACTIVE ADJUSTMENTS. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of payments under section 1853(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)) to Medicare+Choice organizations offering Medicare+Choice plans for 2001, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for an increase by 3.6 percent the amount of payment otherwise applicable to such plans under that section in 2001. (b) Hold Harmless for Errors in Estimates.--Section 1853(c)(6) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)(6)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``Beginning with rates'' and inserting ``Subject to subparagraph (D), beginning with rates''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) Hold harmless for over projections.-- Beginning with rates calculated for 2002, in making adjustments under subparagraph (C), in no case may the Secretary provide for an adjustment in a year for that results in a reduction of the national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage that is greater than 0.5 percent.''. SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL FLOOR FOR ANNUAL INCREASE IN MEDICARE+CHOICE CAPITATION RATES. Section 1853(c)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w- 23(c)(3)(C)) is amended-- (1) in clause (ii), by inserting ``(before 2002)'' after ``For a subsequent year''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new clause: ``(iii) For 2002 and each subsequent year, the greater of (I) 102 percent of the annual Medicare+Choice capitation rate under this paragraph for the area for the previous year, or (II) such rate for the previous year increased by the national per capita Medicare+Choice growth percentage, described in paragraph (6)(A) for the succeeding year.''. SEC. 7. APPLICATION OF BUDGET NEUTRALITY PRINCIPLE TO THE NEW MEDICARE+CHOICE RISK ADJUSTMENT METHODOLOGY. (a) In General.--Section 1853(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(a)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(E) Implementation in a budget neutral manner.-- The methodology under this paragraph shall be designed and implemented in a manner so that it does not result in any material change in the aggregate level of expenditures under this title compared to the level that would have occurred if such methodology had not been implemented (and if the previous risk adjustment methodology used in 1998 had continued to be implemented).''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and applies to payments for months beginning on or after January 2001. SEC. 8. PROVIDING FOR CONTINUOUS OPEN ENROLLMENT AND DISENROLLMENT. (a) In General.--Section 1851(e)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21(e)(2)) is amended to read as follows: ``(2) Continuous open enrollment and disenrollment.-- Subject to paragraph (5), a Medicare+Choice eligible individual may change the election under subsection (a)(1) at any time.''. (b) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Medicare+choice.--Section 1851(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21(e)) is amended-- (A) in paragraph (4)-- (i) by striking ``Effective as of January 1, 2002, an'' and inserting ``An''; (ii) by striking ``other than during an annual, coordinated election period''; (iii) by inserting ``in a special election period for such purpose'' after ``make a new election under this section''; and (iv) by striking the second sentence; and (B) in paragraphs (5)(B) and (6)(A), by striking ``the first sentence of''. (2) Medigap.--Section 1882(s)(3)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)(3)(B)) is amended-- (A) in clause (ii), by striking ``permitting discontinuance of the individual's election of the plan under the first sentence of section 1851(e)(4)'' and inserting ``providing the individual a special election period under section 1851(e)(4)''; and (B) in clause (iii), by striking ``permit discontinuance of an individual's election of coverage under the first sentence of section 1851(e)(4)'' and inserting ``provide the individual a special election period under section 1851(e)(4)''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2002. SEC. 9. ALLOWING VARIATION IN PREMIUMS AND BENEFITS WITHIN COUNTIES. (a) In General.--Subsections (c) and (f)(1)(D) of section 1854 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-24) are each amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, expect that the Secretary shall provide for exceptions based on provider catchment area that may be a geographic area that is smaller than a county or a catchment area that crosses the boundaries of two or more counties''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) apply with respect to years beginning on or after January 1, 2001. SEC. 10. MODIFYING PHASE-IN OF MEDICARE+CHOICE RISK-ADJUSTMENT METHODOLOGY FOR INSTITUTIONALIZED MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide that the risk-adjustment methodology applied under section 1853(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(a)), insofar as it makes adjustments to capitation rates for health status, shall only apply to 10 percent of \1/12\ of the annual Medicare+Choice capitation rate in the case of an eligible individual who is institutionalized (as defined for purposes of section 1851(e)(2)(D) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w- 21(e)(2)(D))) until the first year in which the Secretary implements a modification of such methodology based on health status so that such methodology includes medical diagnostic factors from all provider settings (including hospital and nursing facility settings).

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to correct for misestimates in the national per capita Medicare+Choice growth rate by providing for an increase by 3.6 percent in the amount of payment otherwise applicable to Medicare+Choice organizations offering Medicare+Choice plans in 2001. Limits retroactive adjustments. Amends Medicare part C to provide for: (1) continuous open enrollment and disenrollment under Medicare+Choice and Medicare supplemental policy (Medigap) provisions on coverage election periods; and (2) variations in premiums and benefits under Medicare+Choice within counties. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide that risk-adjustment methodology under Medicare+Choice, insofar as it makes adjustments to capitation rates for health status, shall not only apply to ten percent of 1/12 of the annual Medicare+Choice capitation rate in the case of an eligible individual who is institutionalized until the first year in which the Secretary implements a modification of such methodology based on health status so that such methodology includes medical diagnostic factors from all provider settings (including hospital and nursing facility settings).

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Reducing Information Control Designations Act''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to increase Governmentwide information sharing and the availability of information to the public by standardizing and limiting the use of information control designations. SEC. 3. REGULATIONS RELATING TO INFORMATION CONTROL DESIGNATIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. (a) Requirement To Reduce and Minimize Information Control Designations.--Each Federal agency shall reduce and minimize its use of information control designations on information that is not classified. (b) Archivist Responsibilities.-- (1) Regulations.--The Archivist of the United States shall promulgate regulations regarding the use of information control designations. (2) Requirements.--The regulations under this subsection shall address, at a minimum, the following: (A) Standards for utilizing the information control designations in a manner that is narrowly tailored to maximize public access to information. (B) The process by which information control designations will be removed. (C) Procedures for identifying, marking, dating, and tracking information assigned the information control designations, including the identity of officials making the designations. (D) Provisions to ensure that the use of information control designations is minimized and cannot be used on information-- (i) to conceal violations of law, inefficiency, or administrative error; (ii) to prevent embarrassment to Federal, State, local, tribal, or territorial governments or any official, agency, or organization thereof; any agency; or any organization; (iii) to improperly or unlawfully interfere with competition in the private sector; (iv) to prevent or delay the release of information that does not require such protection; (v) if it is required to be made available to the public; or (vi) if it has already been released to the public under proper authority. (E) Provisions to ensure that the presumption shall be that information control designations are not necessary. (F) Methods to ensure that compliance with this Act protects national security and privacy rights. (G) The establishment of requirements that Federal agencies, subject to chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, implement the following: (i) A process whereby an individual may challenge without retribution the application of information control designations by another individual and be rewarded with specific incentives for successful challenges resulting in-- (I) the removal of improper information control designations; or (II) the correct application of appropriate information control designations. (ii) A method for informing individuals that repeated failure to comply with the policies, procedures, and programs established under this section could subject them to a series of penalties. (iii) Penalties for individuals who repeatedly fail to comply with the policies, procedures, and programs established under this section after having received both notice of their noncompliance and appropriate training or re-training to address such noncompliance. (H) Procedures for members of the public to be heard regarding improper applications of information control designations. (I) A procedure to ensure that all agency policies and standards for utilizing information control designations that are issued pursuant to subsection (c) be provided to the Archivist and that such policies and standards are made publicly available on the website of the National Archives and Records Administration. (3) Consultation.--In promulgating the regulations, the Archivist shall consult with the heads of Federal agencies and with representatives of State, local, tribal, and territorial governments; law enforcement entities; organizations with expertise in civil rights, employee and labor rights, civil liberties, and government oversight; and the private sector, as appropriate. (c) Agency Responsibilities.--The head of each Federal agency shall implement the regulations promulgated by the Archivist under subsection (b) in the agency in a manner that ensures that-- (1) information can be shared within the agency, with other agencies, and with State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, the private sector, and the public, as appropriate; (2) all policies and standards for utilizing information control designations are consistent with such regulations; (3) the number of individuals with authority to apply information control designations is limited; and (4) information control designations may be placed only on the portion of information that requires control and not on the entire material. SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF INFORMATION CONTROL DESIGNATION REGULATIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. (a) Inspector General Responsibilities.--The Inspector General of each Federal agency, in consultation with the Archivist, shall randomly audit unclassified information with information control designations. In conducting any such audit, the Inspector General shall-- (1) assess whether applicable policies, procedures, rules, and regulations have been followed; (2) describe any problems with the administration of the applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations, including specific non-compliance issues; (3) recommend improvements in awareness and training to address any problems identified under paragraph (2); and (4) report to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Archivist, and the public on the findings of the Inspector General's audits under this section. (b) Personal Identifiers.-- (1) In general.--For purposes described in paragraph (2), the Archivist of the United States shall require that, at the time of designation of information, the following shall appear on the information: (A) The name or personal identifier of the individual applying information control designations to the information. (B) The agency, office, and position of the individual. (2) Purposes.--The purposes described in this paragraph are as follows: (A) To enable the agency to identify and address misuse of information control designations, including the misapplication of information control designations to information that does not merit such markings. (B) To assess the information sharing impact of any such problems or misuse. (c) Training.--The Archivist, subject to chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, and in coordination with the heads of Federal agencies, shall-- (1) require training as needed for each individual who applies information control designations, including-- (A) instruction on the prevention of the overuse of information control designations; (B) the standards for applying information control designations; (C) the proper application of information control designations, including portion markings; (D) the consequences of repeated improper application of information control designations, including the misapplication of information control designations to information that does not merit such markings, and of failing to comply with the policies and procedures established under or pursuant to this section; and (E) information relating to lessons learned about improper application of information control designations, including lessons learned pursuant to the regulations and Inspector General audits required under this Act and any internal agency audits; and (2) ensure that such program is conducted efficiently, in conjunction with any other security, intelligence, or other training programs required by the agency to reduce the costs and administrative burdens associated with the additional training required by this section. (d) Detailee Program.-- (1) Requirement for program.--The Archivist, subject to chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, shall implement a detailee program to detail Federal agency personnel, on a nonreimbursable basis, to the National Archives and Records Administration, for the purpose of-- (A) training and educational benefit for agency personnel assigned so that they may better understand the policies, procedures, and laws governing information control designations; (B) bolstering the ability of the National Archives and Records Administration to conduct its oversight authorities over agencies; and (C) ensuring that the policies and procedures established by the agencies remain consistent with those established by the Archivist of the United States. (2) Sunset of detailee program.--Except as otherwise provided by law, this subsection shall cease to have effect on December 31, 2012. SEC. 5. RELEASING INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. (a) Agency Responsibilities.--The head of each Federal agency shall ensure that-- (1) information control designations are not a determinant of public disclosure pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Freedom of Information Act''); and (2) all information in the agency's possession that is releasable is made available to members of the public pursuant to an appropriate request under such section 552. (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent or discourage any Federal agency from voluntarily releasing to the public any unclassified information that is not exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Freedom of Information Act''). SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Information control designations.--The term ``information control designations'' means information dissemination controls, not defined by Federal statute or by an Executive order relating to the classification of national security information, that are used to manage, direct, or route information, or control the accessibility of information, regardless of its form or format. The term includes, but is not limited to, the designations of ``controlled unclassified information'', ``sensitive but unclassified'', and ``for official use only''. (2) Information.--The term ``information'' means any communicable knowledge or documentary material, regardless of its physical form or characteristics, that is owned by, is produced by or for, or is under the control of the Federal Government. (3) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' means-- (A) any Executive agency, as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code; (B) any military department, as that term is defined in section 102 of such title; and (C) any other entity within the executive branch that comes into the possession of classified information. SEC. 7. DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION. Regulations shall be promulgated in final form under this Act, and implementation of the requirements of this Act shall begin, not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2008. Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, Clerk.

Reducing Information Control Designations Act - (Sec. 3) Requires each federal agency to reduce and minimize its use of information control designations on information that is not classified. Defines such designations to mean information dissemination controls that are not defined by federal statute or executive order relating to the classification of national security information and that are used to manage, direct, or route information or to control the accessibility of information, regardless of its form or format. Requires the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations to address: (1) standards for the use of the such designations to maximize public access to information; (2) the process for removing such designations; (3) procedures for identifying and tracking designated information; (4) provisions to minimize the use of such designations to prevent misuse and interference with competition in the private sector; and (5) a process for individuals and the public to challenge the use of such designations. Requires the head of each federal agency to: (1) implement the regulations promulgated by the Archivist to encourage the sharing of information; and (2) ensure that such designations do not determine public disclosure requirements under the Freedom of Information Act. (Sec. 4) Requires the Inspector General of each federal agency to randomly audit and report to Congress on unclassified information with such designations to determine compliance. Directs the Archivist to: (1) require personal identifiers and agency affiliations of individuals applying such designations: (2) require training of such individuals; and (3) implement a program to detail federal employees to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to train such employees. Terminates such detailee program on December 31, 2012. (Sec. 7) Requires promulgation of final regulations and implementation of the requirements of this Act within 24 months.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Tax Equity for School Teachers Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES AND CLASSROOM SUPPLIES OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATION EXPENSES OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR MATH TEACHERS. (a) Deduction Allowed Whether or Not Taxpayer Itemizes Other Deductions.--Subparagraph (D) of section 62(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers) is amended to read as follows: ``(D) Certain professional development expenses, classroom supplies, and other expenses for elementary and secondary teachers.--The sum of the deductions allowed by section 162 with respect to the following expenses: ``(i) Expenses paid or incurred by an eligible educator in connection with books, supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), computer equipment (including related software and services) and other equipment, and supplementary materials used by the eligible educator in the classroom. ``(ii) Expenses paid or incurred by an eligible educator which constitute qualified professional development expenses. ``(iii) Expenses which are related to the initial certification of an individual (in the individual's State licensing system) as a qualified science, technology, engineering or math teacher.''. (b) Definitions and Special Rules.--Section 62(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to definitions and special rules is amended by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (5) and by adding after paragraph (1) the following new paragraphs: ``(2) Qualified professional development expenses.--For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(D)-- ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified professional development expenses' means expenses for tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and transportation required for the enrollment or attendance of an individual in a qualified course of instruction. ``(B) Qualified course of instruction.--The term `qualified course of instruction' means a course of instruction which-- ``(i) is-- ``(I) directly related to the curriculum and academic subjects in which an eligible educator provides instruction, ``(II) designed to enhance the ability of an eligible educator to understand and use State standards for the academic subjects in which such teacher provides instruction, or ``(III) designed to enable an eligible educator to meet the highly qualified teacher requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, ``(ii) may provide instruction to an eligible educator-- ``(I) in how to teach children with different learning styles, particularly children with disabilities and children with special learning needs (including children who are gifted and talented), or ``(II) in how best to discipline children in the classroom and identify early and appropriate interventions to help children described in subclause (I) to learn, ``(iii) is tied to the ability of an eligible educator to enable students to meet challenging State or local content standards and student performance standards, ``(iv) is tied to strategies and programs that demonstrate effectiveness in assisting an eligible educator in increasing student academic achievement and student performance, or substantially increasing the knowledge and teaching skills of an eligible educator, and ``(v) is part of a program of professional development for eligible educators which is approved and certified by the appropriate local educational agency as furthering the goals of the preceding clauses. ``(C) Local educational agency.--The term `local educational agency' has the meaning given such term by section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this subsection. ``(3) Qualified science, technology, engineering, or math teacher.--For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(D), the term `qualified science, technology, engineering, or math teacher' means, with respect to a taxable year, an individual who-- ``(A) has a bachelor's degree or other advanced degree in a field related to science, technology, engineering, or math, ``(B) was employed as a nonteaching professional in a field related to science, technology, engineering, or math for not less than 3 taxable years during the 10- taxable-year period ending with the taxable year, ``(C) is certified as a teacher of science, technology, engineering, or math in the individual's State licensing system for the first time during such taxable year, and ``(D) is employed at least part-time as a teacher of science, technology, engineering, or math in an elementary or secondary school during such taxable year. ``(4) Exemption from minimum education or new trade or business exception.--For purposes of applying subsection (a)(2)(D) and this subsection, the determination as to whether qualified professional development expenses, or expenses for the initial certification described in subsection (a)(2)(D)(iii), are deductible under section 162 shall be made without regard to any disallowance of such a deduction under such section for such expenses because such expenses are necessary to meet the minimum educational requirements for qualification for employment or qualify the individual for a new trade or business.''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005.

Tax Equity for School Teachers Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reinstate and revise the tax deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers (allowed whether or not the taxpayer itemizes other deductions); (2) make such deduction permanent; and (3) expand such deduction to include expenses for professional development and expenses related to the initial certification of qualified science, technology, engineering, or math teachers.

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Make a summary of the following text: That this Act may be cited as the ``Intergovernmental Mandate Relief Act of 1993''. findings and purpose Sec. 2. (a) The Congress finds and declares that-- (1) Federal regulation of State and local governments has become increasingly extensive and intrusive in recent years; (2) such regulation has, in many instances, adversely affected the ability of State and local governments to achieve their independent responsibilities; and (3) such excessive fiscal burdens also undermine the attainment of the goals of Federal regulations. (b) Therefore, it is the purpose of this Act to establish procedures to assure that the Federal Government pays the total amount of additional direct costs incurred by State and local governments in complying with any intergovernmental regulation which takes effect on or after the date of enactment of this Act. definitions Sec. 3. For purposes of this Act, the term-- (1) ``additional direct costs'' means the amount of costs incurred by a State or local government solely in complying with an intergovernmental regulation promulgated pursuant to a Federal law concerning a particular activity which is in excess of the amount that such State or local government would be required to expend in carrying out such activity in the absence of such law, except that such term does not include any amount which a State or local government is required by law to contribute as a non-Federal share under a Federal assistance program; (2) ``Director'' means the Director of the Congressional Budget Office; (3) ``Federal agency'' has the meaning given to the term ``executive agency'' in section 6501(3) of title 31, United States Code; (4) ``Federal assistance'' means any assistance provided by a Federal agency to State and local governments or other recipients, in the form of grants, loans, loan guarantees, property, cooperative agreements, or technical assistance, except that such term does not include direct cash assistance to individuals, contracts for the procurement of goods or services for the United States, or insurance; (5) ``Intergovernmental regulation'' means a regulation promulgated by a Federal agency that requires a State or local government to take certain actions or requires a State or local government to comply with certain specified conditions in order to receive or continue to receive Federal assistance and which requires the termination or reduction of such assistance if such government fails to comply with such conditions; (6) ``local government'' has the same meaning as in section 6501(6) of title 31, United States Code; (7) ``significant law'' means any Federal law which is likely, in the judgment of the Director, to result in total additional direct costs to all State and local governments of $25,000,000 or more in any fiscal year, or is likely to have exceptional fiscal consequences for a geographic region or a particular level of government; and (8) ``State'' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. compensation of state and local governments for additional direct costs Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a Federal agency or a court of the United States shall not require State governments or local governments to comply, in any fiscal year, with any intergovernmental regulation which-- (1) takes effect on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) is promulgated pursuant to a significant law, unless provisions of law have been enacted which provide a sufficient amount of funds for such fiscal year to reimburse such governments for the total amount of additional direct costs that will be incurred by such governments in complying with such regulation during such fiscal year. (b)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a Federal agency or a court of the United States may require State and local governments to comply with an intergovernmental regulation to which subsection (a) applies and which will be in effect during a fiscal year if, with respect to such intergovernmental regulation and such fiscal year, a joint resolution described in paragraph (2) is enacted by a two-thirds vote of the Members of each House of Congress, duly chosen and sworn. (2) A joint resolution referred to in paragraph (1) is a joint resolution which, with respect to an intergovernmental regulation that will be in effect during a fiscal year, waives the provisions of subsection (a) that require that provisions of law be enacted to provide a sufficient amount of funds for such fiscal year to reimburse State and local governments for the total amount of additional direct costs that will be incurred by such governments in complying with such regulation during such fiscal year. (c) For purposes of this section, the total amount of additional direct costs that will be incurred by State governments and local governments in complying with an intergovernmental regulation in any fiscal year shall be the total amount of such costs for such regulation estimated by the Director for such fiscal year in the report required under section 5 for such fiscal year. report by the director Sec. 5. (a) For each fiscal year in which an intergovernmental regulation promulgated pursuant to a significant law will be in effect, the Director shall prepare and transmit to the President and the Congress a report specifying, for each such intergovernmental regulation and with respect to such fiscal year and the fiscal year succeeding such fiscal year-- (1) an estimate of the total amount of additional direct costs that will be incurred by all State governments and local governments in complying with such intergovernmental regulation in each such fiscal year; and (2) an estimate, for each such intergovernmental regulation, of-- (A) the total amount of additional direct costs that have been incurred or will be incurred in each such fiscal year by the government of each State and all local governments in such State in complying with such regulation in each such fiscal year; and (B) the ratio (stated as a percentage) which the total amount of additional direct costs that have been incurred or will be incurred by all local governments in a State in complying with such regulation in each such fiscal year bears to the total amount of additional direct costs that have been incurred or will be incurred by the government of such State and all local governments in such State in complying with such regulation in such fiscal year. (b) The Director shall transmit each report required by subsection (a) for a fiscal year to the President and the Congress by September 1 of the fiscal year preceding such fiscal year. certain legislative action required Sec. 6. (a) For each fiscal year in which an intergovernmental regulation promulgated pursuant to a significant law will be in effect, the chairman of the committees of the Senate and of the House of Representatives having legislative jurisdiction over such significant law shall propose, to an appropriate bill or resolution providing funds for such fiscal year, an amendment containing provisions to appropriate funds to reimburse State governments and local governments for the additional direct costs incurred in complying with such regulation. The amount of funds proposed to be appropriated by such amendment shall be equal to or in excess of the amount described in section 4(a). (b) Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to an intergovernmental regulation which will be in effect during a fiscal year if, with respect to such intergovernmental regulation and such fiscal year, a joint resolution has been enacted in accordance with section 4(b). payment of reimbursements Sec. 7. (a)(1) The head of each Federal agency which administers an intergovernmental regulation promulgated pursuant to a significant law shall pay to each State government in each fiscal year the amount determined pursuant to this section to reimburse the State government and local governments in the State for the additional direct costs incurred by such governments in complying with such regulation in such fiscal year. (2) A State government which receives payments under this section for reimbursement for additional direct costs incurred in complying with an intergovernmental regulation in any fiscal year shall pay to each local government in the State the amount determined pursuant to this section to reimburse such local government for the additional direct costs incurred by such local government in complying with such regulation in such fiscal year. (b) The total amount to be paid to a State to reimburse the government of the State and local governments in the State for additional direct costs incurred by such governments in complying with an intergovernmental regulation in any fiscal year shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to the total amount for reimbursement of additional direct costs for all State governments and local governments described in section 4(a) with respect to such regulation for such fiscal year as the total amount of additional direct costs with respect to such regulation specified under section 5(a)(2)(A) for such State government and local governments in such State for such fiscal year in the report submitted by the Director under section 5 for such fiscal year bears to the total amount of additional direct costs with respect to such regulation which are specified under section 5(a)(1) in such report for all State governments and all local governments for such fiscal year. (c)(1) The total amount to be paid by a State government to local governments in such State to reimburse such governments for additional direct costs incurred by such governments in complying with an intergovernmental regulation in any fiscal year shall be equal to the product of the amount paid to the State under subsection (b) for such fiscal year multiplied by the ratio specified by the Director for such State under section 5(a)(2)(B) with respect to such regulation for such fiscal year in the report submitted by the Director under section 5 for such fiscal year. (2)(A) A State government which receives payments under this section to reimburse local governments in the State for the additional direct costs incurred by such governments in complying with an intergovernmental regulation in any fiscal year shall pay to each such local government an amount equal to the product of-- (i) the total amount determined under paragraph (1) with respect to such regulation for such fiscal year, multiplied by (ii) the ratio (stated as a percentage and estimated by the State in accordance with subparagraph (B)) that the total amount of additional direct costs incurred by such local government in complying with such regulation in such fiscal year bears to the total amount of additional direct costs incurred by all local governments in such State in complying with such regulation in such fiscal year. (B) Each State government which receives payments under this section for any fiscal year shall provide by law for the estimation of the amount of additional direct costs incurred by each local government in such State in complying with an intergovernmental regulation for which such payments are received. In providing for the estimation of such costs, the State shall establish procedures and methods for the estimation of such costs which are reasonably related to the actual additional direct costs incurred by such governments in complying with such regulation in such fiscal year. (d) This section does not apply with respect to an intergovernmental regulation which will be in effect during a fiscal year if, with respect to such intergovernmental regulation and such fiscal year, a joint resolution has been enacted in accordance with section 4(b). effect of subsequent enactments Sec 8. No law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act shall supersede the provisions of this Act unless such law does so in specific terms, referring to this Act and declares that such law supersedes the provisions of this Act. miscellaneous Sec. 9. Section 403(c) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by striking out ``$200,000,000'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``$100,000,000''.

Intergovernmental Mandate Relief Act of 1993 - Prohibits a Federal agency or court from requiring compliance in any fiscal year by State or local governments with any intergovernmental regulation unless provisions of law have been enacted which compensate such governments for additional direct costs incurred by such compliance. Declares that the compensation requirement may be waived by the enactment of a joint resolution of the Congress. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate such additional direct costs and include such estimates in annual reports to the President and the Congress. Requires congressional committees to propose amendments to significant laws for which regulations will be promulgated containing provisions to compensate State and local governments for additional direct costs of complying with any intergovernmental regulation which takes effect on or after enactment of this Act. Establishes procedures for Federal agencies to reimburse State governments for additional direct costs and for State governments to reimburse local governments for such costs. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require CBO to prepare cost estimates for bills or resolutions which are likely to cost State and local governments $100 million (currently, $200 million) or more annually.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Fentanyl and Heroin Task Force Act''. SEC. 2. FENTANYL AND HEROIN TASK FORCE. (a) Amendment To Establish Task Force.--The Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 520 the following new section: ``SEC. 521. FENTANYL AND HEROIN TASK FORCE. ``(a) Inter-Agency Task Force.--Not more than one year after the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall establish a task force to be known as the `Fentanyl and Heroin Inter-Agency Task Force' (in this section referred to as the `Task Force'). ``(b) Duties.--The Task Force shall-- ``(1) coordinate Federal agency efforts to identify, target, and dismantle organizations that traffic fentanyl or heroin; ``(2) identify sources of fentanyl and heroin production and distribution; and ``(3) provide to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies-- ``(A) a description of best practices with respect to handling and disposal of fentanyl; ``(B) as necessary, updated information about efforts to identify, target, and dismantle organizations that traffic fentanyl or heroin; and ``(C) operational and investigative support with respect to efforts to identify, target, and dismantle organizations that traffic fentanyl or heroin. ``(c) Semiannual Report.-- ``(1) Timing.--Not later than one year after the date of the establishment of the Task Force, and semiannually thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report containing the information described in paragraph (2). ``(2) Content.--A report under paragraph (1) shall include-- ``(A) a description of the status of fentanyl and heroin trafficking within the United States during the previous six-month period; ``(B) a summary of Federal, State, and local efforts to eradicate fentanyl and heroin trafficking and an evaluation of the efficacy of those efforts; and ``(C) recommendations of the Task Force with respect to any authorizations by Congress that would enable the Task Force to carry out the duties under subsection (b). ``(d) Membership.-- ``(1) Composition.--The Task Force shall include a chairperson and representatives selected by the heads of the following Federal entities-- ``(A) Customs and Border Protection; ``(B) the Drug Enforcement Administration; ``(C) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; ``(D) Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; ``(E) the International Trade Administration; ``(F) the Internal Revenue Service; ``(G) the Office of National Drug Control Policy; ``(H) the United States Postal Inspection Service; and ``(I) not more than two additional Federal agencies selected by the Attorney General. ``(2) Chairperson.--The Attorney General shall appoint the chairperson of the Task Force. ``(3) Term of membership.--Members of the Task Force shall serve until the head of the respective entity of the member appoints a new representative to the Task Force. The chairperson shall serve until the Attorney General appoints a new chairperson. ``(4) Member pay.--Members of the Task Force may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Task Force. ``(e) Operating Rules and Procedures.-- ``(1) Voting.--Each member of the Task Force shall have one vote. ``(2) Rules and procedures.--Any member of the Task Force may propose to create or alter existing operating rules and procedures consistent with the functions of the Task Force. Any change to the operating rules and procedures shall be adopted only upon a majority vote of the Task Force. ``(3) Recommendations.--The Task Force shall adopt recommendations under subsection (c)(2)(C) only upon a majority vote of the board. ``(4) Quorum.--Six members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold meetings. ``(f) Director and Staff.-- ``(1) Director.--The Task Force may appoint and set the pay of a director. ``(2) Staff.--The director may appoint not more than 10 staff personnel as the director considers appropriate. ``(3) Applicability of certain civil service laws.--The staff of the Task Force shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. ``(4) Experts and consultants.--The Task Force and the director, acting with the approval of the Task Force, may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. ``(5) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon the request of the director, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Task Force to assist it in carrying out its duties under this section. ``(g) Powers of the Task Force.-- ``(1) Hearings and sessions.--The Task Force may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Task Force considers appropriate. ``(2) Powers of members and agents.--Any member or agent of the Task Force may, if authorized by the Task Force, take any action which the Task Force is authorized to take by this section. ``(3) Obtaining official data.--Subject to applicable privacy laws and regulations, the Task Force may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the chairperson of the Task Force, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the Task Force. ``(4) Mails.--The Task Force may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States. ``(5) Administrative support services.--Upon the request of the Task Force, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Task Force, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Task Force to carry out its duties under this section. ``(6) Contract authority.--To the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Task Force may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons for services necessary to carry out its duties under this section. ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2024 to carry out this section. ``(i) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section: ``(1) Fentanyl.--The term `fentanyl' includes any controlled substance analogue of fentanyl. ``(2) Heroin.--The term `heroin' includes any controlled substance analogue of heroin.''. (b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents for the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended by adding after the item relating to section 520 the following: ``Sec. 521. Fentanyl and Heroin Task Force.''.

Fentanyl and Heroin Task Force Act This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish the Fentanyl and Heroin Inter-Agency Task Force: (1) to coordinate federal efforts to identify, target, and dismantle organizations that traffic fentanyl or heroin; (2) to identify sources of fentanyl and heroin production and distribution; and (3) to provide best practices, updated information, and support to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Extension of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002. Sec. 3. Entitlement to additional weeks of temporary extended unemployment compensation. Sec. 4. Application of revised rate of insured unemployment. Sec. 5. Additional TEUC extended benefit period trigger. Sec. 6. Additional weeks of benefits for workers in high unemployment States. Sec. 7. Effective date. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION ACT OF 2002. (a) Six-Month Extension of Program.--Section 208 of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 30) is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 208. APPLICABILITY. ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), an agreement entered into under this title shall apply to weeks of unemployment-- ``(1) beginning after the date on which such agreement is entered into; and ``(2) ending before July 1, 2003. ``(b) Transition.--In the case of an individual who is receiving temporary emergency unemployment compensation for the week which immediately precedes July 1, 2003, temporary emergency unemployment compensation shall continue to be payable to such individual for any week thereafter from the account from which such individual received compensation for the week which includes such termination date. No compensation shall be payable by reason of the preceding sentence for any week beginning after October 14, 2003.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 21). SEC. 3. ENTITLEMENT TO ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF TEMPORARY EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION. Paragraph (1) of section 203(b) of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 21) is amended to read as follows: ``(1) In general.--The amount established in an account under subsection (a) shall be equal to 26 times the individual's weekly benefit amount for the benefit year.''. SEC. 4. APPLICATION OF REVISED RATE OF INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT. Section 207 of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 21) is amended-- (1) by striking ``In this title, the terms'' and inserting the following: ``In this title: ``(1) General definitions.--The terms''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(2) Adjusted insured unemployment rate.--For weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date of enactment of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002, the term `rate of insured unemployment' has the meaning given that term in section 203(e)(1) of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note), except that individuals exhausting their right to regular compensation during the most recent 3 calendar months for which data are available before the close of the period for which such rate is being determined shall be taken into account as if they were individuals filing claims for regular compensation for each week during the period for which such rate is being determined.''. SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL TEUC EXTENDED BENEFIT PERIOD TRIGGER. (a) In General.--Section 203(c) of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 21) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) Additional extended benefit period trigger.-- ``(A) In general.--Effective with respect to compensation for weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date of enactment of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002, an agreement under this title shall provide that, in addition to any other extended benefit period trigger, for purposes of beginning or ending any extended benefit period under this section-- ``(i) there is a State `on' indicator for a week if-- ``(I) the average rate of total unemployment in such State (seasonally adjusted) for the period consisting of the most recent 3 months for which data for all States are published before the close of such week equals or exceeds 6 percent; and ``(II) the average rate of total unemployment in such State (seasonally adjusted) for the 3-month period referred to in clause (i) equals or exceeds 110 percent of such average rate for either (or both) of the corresponding 3-month periods ending in the 2 preceding calendar years; and ``(ii) there is a State `off' indicator for a week if either the requirements of subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) are not satisfied. ``(B) No effect on other determinations.-- Notwithstanding the provisions of any agreement described in subparagraph (A), any week for which there would otherwise be a State `on' indicator shall continue to be such a week and shall not be determined to be a week for which there is a State `off' indicator. ``(C) Determinations made by the secretary.--For purposes of this subsection, determinations of the rate of total unemployment in any State for any period (and of any seasonal adjustment) shall be made by the Secretary.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 203(c)(1) of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 21) is amended by inserting ``or (3)'' after ``paragraph (2)''. SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF BENEFITS FOR WORKERS IN HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT STATES. Section 203(c)(1) of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-147; 116 Stat. 30) is amended by striking ``an amount equal to the amount originally established in such account (as determined under subsection (b)(1))'' and inserting ``7 times the individual's weekly benefit amount for the benefit year''. SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date of enactment this Act.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA, which is title II of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, PL107-147) to extend the TEUCA program through weeks of unemployment ending before July 1, 2003 (currently January 1, 2003).Entitles eligible individuals in all States to a total of 26 weeks of TEUCA compensation (13 weeks beyond the current 13 weeks).Provides an additional seven weeks of TEUCA benefits for workers in high unemployment States (entitling them to a total of 33, which is 20 weeks beyond the current 13).Applies a revised adjusted insured unemployment rate State trigger. Sets an additional TEUCA benefit period State trigger based on total unemployment rate.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Canyon Ferry Recreation, Tourism, and Economic Development Management Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds and declares that-- (1) there is a Federal responsibility to provide opportunities for public recreation, tourism, and economic development at Federal water projects, in partnership with other Federal and non-Federal interests; (2) certain provisions of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act (Public Law 89-72 as amended) unduly restrict the management of the Canyon Ferry Recreation Management Area because the provisions do not allow for the increasing economic burden that construction and management of recreational facilities are placing on managing entities, especially at the State and local levels; (3) non-Federal responsibility for a significant portion of all costs of operation, maintenance, and replacement of facilities on Federal lands at the Canyon Ferry Recreation Management Area as well as total management responsibility is an unfair burden on non-Federal managers, especially in instances where the facilities are old, underdesigned, do not provide adequate access for the disabled, and are utilized by national and international publics, and responsibilities for complex fisheries reservoir management and for wildlife and wetlands management have been borne solely by the non-Federal entities, further increasing the overall management burden; and (4) the recreational, tourism, and economic development needs at the Canyon Ferry Recreation Area can best be met through cooperative management efforts by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the State of Montana, and other appropriate entities. SEC. 3. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. (a) Authorization.--The Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management, may enter into such agreements as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. (b) Contents of Agreements.--Any management agreement entered into under this Act shall provide that the management responsibilities given to the Bureau of Land Management for lands withdrawn or acquired for reclamation purposes shall be accomplished in accordance with the statutory authority generally exercised by the Bureau of Land Management in the management of the public lands. SEC. 4. PROTECTION OF AUTHORIZED PURPOSES OF RECLAMATION PROJECTS. (a) No Alteration of Purposes of Canyon Ferry Unit.--Nothing in this Act is intended to change, modify, or expand the authorized purposes of the Canyon Ferry Unit. (b) Original Purpose of Canyon Ferry Dam and Reservoir Unaffected.--Nothing in this Act shall change the responsibility of the Bureau of Reclamation to meet the needs for which the Canyon Ferry Dam and Reservoir were originally constructed. (c) No Authorization to Affect Water Supply.--This Act is not intended to authorize any action or inaction by any person, including any person who has contracted for the water supply from a reclamation project, that reduces the quantity, or modifies the time and manner of availability, of the water supply from the Canyon Ferry Unit to project beneficiaries. SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT. (a) Management Under the Plan.--The Secretary shall manage all lands and facilities in the area associated with recreation, tourism, and related economic development pursuant to the Canyon Ferry Resources Management Plan, of 1993, and any amendments thereto. (b) Exemption From Provisions of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act.--Provisions of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 4601-12) that limit or prescribe costs that may be incurred by Federal and non-Federal entities for recreation planning, management, or facilities, or that require non-Federal management of recreation facilities or programs do not apply to the Area. (c) Recreation User Fees.--All recreation user fees collected from the Canyon Ferry Recreation Area by the managing agency(ies) shall be retained by the managing agency(ies) and used exclusively to fund the operation, maintenance, and development of the Canyon Ferry Recreation Area for recreation, tourism, and economic development. Fees collected for cabin site permits, concession operations, entrance fees, and other special use fees are all considered to be recreation user fees. (d) Contents of Agreement.--The cooperative agreements shall provide that the responsibilities given to the Bureau of Land Management for the area will be carried out in accordance with the statutory authority generally exercised by the Bureau of Land Management in the management of the public lands. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act, to remain available until expended. Especially critical are the first 10 years of the interagency project management agreement when major management, maintenance, replacement, and construction must occur.

Canyon Ferry Recreation, Tourism, and Economic Development Management Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to enter into cooperative management agreements necessary to manage the Canyon Ferry Recreation Area, Montana. Directs that such management agreement provide that the management responsibilities given to the BLM for lands withdrawn or acquired for reclamation purposes shall be accomplished in accordance with the statutory authority generally exercised by BLM in the management of public lands. Directs the Secretary to manage all lands and facilities in the Area associated with recreation, tourism, and related economic development pursuant to the Canyon Ferry Resources Management Plan of 1993. Provides that provisions of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act that limit or prescribe costs that may be incurred by Federal and non-Federal entities for recreation, planning, management, or facilities or that require non-Federal management of recreation facilities or programs shall not apply to the Area. Requires all recreation user fees collected from the Area to be retained by the managing agencies and used exclusively to fund the operation, maintenance, and development of the Area for recreation, tourism, and economic development. Authorizes appropriations.

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Provide a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Second-Stage Small Business Development Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to establish a 4-year pilot program to-- (1) identify second-stage small business concerns that have the capacity for significant business growth and job creation; (2) facilitate business growth and job creation by second- stage small business concerns through the development of peer learning opportunities; (3) utilize the network of small business development centers to expand access to peer learning opportunities for second-stage small business concerns; and (4) assist businesses owned by minority individuals, service-disabled veterans, and women. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. (2) Community college.--The term ``community college'' has the meaning given that term in section 3301(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7011(3)). (3) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an entity that-- (A) is eligible to receive funding under section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648); and (B) submits to the Administrator an application that includes-- (i) a plan to-- (I) offer peer learning opportunities to second-stage small business concerns; and (II) transition to providing such opportunities using non-governmental funding; and (ii) any other information and assurances that the Administrator may require. (4) Historically black college.--The term ``historically Black college'' means a part B institution, as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)). (5) Hispanic-serving institution.--The term ``Hispanic- serving institution'' has the meaning given that term in section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5)). (6) Minority institution.--The term ``minority institution'' has the meaning given that term in section 365(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)). (7) Peer learning opportunities.--The term ``peer learning opportunities'' means formally organized peer groups of owners, presidents and chief executive officers in non-competing second-stage business concerns, meeting regularly with a professionally trained facilitator. (8) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the program established under section 4(a). (9) Second-stage small business concern.--The term ``second-stage small business concern'' means a small business concern that-- (A) has experienced high growth demonstrated by-- (i) an average annual revenue or employee growth rate of at least 15 percent during the preceding 3 years; or (ii) any 3 of the following: (I) Owning proprietary intellectual property. (II) Addressing an underserved or growing market. (III) Having a sustainable competitive advantage. (IV) Exporting goods or services outside of its community. (V) Having a product or service that is scalable to a large market. (VI) Ownership by minority individuals, service-disabled veterans, or women; and (B) does not exceed the size standard for the North American Industrial Classification System code of such concern, as established pursuant to section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)). (10) Small business concern.--The term ``small business concern'' has the meaning given that term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). (11) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish and carry out a pilot program to make grants to eligible entities for the development of peer learning opportunities for second-stage small business concerns in accordance with this Act. (b) Selection of Grant Recipients.-- (1) In general.--The Administrator shall select 2 eligible entities from each of the 10 regions described in paragraph (3) to receive grants. (2) Criteria for selection.--The Administrator shall evaluate the plans described in section 3(3) submitted by eligible entities and select eligible entities to receive grants on the basis of the merit of such plans. (3) Regions described.--The regions described in this paragraph are as follows: (A) Region 1.--Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island. (B) Region 2.--New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. (C) Region 3.--Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Delaware. (D) Region 4.--Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee. (E) Region 5.--Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. (F) Region 6.--Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. (G) Region 7.--Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. (H) Region 8.--Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Utah. (I) Region 9.--California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, and American Samoa. (J) Region 10.--Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon. (4) Consultation.--If small business development centers have formed an association to pursue matters of common concern as authorized under section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(A)), the Administrator shall consult with such association and give substantial weight to the recommendations of such association in selecting the grant recipients. (5) Deadline for initial selections.--The Administrator shall make selections under paragraph (1) not later than 60 days after the promulgation of regulations under section 5. (c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under the pilot program shall use the grant to-- (1) identify second-stage small business concerns in the service delivery areas of the eligible entity; and (2) establish and conduct peer learning opportunities for such second-stage small business concerns. (d) Amount of Grant.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a grant under the pilot program shall be in an amount that does not exceed the product obtained by multiplying-- (A) the amount made available for grants under the pilot program for the fiscal year for which the grant is made; and (B) the ratio that the population of the State in which the eligible entity is located bears to the aggregate population the States in which eligible entities receiving grants for that fiscal year are located. (2) Minimum amount of grant.--A grant under the pilot program shall be in an amount not less than $50,000. (e) Matching Requirement.--As a condition of a grant under the pilot program, the Administrator shall require that a matching amount be provided from sources other than the Federal Government that-- (1) is equal to the amount of the grant, or in the case of an eligible entity that is a community college, historically Black college, Hispanic-serving institution, or other minority institution, is equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant; (2) is not less than 50 percent cash; (3) is not more than 50 percent comprised of indirect costs and in-kind contributions; and (4) does not include any indirect cost or in-kind contribution derived from any Federal program. (f) Quarterly Report to Administrator.-- (1) In general.--Each eligible entity that receives a grant under the pilot program shall submit to the Administrator a quarterly report that includes-- (A) a summary of the peer learning opportunities established by the eligible entity using grant funds; (B) the number of second-stage small business concerns assisted using grant funds; and (C) in the case of an eligible entity that receives a grant for a second fiscal year or any subsequent fiscal year-- (i) any measurable economic impact data resulting from the peer learning opportunities established using grant funds; and (ii) the number of peer learning opportunities established by the eligible entity that have transitioned from operating using Government funds to operating without using Government funds. (2) Form of report.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be transmitted in electronic form. (g) Data Repository and Clearinghouse.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Administrator shall act as the repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by the eligible entities. (h) Annual Report on Pilot Program.--Not later than November 1 of each year, the Administrator shall submit to the President and to Congress, a report evaluating the success of the pilot program during the preceding fiscal year, which shall include the following: (1) A description of the types of peer learning opportunities provided with grant funds. (2) The number of second-stage small business concerns assisted with grant funds. (3) For fiscal year 2007 and each subsequent fiscal year of the pilot program-- (A) data regarding the economic impact of the peer learning opportunities provided with grant funds; and (B) the number of peer learning opportunities established by grant recipients that have transitioned from operating using Government funds to operating without using Government funds. (i) Privacy Requirement.-- (1) In general.--A small business development center, consortium of small business development centers, or contractor or agent of a small business development center shall not disclose the name, address, or telephone number of any individual or small business concern receiving assistance under this section without the consent of such individual or small business concern, unless-- (A) the Administrator is ordered to make such a disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal enforcement action initiated by a Federal or State agency; or (B) the Administrator considers such a disclosure to be necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of a small business development center, but a disclosure under this subparagraph shall be limited to the information necessary for such audit. (2) Administrator use of information.--The privacy requirement under this subsection shall not-- (A) restrict Administrator access to program activity data; or (B) prevent the Administrator from using client information to conduct client surveys. (j) Evaluation and Report.--Not later than 3 years after the establishment of the pilot program, the Comptroller General of the United States shall-- (1) conduct an evaluation of the pilot program; and (2) transmit to Congress and the Administrator a report containing the results of such evaluation along with any recommendations as to whether the pilot program, with or without modification, should be extended to include the participation of all small business development centers. (k) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on September 30, 2010. SEC. 5. REGULATIONS. After providing notice and an opportunity for comment and after consulting with the association described in section 4(b)(5) (if any such association has been formed), the Administrator shall promulgate final regulations to carry out this Act, including regulations that establish-- (1) standards relating to the establishment and conduct of peer learning opportunities to be provided by grant recipients, including the number of individuals that may participate in a peer group that is part of a peer learning opportunity; (2) standards relating to the educational, technical, and professional competency of any facilitator who delivers peer learning opportunities under the pilot program; and (3) requirements for transitioning peer learning opportunities funded under the pilot program to non- governmental funding. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010. (b) Limitation on Use of Other Funds.--The Administrator shall carry out this Act using only amounts appropriated in advance specifically for the purpose of carrying out this Act.

Second-Stage Small Business Development Act of 2006 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out a four-year pilot program to make grants to eligible entities for the development of peer learning opportunities for second-stage small businesses. Defines a "second-stage small business concern" as one that: (1) has experienced high growth in specified demonstrable ways; and (2) does not exceed the size standard for the North American Industrial Classification System code of such concern. Provides a minimum grant amount of $50,000.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic Rivers System Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) Public Law 102-215 (105 Stat. 1664) directed the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation and consultation with appropriate State and local governments and affected landowners, to conduct a study of the eligibility and suitability of White Clay Creek, Delaware and Pennsylvania, and the tributaries of the creek for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; (2) as a part of the study described in paragraph (1), the White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic Study Task Force and the National Park Service prepared a watershed management plan for the study area entitled ``White Clay Creek and Its Tributaries Watershed Management Plan'', dated May 1998, that establishes goals and actions to ensure the long-term protection of the outstanding values of, and compatible management of land and water resources associated with, the watershed; and (3) after completion of the study described in paragraph (1), Chester County, Pennsylvania, New Castle County, Delaware, Newark, Delaware, and 12 Pennsylvania municipalities located within the watershed boundaries passed resolutions that-- (A) expressed support for the White Clay Creek Watershed Management Plan; (B) expressed agreement to take action to implement the goals of the Plan; and (C) endorsed the designation of the White Clay Creek and the tributaries of the creek for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WHITE CLAY CREEK. Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(162) White Clay Creek, Delaware and Pennsylvania.--The 190 miles of river segments of White Clay Creek (including tributaries of White Clay Creek and all second order tributaries of the designated segments) in the States of Delaware and Pennsylvania, as depicted on the recommended designation and classification maps (dated June 2000), to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior, as follows: ``(A) 30.8 miles of the east branch, including Trout Run, beginning at the headwaters within West Marlborough township downstream to a point that is 500 feet north of the Borough of Avondale wastewater treatment facility, as a recreational river. ``(B) 15.0 miles of the east branch beginning at the southern boundary line of the Borough of Avondale to a point where the East Branch enters New Garden Township at the Franklin Township boundary line, including Walnut Run and Broad Run outside the boundaries of the White Clay Creek Preserve, as a recreational river. ``(C) 4.0 miles of the east branch that flow through the boundaries of the White Clay Creek Preserve, Pennsylvania, beginning at the northern boundary line of London Britain township and downstream to the confluence of the middle and east branches, as a scenic river. ``(D) 6.8 miles of the middle branch, beginning at the headwaters within Londonderry township downstream to a point that is 500 feet north of the Borough of West Grove wastewater treatment facility, as a recreational river. ``(E) 14 miles of the middle branch, beginning at a point that is 500 feet south of the Borough of West Grove wastewater treatment facility downstream to the boundary of the White Clay Creek Preserve in London Britain township, as a recreational river. ``(F) 2.1 miles of the middle branch that flow within the boundaries of the White Clay Creek Preserve in London Britain township, as a scenic river. ``(G) 17.2 miles of the west branch, beginning at the headwaters within Penn township downstream to the confluence with the middle branch, as a recreational river. ``(H) 12.7 miles of the main stem, excluding Lamborn Run, that flow through the boundaries of the White Clay Creek Preserve, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and White Clay Creek State Park, Delaware, beginning at the confluence of the east and middle branches in London Britain township, Pennsylvania, downstream to the northern boundary line of the city of Newark, Delaware, as a scenic river. ``(I) 5.4 miles of the main stem (including all second order tributaries outside the boundaries of the White Clay Creek Preserve and White Clay Creek State Park), beginning at the confluence of the east and middle branches in London Britain township, Pennsylvania, downstream to the northern boundary of the city of Newark, Delaware, as a recreational river. ``(J) 16.8 miles of the main stem beginning at Paper Mill Road downstream to the Old Route 4 bridge, as a recreational river. ``(K) 4.4 miles of the main stem beginning at the southern boundary of the property of the corporation known as United Water Delaware downstream to the confluence of White Clay Creek with the Christina River, as a recreational river. ``(L) 1.3 miles of Middle Run outside the boundaries of the Middle Run Natural Area, as a recreational river. ``(M) 5.2 miles of Middle Run that flow within the boundaries of the Middle Run Natural Area, as a scenic river. ``(N) 15.6 miles of Pike Creek, as a recreational river. ``(O) 38.7 miles of Mill Creek, as a recreational river.''. SEC. 4. BOUNDARIES. With respect to each of the segments of White Clay Creek and its tributaries designated by the amendment made by section 3, in lieu of the boundaries provided for in section 3(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(b)), the boundaries of the segment shall be 250 feet as measured from the ordinary high water mark on both sides of the segment. SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION. (a) By Secretary of the Interior.--The segments designated by the amendment made by section 3 shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), in cooperation with the White Clay Creek Watershed Management Committee as provided for in the plan prepared by the White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic Study Task Force and the National Park Service, entitled ``White Clay Creek and Its Tributaries Watershed Management Plan'' and dated May 1998 (referred to in this Act as the ``Management Plan''). (b) Requirement for Comprehensive Management Plan.--The Management Plan shall be considered to satisfy the requirements for a comprehensive management plan under section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)). (c) Cooperative Agreements.--In order to provide for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the segments designated by the amendment made by section 3, the Secretary shall offer to enter into a cooperative agreement pursuant to sections 10(c) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e), 1282(b)(1)) with the White Clay Creek Watershed Management Committee as provided for in the Management Plan. SEC. 6. FEDERAL ROLE IN MANAGEMENT. (a) In General.--The Director of the National Park Service (or a designee) shall represent the Secretary in the implementation of the Management Plan, this Act, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act with respect to each of the segments designated by the amendment made by section 3, including the review, required under section 7(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1278(a)), of proposed federally- assisted water resources projects that could have a direct and adverse effect on the values for which the segment is designated. (b) Assistance.--To assist in the implementation of the Management Plan, this Act, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act with respect to each of the segments designated by the amendment made by section 3, the Secretary may provide technical assistance, staff support, and funding at a cost to the Federal Government in an amount, in the aggregate, of not to exceed $150,000 for each fiscal year. (c) Cooperative Agreements.--Any cooperative agreement entered into under section 10(e) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e)) relating to any of the segments designated by the amendment made by section 3-- (1) shall be consistent with the Management Plan; and (2) may include provisions for financial or other assistance from the United States to facilitate the long-term protection, conservation, and enhancement of the segments. (d) National Park System.--Notwithstanding section 10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), any portion of a segment designated by the amendment made by section 3 that is not in the National Park System as of the date of the enactment of this Act shall not, under this Act-- (1) be considered a part of the National Park System; (2) be managed by the National Park Service; or (3) be subject to laws (including regulations) that govern the National Park System. SEC. 7. STATE REQUIREMENTS. State and local zoning laws and ordinances, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be considered to satisfy the standards and requirements under section 6(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)) with respect to the segment designated by the amendment made by section 3. SEC. 8. NO LAND ACQUISITION. The Federal Government shall not acquire, by any means, any right or title in or to land, any easement, or any other interest along the segments designated by the amendment made by section 3 for the purpose of carrying out the amendment or this Act. Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

Requires the segments to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the White Clay Creek Watershed Management Committee pursuant to the plan prepared by the White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic Study Task Force and the National Park Service. Deems the management plan to satisfy the Act's requirements for a comprehensive management plan. Prohibits any portion of a segment designated by this Act that is not in the National Park System (NPS) as of the enactment of this Act from being: (1) considered a part of the NPS; (2) managed by the National Park Service; or (3) subject to NPS laws or regulations. Bars the Federal Government from acquiring, by any means, any right or title in or to land, any easement, or any other interest for the purposes of carrying out this Act.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. PHASE-IN OF FULL ESTATE TAX DEDUCTION FOR FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS INTERESTS. (a) Phase-In.-- (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 2057(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to family-owned business interests) is amended to read as follows: ``(2) Maximum deduction.-- ``(A) In general.--The deduction allowed by this section shall not exceed the sum of-- ``(i) the applicable deduction amount, plus ``(ii) in the case of a decedent described in subparagraph (C), the applicable unused spousal deduction amount. ``(B) Applicable deduction amount.--For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), the applicable deduction amount is determined in accordance with the following table: ``In the case of estates of The applicable deduction amount decedents dying after-- is-- December 31, 2000............................. $2,375,000 December 31, 2001............................. $4,375,000 December 31, 2002............................. $6,375,000 December 31, 2003............................. $8,375,000 December 31, 2004............................. $9,375,000. ``(C) Applicable unused spousal deduction amount.-- With respect to a decedent whose immediately predeceased spouse died after December 31, 2000, and the estate of such immediately predeceased spouse met the requirements of subsection (b)(1), the applicable unused spousal deduction amount for such decedent is equal to the excess of-- ``(i) the applicable deduction amount allowable under this section to the estate of such immediately predeceased spouse, over ``(ii) the sum of-- ``(I) the applicable deduction amount allowed under this section to the estate of such immediately predeceased spouse, plus ``(II) the amount of any increase in such estate's unified credit under paragraph (3)(B) which was allowed to such estate.''. (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 2057(a)(3)(B) of such Code (relating to coordination with unified credit) is amended-- (A) by striking ``$675,000'' both places it appears and inserting ``the applicable deduction amount'', and (B) by striking ``$675,000'' in the heading and inserting ``applicable deduction amount''. (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to estates of decedents dying after December 31, 2000. (b) Removal of Dollar Limitation.-- (1) In general.--Section 2057(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to deduction for family-owned business interests), as amended by subsection (a), is amended-- (A) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), and (B) by striking ``General Rule.--'' and all that follows through ``For purposes'' and inserting ``Allowance of Deduction.--For purposes''. (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to estates of decedents dying after December 31, 2005. SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF UNIFIED CREDIT AGAINST ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES. (a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to applicable credit amount) is amended to read as follows: ``(c) Applicable Credit Amount.--For purposes of this section-- ``(1) In general.--The applicable credit amount is the amount of the tentative tax which would be determined under the rate schedule set forth in section 2001(c) if the amount with respect to which such tentative tax is to be computed were equal to the sum of-- ``(A) the applicable exclusion amount, plus ``(B) in the case of a decedent described in paragraph (3), the applicable unused spousal exclusion amount. ``(2) Applicable exclusion amount.--For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the applicable exclusion amount is determined in accordance with the following table: ``In the case of estates of decedents The applicable dying, and gifts made, during: exclusion amount is: 2001 and 2002...................... $1,000,000 2003 and 2004...................... $1,125,000 2005............................... $1,500,000 2006 or thereafter................. $2,000,000. ``(3) Applicable unused spousal exclusion amount.--With respect to a decedent whose immediately predeceased spouse died after December 31, 2000, the applicable unused spousal exclusion amount for such decedent is equal to the excess of-- ``(A) the applicable exclusion amount allowable under this section to the estate of such immediately predeceased spouse, over ``(B) the applicable exclusion amount allowed under this section to the estate of such immediately predeceased spouse.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply to the estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2000.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to phase-in an increase in the maximum deduction allowed for purposes of the family-owned business estate rule to $9.375 million beginning January 1, 2005. Phases-in an increase in the unified credit against estate and gift taxes to $2 million by 2006.

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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Sterling Forest Protection Act of 1994''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that-- (1) the Palisades Interstate Park Commission was established pursuant to a joint resolution of the 75th Congress approved in 1937 (Public Resolution No. 65; ch. 706; 50 Stat. 719), and chapter 170 of the Laws of 1937 of the State of New York and chapter 148 of the Laws of 1937 of the State of New Jersey; (2) the Palisades Interstate Park Commission is responsible for the management of 23 parks and historic sites in New York and New Jersey, comprising over 82,000 acres; (3) over 8 million visitors annually seek outdoor recreational opportunities within the Palisades Park System; (4) Sterling Forest is a biologically diverse open space on the New Jersey border comprising approximately 17,500 acres, and is a highly significant watershed area for the State of New Jersey, providing the source for clean drinking water for 25 percent of the State; (5) Sterling Forest is an important outdoor recreational asset in the northeastern United States, within the most densely populated metropolitan region in the Nation; (6) Sterling Forest supports a mixture of hardwood forests, wetlands, lakes, glaciated valleys, is strategically located on a wildlife migratory route, and provides important habitat for 27 rare or endangered species; (7) the protection of Sterling Forest would greatly enhance the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a portion of which passes through Sterling Forest, and would provide for enhanced recreational opportunities through the protection of lands which are an integral element of the trail and which would protect important trail viewsheds; (8) stewardship and management costs for units of the Palisades Park System are paid for by the States of New York and New Jersey; thus, the protection of Sterling Forest through the Palisades Interstate Park Commission will involve a minimum of Federal funds; and (9) given the nationally significant watershed, outdoor recreational, and wildlife qualities of Sterling Forest; the demand for open space in the northeastern United States; the lack of open space in the densely populated Tri-State region; there is a clear Federal interest in acquiring the Sterling Forest for permanent protection of the watershed, outdoor recreational, flora and fauna, and open space; which is a cost effective investment compared to the costs which would be required to protect drinking water for the region should the Sterling Forest be developed. SEC. 3. PURPOSES. Subject to the requirements of this Act, the purposes of this Act are-- (1) to establish the Sterling Forest Reserve in the State of New York to protect the significant watershed, wildlife, and recreational resources within the New York-New Jersey highlands region; (2) to authorize Federal funding, through the Department of the Interior, for a portion of the acquisition costs for the Sterling Forest Reserve; (3) to direct the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to convey to the Secretary of the Interior certain interests in lands acquired within the Reserve; and (4) to provide for the management of the Sterling Forest Reserve by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act, the term-- (1) ``Commission'' means the Palisades Interstate Park Commission established pursuant to Public Resolution No. 65 approved August 19, 1937 (ch. 707; 50 Stat. 719); (2) ``Reserve'' means the Sterling Forest Reserve; and (3) ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STERLING FOREST RESERVE. (a) Establishment.--Upon the certification by the Commission to the Secretary that the Commission has acquired sufficient lands or interests therein to constitute a manageable unit, there is hereby established the Sterling Forest Reserve in the State of New York. (b) Map.--(1) The Reserve shall consist of lands and interests therein acquired by the Commission within the approximately 17,500 acres of lands as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Boundary Map, Sterling Forest Reserve, numbered SFR-60,001 and dated July 1, 1994. (2) The map referred to in paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the Commission and the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. (c) Transfer of Funds.--Subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (d), the Secretary shall transfer to the Commission such funds as are appropriated for the acquisition of lands and interests therein within the Reserve. (d) Conditions of Funding.--(1) Prior to the receipt of any Federal funds authorized by this Act, the Commission shall agree to the following terms and conditions: (A) If the Commission fails to manage the lands acquired within the Reserve in a manner consistent with this Act, the Commission shall convey fee title to such lands to the United States. Such agreement to convey to the United States shall be recorded at the time of purchase. (B) No lands or interests therein may be acquired with any Federal funds authorized or transferred pursuant to this Act except with the consent of the owner thereof. (C) If the Commission is unable to acquire all of the lands within the Reserve, to the extent Federal funds are utilized pursuant to this Act, the Commission shall acquire all or a portion of the lands identified as ``National Park Service Wilderness Easement Lands'' and ``National Park Service Conservation Easement Lands'' on the map referred to in section 5(b) before proceeding with the acquisition of any other lands within the Reserve. (D) Within 30 days after acquiring the lands identified as ``National Park Service Wilderness Easement Lands'' and ``National Park Service Conservation Easement Lands'' on the map referred to in section 5(b), the Commission shall convey to the United States the following: (i) Conservation easement(s) on those lands described as ``National Park Service Wilderness Easement Lands'' on the map referred to in section 5(b). Such easement(s) shall provide that the lands shall be managed to protect their wilderness character. (ii) Conservation easement(s) on those lands described as ``National Park Service Conservation Easement Lands'' on the map referred to in section 5(b). Such easement(s) shall restrict and limit development and use of the property to that compatible with the protection of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Any such development and use shall be consistent with the general management plan prepared pursuant to section 6(b). (2) Funds may be transferred to the Commission only to the extent that they are matched from funds contributed by non-Federal sources. SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT OF THE RESERVE. (a) In General.--The Commission shall manage the lands acquired within the Reserve in a manner consistent with the Commission's authorities and with the purposes of this Act. (b) General Management Plan.--Within 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall prepare a general management plan for the Reserve, and shall submit such plan to the Secretary for approval. SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act, to remain available until expended. (b) Land Acquisition.--Not more than $17,500,000 may be appropriated to the Secretary for transfer to the Commission for the acquisition of lands and interests therein within the Reserve.

Sterling Forest Protection Act of 1994 - Establishes the Sterling Forest Reserve, New York, upon certification by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to the Secretary of the Interior that the Commission has acquired sufficient lands or interests therein to constitute a manageable unit. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) Reserve boundaries; (2) the transfer of funds to the Commission for land acquisition; and (3) conditions of funding (including provision for specified conservation easements and that funds may be transferred to the Commission only to the extent that they are matched from funds contributed by non-Federal sources). Directs the Commission to: (1) manage the lands acquired within the Reserve in a manner consistent with the Commission's authorities and the protection of significant watershed, wildlife and recreational resources within the New York-New Jersey highlands region; and (2) prepare a general management plan for the Reserve, to be submitted to the Secretary for approval. Authorizes appropriations. Limits the amount that may be appropriated to the Secretary for transfer to the Commission for the acquisition of lands and interests therein within the Reserve.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Exchange Information Disclosure Act''. SEC. 2. WEEKLY REPORTS ON HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGES. Section 1311(c)(5) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 13031(c)(5)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end; (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(C) not later than the first Monday after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, and each Monday thereafter through March 31, 2015 (or the next business day when Monday occurs on a Federal holiday), in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor, submit to Congress and make available to State governors, State insurance commissioners, and the public, a report concerning consumer interactions with the Internet website maintained by the Federal Government for health insurance coverage (healthcare.gov or any subsequent Internet site (or sites) that is established in whole or in part by the Federal Government to facilitate enrollment in qualified health plans, the receipt of advance premium tax credits or cost sharing reduction assistance, or comparisons of available qualified health plans) and any efforts undertaken to remedy problems that impact taxpayers and consumers, such report to include-- ``(i) a State-by-State breakdown of-- ``(I) the number of unique website visits; ``(II) the number of web chat logins; ``(III) the number of individuals who create an account; ``(IV) the number of individuals who enrolled in a qualified health plan or Medicaid; ``(V) the number of enrollees in each zip code; and ``(VI) the level of coverage obtained; ``(ii) a detailed description of the problems identified with website functionality, the actions that have been taken to resolve those problems, the identity of the contractors that are involved in such actions, the cost of such actions, how such actions are being paid for, and the names of the Federal officials responsible for overseeing the process; and ``(iii) a description of the separate problems with the website, including problems relating to-- ``(I) logging into the website; ``(II) enrolling in coverage; ``(III) transferring to the State Medicaid programs; ``(IV) the calculation of advance premium tax credits or cost sharing reductions; ``(V) eligibility for qualified health plans, advance premium tax credits, cost sharing reductions, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program; ``(VI) income or identity verification; ``(VII) the transfer of information to health insurance issuers; and ``(VIII) consumer privacy and data security; and ``(D) not later than the first Monday after the date of enactment of this Act, and each Monday thereafter through March 31, 2015 (or the next business day when Monday occurs on a Federal holiday), in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor, submit to Congress and make available to State governors, State insurance commissioners, and the public, a report concerning the federally operated customer service call center, including the number of calls received by the call center, the Internet website or enrollment problems identified by users, how many calls are referred to the Centers for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, how many calls are referred to State insurance commissioners, and how many callers enrolled in a qualified health plan through the call center.''. SEC. 3. DISCLOSURE OF NAVIGATOR AND CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELOR GRANTEES. Section 1311(i) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 13031(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(7) Public availability of list of navigators.--Not later than 5 days after the date of enactment of the Exchange Information Disclosure Act, the Secretary shall make available to Congress, State attorneys general, State insurance commissioners, and the public a list of all navigators and certified application counselors that have been trained and certified by Exchanges, including contact information for all navigator entities and their partner organizations, including subcontractors. Such list shall be updated by the Secretary on a weekly basis through March 31, 2015.''. SEC. 4. DISCLOSURE OF CERTIFIED AGENTS AND BROKERS. Section 1312(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18032(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following flush sentence: ``Not later than 5 days after the date of the enactment of the Exchange Information Disclosure Act, the Secretary shall make available on the Internet website maintained by the Federal Government for health insurance coverage (healthcare.gov or any subsequent Internet site (or sites) that is established in whole or in part by the Federal Government to facilitate enrollment in qualified health plans, the receipt of tax credits or cost sharing reduction assistance, or comparisons of available qualified health plans) a list of all agents and brokers who have been trained and certified by the Federal Exchange, including their name, business address (if available), and phone number. Such list shall be updated on a weekly basis through March 31, 2015.''.

Exchange Information Disclosure Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to expand reporting requirements related to health care exchanges. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish reports weekly through March 31, 2015, on: (1) consumer interactions with healthcare.gov or subsequent sites and any efforts undertaken to remedy problems that impact taxpayers and consumers, (2) calls to the federal customer service call center, including the number of calls received by the call center, problems identified by users, and referrals of those calls; (3) all navigators and certified application counselors that have been trained and certified by health care exchanges; and (4) all agents and brokers who have been trained and certified by the federal health care exchange.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds as follows: (1) Approximately 7,000,000 Americans suffer from food allergies. Every year roughly 30,000 people receive emergency room treatment due to the ingestion of allergenic foods, and an estimated 150 Americans die from anaphylactic shock caused by a food allergy. (2) Eight major foods--milk, egg, fish, Crustacea, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans--cause 90 percent of allergic reactions. At present, there is no cure for food allergies. A food allergic consumer depends on a product's label to obtain accurate and reliable ingredient information so as to avoid food allergens. (3) Current Food and Drug Administration regulations exempt spices, flavorings, and certain colorings and additives from ingredient labeling requirements that would allow consumers to avoid those to which they are allergic. Such unlabeled food allergens may pose a serious health threat to those susceptible to food allergies. (4) A recent Food and Drug Administration study found that 25 percent of bakery products, ice creams, and candies that were inspected failed to list peanuts and eggs, which can cause potentially fatal allergic reactions. The mislabeling of foods puts those with a food allergy at constant risk. (5) In that study, the Food and Drug Administration found that only slightly more than half of inspected manufacturers checked their products to ensure that all ingredients were accurately reflected on the labels. Furthermore, the number of recalls because of unlabeled allergens rose to 121 in 2000 from about 35 a decade earlier. In part, mislabeling occurs because potentially fatal allergens are introduced into the manufacturing process when production lines and cooking utensils are shared or used to produce multiple products. (6) Individuals who have food allergies may outgrow their allergy if they strictly avoid consuming the allergen. However, some scientists believe that because low levels of allergens are unintentionally present in foods, those with an allergy are unable to keep from being repeatedly exposed to the very foods they are allergic to. Good manufacturing practices can minimize the unintentional presence of food allergens. In addition, when good manufacturing practices cannot eliminate the potential for cross-contamination, an advisory label on the product can provide additional consumer protection. (7) The Food and Drug Administration is the Nation's principal consumer protection agency, charged with protecting and promoting public health through premarket and postmarket regulation of food. The agency must have both the necessary authority to ensure that foods are properly labeled and produced using good manufacturing practices and the ability to penalize manufacturers who violate our food safety laws. (8) Americans deserve to have confidence in the safety and labeling of the food on their tables. SEC. 3. FOOD LABELING; REQUIREMENT OF INFORMATION REGARDING ALLERGENIC SUBSTANCES. (a) In General.--Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(t)(1) If it is not a raw agricultural commodity and it is, or it intentionally bears or contains, a known food allergen, unless its label bears, in bold face type, the common or usual name of the known food allergen and the common or usual name of the food source described in subparagraph (3)(A) from which the known food allergen is derived, except that the name of the food source is not required when the common or usual name of the known food allergen plainly identifies the food source. ``(2) The information required under this paragraph may appear in labeling other than the label only if the Secretary finds that such other labeling is sufficient to protect the public health. A finding by the Secretary under this subparagraph is effective upon publication in the Federal Register as a notice (including any change in an earlier finding under this subparagraph). ``(3) For purposes of this Act, the term `known food allergen' means any of the following: ``(A) Milk, egg, fish, Crustacea, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. ``(B) A proteinaceous substance derived from a food specified in clause (A), unless the Secretary determines that the substance does not cause an allergic response that poses a risk to human health. ``(C) Other grains containing gluten (rye, barley, oats, and triticale). ``(D) In addition, any food that the Secretary by regulation determines causes an allergic or other adverse response that poses a risk to human health. ``(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (g), (i), or (k), or any other law, the labeling requirement under this paragraph applies to spices, flavorings, colorings, or incidental additives that are, or that bear or contain, a known food allergen. ``(u) If it is a raw agricultural commodity that is, or bears or contains, a known food allergen, unless it has a label or other labeling that bears in bold face type the common or usual name of the known food allergen and the Secretary has found that the label or other labeling is sufficient to protect the public health. A finding by the Secretary under this paragraph is effective upon publication in the Federal Register as a notice (including any change in an earlier finding under this paragraph). ``(w) If the labeling required under paragraphs (g), (i), (k), (t), (u), or (v)-- ``(1) does not use a single, easy-to-read type style that is black on a white background, using upper and lower case letters and with no letters touching; ``(2) does not use at least 8 point type with at least one point leading (i.e., space between two lines of text), provided the total surface area of the food package available to bear labeling exceeds 12 square inches; or ``(3) does not comply with regulations issued by the Secretary to make it easy for consumers to read and use such labeling by requiring a format that is comparable to the format required for the disclosure of nutrition information in the food label under section 101.9(d)(1) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations.''. (b) Civil Penalties.--Section 303(g)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 333(g)(2)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``section 402(a)(2)(B) shall be subject'' and inserting the following: ``section 402(a)(2)(B) or regulations under this chapter to minimize the unintended presence of allergens in food, or that is misbranded within the meaning of section 403(t), 403(u), 403(v), or 403(w), shall be subject''; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or misbranded'' after ``adulterated'' each place such term appears. (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(ll) The term `known food allergen' has the meaning given such term in section 403(t)(3).''. (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. UNINTENTIONAL PRESENCE OF KNOWN FOOD ALLERGENS. (a) Food Labeling of Such Food Allergens.--Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by section 3(a) of this Act, is amended by inserting after paragraph (u) the following: ``(v) If the presence of a known food allergen in the food is unintentional and its labeling bears a statement that the food may bear or contain the known food allergen, or any similar statement, unless the statement is made in compliance with regulations issued by the Secretary to provide for advisory labeling of the known food allergen.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) takes effect upon the expiration of the four-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, except with respect to the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to engage in rulemaking in accordance with section 5. SEC. 5. REGULATIONS. (a) In General.-- (1) Regulations.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall issue a proposed rule under sections 402, 403, and 701(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to implement the amendments made by this Act. Not later than two years after such date of enactment, the Secretary shall promulgate a final rule under such sections. (2) Effective date.--The final rule promulgated under paragraph (1) takes effect upon the expiration of the four-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. If a final rule under such paragraph has not been promulgated as of the expiration of such period, then upon such expiration the proposed rule under such paragraph takes effect as if the proposed rule were a final rule. (b) Unintentional Presence of Known Food Allergens.-- (1) Good manufacturing practices; records.--Regulations under subsection (a) shall require the use of good manufacturing practices to minimize, to the extent practicable, the unintentional presence of allergens in food. Such regulations shall include appropriate record keeping and record inspection requirements. (2) Advisory labeling.--In the regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall authorize the use of advisory labeling for a known food allergen when the Secretary has determined that good manufacturing practices required under the regulations will not eliminate the unintentional presence of the known food allergen and its presence in the food poses a risk to human health, and the regulations shall otherwise prohibit the use of such labeling. (c) Ingredient Labeling Generally.--In regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prescribe a format for labeling, as provided for under section 403(w)(3) of the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (d) Review by Office of Management and Budget.--If the Office of Management and Budget (in this section referred to as ``OMB'') is to review proposed or final rules under this Act, OMB shall complete its review in 10 working days, after which the rule shall be published immediately in the Federal Register. If OMB fails to complete its review of either the proposed rule or the final rule in 10 working days, the Secretary shall provide the rule to the Office of the Federal Register, which shall publish the rule, and it shall have full effect (subject to applicable effective dates specified in this Act) without review by OMB. If the Secretary does not complete the proposed or final rule so as to provide OMB with 10 working days to review the rule and have it published in the Federal Register within the time frames for publication of the rule specified in this section, the rule shall be published without review by OMB. SEC. 6. FOOD LABELING; INCLUSION OF TELEPHONE NUMBER. (a) In General.--Section 403(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(e)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``and (2)'' and inserting the following: ``(2) in the case of a manufacturer, packer, or distributor whose annual gross sales made or business done in sales to consumers equals or exceeds $500,000, a toll-free telephone number (staffed during reasonable business hours) for the manufacturer, packer, or distributor (including one to accommodate telecommunications devices for deaf persons, commonly known as TDDs); or in the case of a manufacturer, packer, or distributor whose annual gross sales made or business done in sales are less than $500,000, the mailing address or the address of the Internet site for the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and (3)''; and (2) by striking ``clause (2)'' and inserting ``clause (3)''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) take effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 7. DATA ON FOOD-RELATED ALLERGIC RESPONSES. (a) In General.--Consistent with the findings of the study conducted under subsection (b), the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with the Commissioner of Foods and Drugs, shall improve the collection of, and (beginning 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act) annually publish, national data on-- (1) the prevalence of food allergies, and (2) the incidence of deaths, injuries, including anaphylactic shock, hospitalizations, and physician visits, and the utilization of drugs, associated with allergic responses to foods. (b) Study.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with consumers, providers, State governments, and other relevant parties, shall complete a study for the purposes of-- (1) determining whether existing systems for the reporting, collection and analysis of national data accurately capture information on the subjects specified in subsection (a); and (2) identifying new or alternative systems, or enhancements to existing systems, for the reporting collection and analysis of national data necessary to fulfill the purpose of subsection (a). (c) Public and Provider Education.--The Secretary shall, directly or through contracts with public or private entities, educate physicians and other health providers to improve the reporting, collection, and analysis of data on the subjects specified in subsection (a). (d) Child Fatality Review Teams.--Insofar as is practicable, activities developed or expanded under this section shall include utilization of child fatality review teams in identifying and assessing child deaths associated with allergic responses to foods. (e) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the progress made with respect to subsections (a) through (d). (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year. (g) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 8. FOOD ALLERGIES RESEARCH. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health, shall convene a panel of nationally recognized experts to review current basic and clinical research efforts related to food allergies. The panel shall develop a plan, including recommendations for expenditures, for expanding, intensifying, and coordinating research activities concerning food allergies. (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a plan under subsection (a) to the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate. (c) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 9. CERTAIN FEDERAL RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING AVOIDING AND RESPONDING TO FOOD-RELATED ALLERGIC RESPONSES. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry out the following: (1) Develop and appropriately disseminate recommendations on-- (A) training emergency medical technicians with respect to administering epinephrine auto-injector devices; and (B) the need for emergency vehicles to maintain supplies of such devices. (2) Activities to increase the awareness by the restaurant industry of public or private guidelines and recommendations for training in preparing allergen-free foods, including the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and Food Allergy Initiative's document entitled ``Food Allergy Training Guide for Restaurants and Good Services''. (3) With respect to food prepared for students by elementary and secondary schools, develop and appropriately disseminate recommendations for the preparation of allergen- free foods, with priority given to the issue of life- threatening food allergies.

Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require food labels to identify known food allergens contained therein or be deemed misbranded, without regard as to whether or not the presence of an allergen is intentional or unintentional.Defines "known food allergen" to include milk, eggs, fish, Crustacea, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, other grains containing gluten, and any food the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines to cause allergic or adverse responses which endanger human health. Includes spices, flavorings, colorings, or incidental additives that are or contain a known food allergen.Sets forth special requirements for raw agricultural commodities which are or contain a known food allergen.Sets forth criteria for labels, requiring a format comparable to that required for the disclosure of nutrition information. Requires certain manufacturers, packers, or distributors to include a toll-free telephone number on such label.Establishes civil penalties for violations of this Act.Requires the Secretary to issue rules which address the use of good manufacturing practices to minimize the unintentional presence of allergens in food and advisory labeling if such allergens may be unintentionally present.Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, to annually publish national data on the prevalence of food allergies and the incidence of deaths and injuries. Requires the Secretary to study the adequacy of existing data collection systems and possible alternative systems as well as educate health providers on improving data collection and analysis.

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Provide a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Coeur d'Alene Basin Restoration Act of 1994''. SEC. 2. COEUR D'ALENE BASIN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE. Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251- 1270) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 121. COEUR D'ALENE BASIN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE. ``(a) Establishment.--There is established a Coeur d'Alene Basin Management Conference to develop a comprehensive pollution prevention, control, and restoration plan for the Coeur d'Alene Basin. The Administrator shall convene the management conference within 30 days of the date of the enactment of this section. ``(b) Membership.-- ``(1) In general.--The members of the Management Conference shall be comprised of-- ``(A) a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency; ``(B) a representative of the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe; and ``(C) a representative of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. ``(2) Steering committee.--The Management Conference shall appoint-- ``(A) a management advisory committee; ``(B) a technical advisory committee; and ``(C) a citizens' advisory committee. ``(3) Ex officio members.--The Management Conference shall have ex officio members which shall include, at a minimum, the Member of the United States House of Representatives within whose congressional district lies the Coeur d'Alene Basin. ``(c) Pollution Prevention, Control, and Restoration Plan.-- ``(1) Publication deadline.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Management Conference shall publish a water pollution prevention, control, and restoration plan (hereinafter in this section referred to as the `Plan') for the Coeur d'Alene Basin. ``(2) Contents.--The Plan developed pursuant to this section shall-- ``(A) clarify the duties of Federal and State agencies and other persons in water pollution prevention and control activities, and to the extent allowable by law, suggest a reasonable timetable for adoption by the appropriate Federal and State agencies to accomplish such duties; ``(B) describe the methods and schedules for funding of programs, activities, and projects identified in the Plan, including the use of Federal and other sources of funds; ``(C) incorporate environmental management concepts and programs established in State and Federal plans and programs in effect at the time of the development of the Plan; and ``(D) include a strategy for water pollution prevention and control in the Coeur d'Alene Basin, including the promotion of pollution prevention and management practices to reduce the amount of pollution generated in the Coeur d'Alene Basin. ``(3) Public review and comment.--The Administrator, in cooperation with the Management Conference, shall provide for public review and comment on the draft Plan. At a minimum, the Management Conference shall conduct one public meeting to hear comments on the draft plan in the State of Idaho. ``(4) Approval.--Not less than 30 days after the publication of the Plan required pursuant to this section, the Administrator shall approve the Plan if the Plan meets the requirements of this section. ``(5) Treatment.--Upon approval of the Plan, the Plan shall be deemed to be an approved management program for the purposes of section 319(h) of this Act and such plan shall be deemed to be an approved comprehensive conservation and management plan pursuant to section 320 of this Act. ``(6) Implementation.--Upon approval of the Plan under this subsection, the Plan shall be implemented. ``(d) Grant Assistance.-- ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may, in consultation with the Management Conference, make grants to State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies, and public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, and organizations. ``(2) Purposes.--Grants under this subsection shall be made for assisting development of the Plan, including research, surveys, studies, and modeling and technical and supporting work necessary for the development of the Plan. ``(3) Federal share.--The amount of grants to any person under this subsection for a fiscal year shall not exceed 70 percent of the costs of development of the Plan and shall be made available on the condition that non-Federal share of such costs are provided from non-Federal sources. The non-Federal share may be provided by in-kind services. ``(4) Terms and conditions.--The Administrator may establish such terms and conditions for the administration of grants as the Administrator determines to be appropriate. ``(e) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `Coeur d'Alene Basin'' means the watershed in northern Idaho containing the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, the main stem of the Coeur d'Alene River, and Lake Coeur d'Alene. ``(f) Statutory Interpretation.--Nothing in this section shall be used to affect the jurisdiction or powers of-- ``(1) any department or agency of the United States or any State; or ``(2) any entity related to the Coeur d'Alene Basin created by treaty or memorandum to which the United States is a signatory. ``(g) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999.''. SEC. 3. FEDERAL PROGRAM COORDINATION. (a) Cooperation of the United States Geological Survey of the Department of the Interior.--For the purpose of enhancing and expanding basic data collection and monitoring in operation in the Coeur d'Alene Basin, as defined under section 121 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the heads of water resources divisions of the Idaho and Washington districts of the United States Geological Survey, shall-- (1) in cooperation with appropriate universities and private research institutions and appropriate officials of the appropriate departments and agencies of the States of Idaho and Washington, develop an integrated geographic information system of the Coeur d'Alene Basin; (2) convert all partial recording sites in the Coeur d'Alene Basin to continuous monitoring stations with full gauging capabilities and status; and (3) establish such additional continuous monitoring station sites in the Coeur d'Alene Basin as are necessary to carry out basic data collection and monitoring, as defined by the Secretary of the Interior, including ground water mapping, and water quality and sediment data collection. (b) Cooperation of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior.-- (1) Resource conservation program.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the Coeur d'Alene Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative and the Coeur d'Alene Basin Management Conference established pursuant to section 121 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, shall-- (A) establish and implement a fisheries resources restoration, development, and conservation program, including dedicating a level of hatchery production within the Coeur d'Alene Basin at or above the level that existed immediately preceding the date of the enactment of this Act; and (B) conduct a wildlife species and habitat assessment survey in the Coeur d'Alene Basin, including-- (i) a survey of Federal threatened and endangered species, listed or proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), Idaho State and Washington State threatened and endangered species and other species of special concern, migratory nongame species of management concern, and national resources plan species; and (ii) a survey of migratory bird populations breeding, migrating, and wintering within the Coeur d'Alene Basin. (2) Activities.--To accomplish the purposes of paragraph (1), the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to carry out activities related to-- (A) improving the health of fishery resources; (B) conducting investigations about the status of fishery resources, and disseminating that information to all interested parties; and (C) conducting and periodically updating a survey of the fishery resources and their habitats and food chains in the Coeur d'Alene Basin. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the Interior such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 to carry out subsections (a) and (b) of this section. SEC. 4. RESTORATION PLAN. (a) Cooperation of the United States Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior.--For the purpose of restoring and managing of public lands, public uses, and the basin restoration areas, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the State director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall-- (1) cooperatively with the other natural resource trustees, develop and implement a restoration plan for the public lands and other contaminated lands to reduce human and environmental risks in the Coeur d'Alene Basin, as defined in section 121 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (2) develop and maintain a computerized geographical information system inventory of abandoned or inactive mining sites and extensively mine waste contaminated areas in the Basin, including audits, tailing piles, mill sites, and processing facilities, their location, key contaminants, their concentrations and loading rates, and other information pertinent to evaluation and prioritization; (3) provide for the cleanup of mining contaminated sites or areas and the restoration of damaged natural resources on public lands or land acquired to be restored in the Basin; (4) develop and implement stream and river restoration plans which would involve the rebuilding of stream structure, placement of wood debris, habitat structures, and habitat rocks, stabilization of banks, and riparian plantings in the Basin; (5) provide for monitoring of restored areas in order to document the effectiveness of the restoration and identify any residual problems not sufficiently corrected; (6) cooperatively with the other land managing and public health agencies, the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe, regulators, and land owners, develop and implement a land management plan for the public lands and other lands in the Basin to reduce human health and environmental risks; (7) develop and maintain cooperatively an integrated computerized geographical information system of cultural and ecological resources, location of source and contaminated areas, and records of restoration and management activities to ensure long-term coordinated management within the Basin; (8) working with the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe, and other wildlife interests, develop wildlife and fishery habitat management plans for the streams, river, lakes, and wetlands in the Basin, including development of cooperative wildlife management areas; (9) provide for monitoring of wildlife management areas in the Basin for effectiveness of wildlife improvements and restoration and management activities; (10) working with the Forest Service, Idaho Departments of Fish and Game and Parks and Recreation, public health agencies, the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe, and other public recreation interests develop an integrated public recreation management plan for the Basin to provide public information and minimize recreational health risks; and (11) develop and implement a lake and river information program to provide public use and health risk information in the Basin along with the recreation management and maintenance of public land sites. (b) Powers of BLM.--To accomplish the purposes of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (a), the Director of the United States Bureau of Land Management is authorized to carry out activities related to-- (1) data collection and other inventory of mining waste source areas and contaminated lands; (2) data management of resource information, restoration activities, and monitoring and management data; (3) accepting or acquiring mining contaminated lands to restore and manage for the purpose of minimizing long-term human health and natural resource risks; (4) design, engineering, construction, and maintenance of restoration projects and management facilities; (5) design, oversee construction, and management of repositories for mine waste and mine contaminated soil needed for restoration activities; (6) lake and river information program, public use information, and recreation use supervision; (7) long-term restoration and land management plans for contaminated and restored lands; and (8) providing long-term maintenance and management of restored public lands. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 to carry out subsections (a) and (b) of this section. SEC. 5. EXEMPTION FROM CERCLA LIABILITY. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior shall be specifically exempted from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 for actions taken under this Act, including any amendment made by this Act.

Coeur d'Alene Basin Restoration Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a Coeur d'Alene Basin Management Conference to develop a pollution prevention, control, and restoration plan for the Coeur d'Alene Basin in Idaho. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to convene the management conference. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies and public or nonprofit agencies to assist development of the plan. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the water resources divisions of the Idaho and Washington districts of the U.S. Geological Survey, to: (1) develop an integrated geographic information system of the Coeur d'Alene Basin; (2) convert all partial recording sites in the Basin to continuous monitoring stations with full gauging capabilities and status; and (3) establish additional continuous monitoring sites in the Basin as necessary to carry out basic data collection and monitoring. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Fish and Wildlife Service, to: (1) establish a fisheries restoration, development, and conservation program; and (2) conduct a wildlife species and habitat assessment survey in the Basin. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, to carry out specified environmental restoration activities in the Basin. Authorizes appropriations. Exempts the EPA and the Department of the Interior from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 for actions taken under this Act.

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Summarize the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Negotiated Rate Amendments of 1993''. SEC. 2. PROCEDURE FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES. (a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 10701 of title 49, United States Code, it shall be an unreasonable practice for a nonhousehold goods motor carrier, a nonhousehold goods freight forwarder, or a person representing such a carrier or freight forwarder (hereinafter in this section referred to as a ``representative'') to attempt to charge or to charge for a transportation service the difference between-- (1) the rate that is lawfully in effect pursuant to a tariff that is filed in accordance with chapter 107 of such title by the carrier or freight forwarder and that is applicable to such transportation service, and (2) the negotiated rate for such transportation service, if the carrier or freight forwarder is no longer transporting property between places describe in section 10521(a)(1) of such title or is transporting property between places described in such section for the purpose of avoiding the application of this subsection. (b) Jurisdiction of the Commission.--The Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction to make a determination of whether or not the attempting to charge or the charging of a person for a transportation service a rate by a carrier, freight forwarder, or a representative is an unreasonable practice under subsection (a). In making such a determination, the Commission shall consider-- (1) whether such person was offered a transportation rate by the carrier or freight forwarder other than that legally on file with the Commission for such transportation service, (2) whether such person tendered freight to the carrier or freight forwarder in reasonable reliance upon the offered transportation rate, (3) whether the carrier or freight forwarder did not properly or timely file with the Commission a tariff providing for such transportation rate or failed to execute a valid contract for such transportation service, (4) whether the transportation rate was billed and collected by the carrier or freight forwarder, and (5) whether the carrier, freight forwarder, or representative demands additional payment of a higher rate filed in a tariff. (c) Stay of Additional Compensation.--When a person proceeds under this section to challenge the reasonableness of the practice of, or the legally applicable freight rate or charges being claimed by, a carrier, freight forwarder, or representative described in subsection (a) in addition to those already billed and collected, such person shall not have to pay any additional compensation to such carrier, freight forwarder, or representative until the Commission has made a determination as to the reasonableness of the challenged rate as applied to the freight of the person against whom the claim is made. (d) Treatment of Subsection (a).--Subsection (a) is enacted as an exception, and shall be treated as an exception, to the requirement of sections 10761(a) and 10762 of title 49, United States Code, relating to a filed tariff rate for a transportation or service subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and other general tariff requirements. (e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section: (1) Commission, household goods, and household goods freight forwarder.--The terms ``Commission'', ``household goods'', and ``household goods freight forwarder'' have the meaning such terms have under section 10102 of title 49, United States Code. (2) Nonhousehold goods freight forwarder.--The term ``nonhousehold goods freight forwarder'' means a freight forwarder as defined in section 10102 of title 49, United States Code, except that such term does not include a household goods freight forwarder. (3) Nonhousehold goods motor carrier.--The term ``nonhousehold goods motor carrier'' means a motor carrier as defined under section 10102 of title 49, United States Code of property (other than household goods). (4) Negotiated rate.--The term ``negotiated rate'' means a rate, charge, classification, or rule agreed upon by a nonhousehold goods motor carrier or nonhousehold goods freight forwarder and a shipper through negotiations pursuant to which no tariff was lawfully and timely filed with the Commission and for which there is written evidence of such agreement. SEC. 3. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. (a) Motor Carrier Charges.--Section 11706(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: ``; except that a common carrier providing transportation or service subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission under chapter 105 of this title-- ``(1) must begin, within 24 months after the claim accrues, a civil action to recover charges for such transportation or service if such transportation or service is provided by the carrier on or after the date of the enactment of this exception and before the date that is one year after such date of enactment; and ``(2) must begin, within 18 months after the claim accrues, such a civil action if such transportation or service is provided by the carrier on or after the date that is one year after such date of enactment.''. (b) Motor Carrier Overcharges.--Section 11706(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the period at the end of the first sentence and inserting the following: ``except that a person must begin, within 24 months after the claim accrues, a civil action to recover overcharges from a carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission under subchapter II of chapter 105 of this title for transportation or service if such transportation or service takes place on or after the date of the enactment of this exception and before the date that is one year after such date of enactment, and a person must begin, within 18 months after the claim accrues, such a civil action for transportation or service taking place on or after the date that is one year following such date of enactment.''. (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 11706(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``3-year period'' each place it appears and inserting ``limitations period''. SEC. 4. TARIFF RECONCILIATION RULES FOR MOTOR CARRIERS OF PROPERTY. (a) In General.--Chapter 117 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 11712. Tariff reconciliation rules for motor common carriers of property ``(a) Mutual Consent.--Subject to Commission review and approval, motor carriers subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission under subchapter II of chapter 105 of this title and shippers may resolve, by mutual consent, overcharge and undercharge claims resulting from incorrect tariff provisions or billing errors arising from the inadvertent failure to properly and timely file and maintain agreed upon rates, rules, or classifications in compliance with sections 10761 and 10762 of this title. Resolution of such claims among the parties shall not subject any party to the penalties of chapter 119 of this title. ``(b) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section shall relieve the motor carrier of the duty to file and adhere to its rates, rules, and classifications as required in sections 10761 and 10762, except as provided in subsection (a) of this section. ``(c) Rulemaking Proceeding.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall institute a proceeding to establish rules pursuant to which the tariff requirements of sections 10761 and 10762 of this title shall not apply under circumstances described in subsection (a) of this section.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 117 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``11712. Tariff reconciliation rules for motor common carriers of property.''. SEC. 5. CUSTOMER ACCOUNT CODES. Section 10762 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(e) Customer Account Codes.--No tariff filed with the Commission before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this subsection may be held invalid solely on the basis that a numerical or alpha account code is used in such tariff to designate customers or to describe the applicability of rates. For transportation performed on and after the 90th day following such date of enactment, the name of the customer for each account code must be set forth in the tariff.''. SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) General Rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act (including the amendments made by this Act) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Exception.--Section 2 shall apply to-- (1) any proceeding before the Interstate Commerce Commission, and (2) any court action, which is pending or commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Negotiated Rate Amendments of 1993 - Makes it an unreasonable practice for a nonhousehold goods motor carrier, a nonhousehold goods freight forwarder, or a person representing one or the other to attempt to charge or to charge for a transportation service the difference between the lawfully filed tariff rate and the negotiated rate for such transportation, if the carrier or freight forwarder is no longer transporting property or is transporting property for the purpose of avoiding application of this Act. Grants the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) exclusive jurisdiction to make determinations with respect to unreasonableness. Shortens the statute of limitations for the filing of claims by: (1) a motor common carrier for recovery of transportation or service charges; and (2) a person to recover overcharges by a motor carrier. Decreases the limitation period for both kinds of claims from 36 months to: (1) 24 months for claim accruals during the year following enactment on this Act; and (2) 18 months for claim accruals on or after one year following enactment. Permits motor carriers and shippers to resolve by mutual consent, subject to Commission review and approval, any overcharge and undercharge claims resulting from billing errors or incorrect tariff provisions arising from the inadvertent failure to properly and timely file and maintain agreed upon rates, rules, or classifications. Prohibits any tariff filed with the ICC from being held invalid solely on the basis that it uses a numerical or alpha account code to designate customers or describe the applicability of rates.

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Create a summary of the following text: 16, 110th Congress, agreed to in the Senate March 1, 2007, and House Concurrent Resolution 80, 110th Congress, agreed to in the House of Representatives June 18, 2007. SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT OF A STRATEGY TO SUPPORT THE DISARMAMENT OF THE LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY. (a) Requirement for Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a strategy to guide future United States support across the region for viable multilateral efforts to mitigate and eliminate the threat to civilians and regional stability posed by the Lord's Resistance Army. (b) Content of Strategy.--The strategy shall include the following: (1) A plan to help strengthen efforts by the United Nations and regional governments to protect civilians from attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army while supporting the development of institutions in affected areas that can help to maintain the rule of law and prevent conflict in the long term. (2) An assessment of viable options through which the United States, working with regional governments, could help develop and support multilateral efforts to eliminate the threat posed by the Lord's Resistance Army. (3) An interagency framework to plan, coordinate, and review diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military elements of United States policy across the region regarding the Lord's Resistance Army. (4) A description of the type and form of diplomatic engagement across the region undertaken to coordinate and implement United States policy regarding the Lord's Resistance Army and to work multilaterally with regional mechanisms, including the Tripartite Plus Commission and the Great Lakes Pact. (5) A description of how this engagement will fit within the context of broader efforts and policy objectives in the Great Lakes Region. (c) Form.--The strategy under this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. SEC. 5. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR AREAS OUTSIDE UGANDA AFFECTED BY THE LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY. In accordance with section 491 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292) and section 2 of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601), the President is authorized to provide additional assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and Central African Republic to respond to the humanitarian needs of populations directly affected by the activity of the Lord's Resistance Army. SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FOR RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION IN NORTHERN UGANDA. (a) Authority.--It is the sense of Congress that the President should support efforts by the people of northern Uganda and the Government of Uganda-- (1) to assist internally displaced people in transition and returnees to secure durable solutions by spurring economic revitalization, supporting livelihoods, helping to alleviate poverty, and advancing access to basic services at return sites, specifically clean water, health care, and schools; (2) to enhance the accountability and administrative competency of local governance institutions and public agencies in northern Uganda with regard to budget management, provision of public goods and services, and related oversight functions; (3) to strengthen the operational capacity of the civilian police in northern Uganda to enhance public safety, prevent crime, and deal sensitively with gender-based violence, while strengthening accountability measures to prevent corruption and abuses; (4) to rebuild and improve the capacity of the justice system in northern Uganda, including the courts and penal systems, with particular sensitivity to the needs and rights of women and children; (5) to establish mechanisms for the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants and those abducted by the LRA, including vocational education and employment opportunities, with attention given to the roles and needs of men, women and children; and (6) to promote programs to address psychosocial trauma, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder. (b) Future Year Funding.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State and Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development should work with the appropriate committees of Congress to increase assistance in future fiscal years to support activities described in this section if the Government of Uganda demonstrates a commitment to transparent and accountable reconstruction in war-affected areas of northern Uganda, specifically by-- (1) finalizing the establishment of mechanisms within the Office of the Prime Minister to sufficiently manage and coordinate the programs under the framework of the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP); (2) increasing oversight activities and reporting, at the local and national level in Uganda, to ensure funds under the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda framework are used efficiently and with minimal waste; and (3) committing substantial funds of its own, above and beyond standard budget allocations to local governments, to the task of implementing the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda such that communities affected by the war can recover. (c) Coordination With Other Donor Nations.--The United States should work with other donor nations to increase contributions for recovery efforts in northern Uganda and better leverage those contributions to enhance the capacity and encourage the leadership of the Government of Uganda in promoting transparent and accountable reconstruction in northern Uganda. (d) Termination of Assistance.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should withhold non-humanitarian bilateral assistance to the Republic of Uganda if the Secretary determines that the Government of Uganda is not committed to reconstruction and reconciliation in the war-affected areas of northern Uganda and is not taking proactive steps to ensure this process moves forward in a transparent and accountable manner. SEC. 7. ASSISTANCE FOR RECONCILIATION AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN NORTHERN UGANDA. (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, despite reconstruction and development efforts, a continued failure to take meaningful steps toward national reconciliation and accountability risks perpetuating longstanding political grievances and fueling new conflicts. (b) Authority.--In accordance with section 531 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346), the President is authorized to support efforts by the people of northern Uganda and the Government of Uganda to advance efforts to promote transitional justice and reconciliation on both local and national levels, including to encourage implementation of the mechanisms outlined in the Annexure to the Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army/Movement, signed at Juba February 19, 2008, namely-- (1) a body to investigate the history of the conflict, inquire into human rights violations committed during the conflict by all sides, promote truth-telling in communities, and encourage the preservation of the memory of events and victims of the conflict through memorials, archives, commemorations, and other forms of preservation; (2) a special division of the High Court of Uganda to try individuals alleged to have committed serious crimes during the conflict, and a special unit to carry out investigations and prosecutions in support of trials; (3) a system for making reparations to victims of the conflict; and (4) a review and strategy for supporting transitional justice mechanisms in affected areas to promote reconciliation and encourage individuals to take personal responsibility for their conduct during the war. SEC. 8. REPORT. (a) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the submission of the strategy required under section 4, the Secretary of State shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward the implementation of the strategy required under section 4 and a description and evaluation of the assistance provided under this Act toward the policy objectives described in section 3. (b) Contents.--The report required under section (a) shall include-- (1) a description and evaluation of actions taken toward the implementation of the strategy required under section 4; (2) a description of assistance provided under sections 5, 6, and 7; (3) an evaluation of bilateral assistance provided to the Republic of Uganda and associated programs in light of stated policy objectives; (4) a description of the status of the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda and the progress of the Government of Uganda in fulfilling the steps outlined in section 6(b); and (5) a description of amounts of assistance committed, and amounts provided, to northern Uganda during the reporting period by the Government of Uganda and each donor country. (c) Form.--The report under this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. SEC. 9. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FUNDING. It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) of the total amounts to be appropriated for fiscal year 2011 for the Department of State and foreign operations, up to $10,000,000 should be used to carry out activities under section 5; and (2) of the total amounts to be appropriated for fiscal year 2011 through 2013 for the Department of State and foreign operations, up to $10,000,000 in each such fiscal year should be used to carry out activities under section 7. SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. (2) Great lakes region.--The term ``Great Lakes Region'' means the region comprising Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, southern Sudan, and Uganda. (3) LRA-affected areas.--The term ``LRA-affected areas'' means those portions of northern Uganda, southern Sudan, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and southeastern Central African Republic determined by the Secretary of State to be affected by the Lord's Resistance Army as of the date of the enactment of this Act. Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 - (Sec. 4) Directs the President to submit to Congress a regional strategy to guide U.S. support for multilateral efforts to eliminate the threat to civilians and regional stability posed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Requires the strategy to include: (1) a plan to help strengthen efforts by the United Nations (U.N.) and regional governments to protect civilians from attacks by the LRA; (2) an assessment of viable options through which the United States could help develop and support multilateral efforts to eliminate the threat posed by the LRA; (3) an interagency framework to plan, coordinate, and review diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military elements of U.S. policy across the region regarding the LRA; (4) a description of the type and form of diplomatic engagement across the region undertaken to coordinate and implement U.S. policy regarding the LRA and to work multilaterally with regional mechanisms, including the Tripartite Plus Commission and the Great Lakes Pact; and (5) a description of how this engagement will fit within the context of broader efforts and policy objectives in the Great Lakes Region. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the President to provide additional assistance to respond to the humanitarian needs of populations the Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and Central African Republic affected by LRA activity. (Sec. 6) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should support efforts by the people of northern Uganda and the government of Uganda to: (1) assist internally displaced people in transition and returnees by spurring economic revitalization and advancing access to basic services at return sites; (2) enhance the accountability and administrative competency of local governance institutions and public agencies in northern Uganda; (3) strengthen the operational capacity of the civilian police and the justice system in northern Uganda; (4) establish mechanisms for the disarmament and reintegration of former combatants and those abducted by the LRA; and (5) promote programs to address psychosocial trauma. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) should work with Congress to increase future assistance to Uganda if the government of Uganda demonstrates a commitment to reconstruction in war-affected areas of northern Uganda; and (2) the Secretary should withhold non-humanitarian assistance to Uganda if the government of Uganda is not committed to reconstruction and reconciliation in the war-affected areas of northern Uganda and is not taking steps to ensure this process moves forward in a transparent and accountable manner. (Sec. 7) Expresses the sense of Congress that a continued failure to take meaningful steps toward national reconciliation and accountability risks perpetuating political grievances and fueling new conflicts. Authorizes the President to support efforts by the people of northern Uganda and the government of Uganda to promote transitional justice and reconciliation on both local and national levels, including to encourage implementation of the mechanisms in the Annexure to the Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation between the government of Uganda and the LRA. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on implementation of the strategy and evaluation of the assistance under this Act. (Sec. 9) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) of the total amounts to be appropriated for FY2011 for the Department of State and foreign operations, up to $10 million should be used to carry out activities under section 5; and (2) of the total amounts to be appropriated for FY2011-FY2013 for the Department of State and foreign operations, up to $10 million in each such fiscal year should be used to carry out activities under section 7. (Sec. 10) Defines: (1) "Great Lakes Region" as the region comprising Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, southern Sudan, and Uganda; and (2) "LRA-affected areas" as those portions of northern Uganda, southern Sudan, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and southeastern Central African Republic affected by the LRA.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; ETC. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Clear Extenders Act of 1999''. (b) Amendment of 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows: TITLE I--EXTENSION OF EXPIRING INCENTIVES SEC. 101. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CREDIT. (a) Extension.-- (1) In general.--Section 41 (relating to credit for increasing research activities) is amended by striking subsection (h). (2) Technical amendment.--Section 45C(b)(1) is amended by striking subparagraph (D). (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to amounts paid or incurred after June 30, 1999. (b) Increase in Percentages Under Alternative Incremental Credit.-- (1) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 41(c)(4) of such Code is amended-- (A) by striking ``1.65 percent'' and inserting ``2.65 percent'', (B) by striking ``2.2 percent'' and inserting ``3.2 percent'', and (C) by striking ``2.75 percent'' and inserting ``3.75 percent''. (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to taxable years beginning after June 30, 1999. (c) Special Rule.-- (1) In general.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the credit determined under section 41 of such Code which is otherwise allowable under such Code and which is attributable to the suspension period shall not be taken into account prior to October 1, 2000. On or after such date, such credit may be taken into account through the filing of an amended return, an application for expedited refund, an adjustment of estimated taxes, or other means allowed by such Code. (2) Suspension period.--For purposes of this subsection, the suspension period is the period beginning on July 1, 1999, and ending on September 30, 2000. (3) Expedited refunds.-- (A) In general.--If there is an overpayment of tax with respect to a taxable year by reason of paragraph (1), the taxpayer may file an application for a tentative refund of such overpayment. Such application shall be in such manner and form, and contain such information, as the Secretary may prescribe. (B) Deadline for applications.--Subparagraph (A) shall apply only to applications filed before October 1, 2001. (C) Allowance of adjustments.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which an application is filed under this paragraph, the Secretary shall-- (i) review the application, (ii) determine the amount of the overpayment, and (iii) apply, credit, or refund such overpayment, in a manner similar to the manner provided in section 6411(b) of such Code. (D) Consolidated returns.--The provisions of section 6411(c) of such Code shall apply to an adjustment under this paragraph in such manner as the Secretary may provide. (4) Credit attributable to suspension period.-- (A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, in the case of a taxable year which includes a portion of the suspension period, the amount of credit determined under section 41 of such Code for such taxable year which is attributable to such period is the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount of credit determined under such section 41 for such taxable year as the number of months in the suspension period which are during such taxable year bears to the number of months in such taxable year. (B) Waiver of estimated tax penalties.--No addition to tax shall be made under section 6654 or 6655 of such Code for any period before July 1, 1999, with respect to any underpayment of tax imposed by such Code to the extent such underpayment was created or increased by reason of subparagraph (A). (5) Secretary.--For purposes of this subsection, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Treasury (or such Secretary's delegate). SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF MINIMUM TAX RELIEF FOR INDIVIDUALS. (a) In General.--The second sentence of section 26(a) (relating to limitations based on amount of tax) is amended by striking ``1998'' and inserting ``calendar years 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001''. (b) Child Credit.--Section 24(d)(2) (relating to reduction of credit to taxpayer subject to alternative minimum tax) is amended by striking ``December 31, 1998'' and inserting ``December 31, 2001''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998. SEC. 103. SUBPART F EXEMPTION FOR ACTIVE FINANCING INCOME. (a) In General.--Sections 953(e)(10) and 954(h)(9) (relating to application) are each amended-- (1) by striking ``the first taxable year'' and inserting ``taxable years'', (2) by striking ``January 1, 2000'' and inserting ``January 1, 2002'', and (3) by striking ``within which such'' and inserting ``within which any such''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1999. SEC. 104. TAXABLE INCOME LIMIT ON PERCENTAGE DEPLETION FOR MARGINAL PRODUCTION. (a) In General.--Subparagraph (H) of section 613A(c)(6) (relating to temporary suspension of taxable limit with respect to marginal production) is amended by striking ``January 1, 2000'' and inserting ``January 1, 2002''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1999. SEC. 105. WORK OPPORTUNITY CREDIT AND WELFARE-TO-WORK CREDIT. (a) Temporary Extension.--Sections 51(c)(4)(B) and 51A(f) (relating to termination) are each amended by striking ``June 30, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2001''. (b) Clarification of First Year of Employment.--Paragraph (2) of section 51(i) of such Code is amended by striking ``during which he was not a member of a targeted group''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after June 30, 1999. TITLE II--REVENUE OFFSET SEC. 201. MODIFICATION OF ESTIMATED TAX SAFE HARBOR. (a) In General.--The table contained in clause (i) of section 6654(d)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to limitation on use of preceding year's tax) is amended by striking the item relating to 1999 or 2000 and inserting the following new items: ``1999........................................ 108.5 2000.......................................... 106''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to any installment payment for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1999.

Sets forth a revenue offset provision (modifies the estimated tax safe harbor).

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Create a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) In 1998, Congress adopted the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act (Public Law 105-246) requiring the executive branch to identify any still-classified records in its custody relating to Nazi war crimes, war criminals, persecution, and looted assets and to declassify and release such records to the American public. Under that Act, the President established the Nazi War Criminal Records Interagency Working Group (in this section referred to as the ``Interagency Group'') to carry out the functions required by that Act. (2) In its first year, the Interagency Group screened more than 600,000,000 pages of material relating to Nazi war crimes and has declassified 1,500,000 pages of such material and opened them to the public at the National Archives. (3) While the Interagency Group has worked diligently to screen materials and declassify millions of pages of material, the limited staff and funding available to the Interagency Group threaten its ability to complete the functions required by the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act. (4) Already, significant new information about the Holocaust has been revealed in the more than 400,000 records of the Office of Strategic Services that were released by the Interagency Group at the National Archives on June 26, 2000. However, further such revelations depend on the availability of adequate staff support and funding for the Interagency Group. (5) The remarkable progress made by the Interagency Group has been achieved even though Congress has not appropriated funds for the support of the Interagency Group or for the activities carried out by the various Federal agencies which hold records subject to its functions. Without the resources to review the materials being released, it will be years before the significance of the contents of such materials will be understood. (6) The Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act charged the Interagency Group with reviewing all records that pertain to World War II, under the direction of, or in association with the Nazi government of Germany, any government occupied by the military of the Nazi government, and any government that was an ally of the Nazi government, which includes the Japanese Imperial Government. (7) After the end of World War II, the United States returned more than 18,000,000 pages of captured Japanese records to the Japanese Government at its request. (8) In order to complete the Congressional directives of the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act, the Interagency Group should review the materials that were returned to Japan. Therefore, the full cooperation of the Japanese Government in granting access to the Interagency Group and assisting in the review of all World War II records is desired to insure that these historic records can be reviewed, released, or otherwise made available to the public in a timely and efficient manner. (9) The Interagency Group has been working diligently to fulfill its charge under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act, but the original three-year authorization of the Interagency Group under that Act does not allow for the completion of the momentous tasks outlined in that Act, specifically the completion of the review of the records pertaining to the Japanese Government. SEC. 3. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF NAZI WAR CRIMINAL RECORDS INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP TO COVER JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS. (a) Amendment to Title.--Section 1 of the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act (Public Law 105-246; 112 Stat. 1859; 5 U.S.C. 552 note) is amended by striking ``Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act'' and inserting ``Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act''. (b) Extension of Authority.--Section 2(b)(1) of such Act is amended by striking ``3 years'' and inserting ``5 years''. (c) Membership.--Section 2(b)(2) of such Act is amended by striking ``3 other persons'' and inserting ``4 other persons, who shall be members of the public and of whom 3 shall be persons appointed to the Interagency Group before the date of the enactment of the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act''. (d) Functions Regarding Japanese Imperial Government Records.-- (1) In general.--Section 2(c)(1) of such Act is amended by inserting ``and all classified Japanese Imperial Government records of the United States'' after ``of the United States''. (2) Definition of japanese imperial government records.-- Section 3 of such Act is amended-- (A) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b): ``(b) Japanese Imperial Government Records.--For purposes of this Act, the term `Japanese Imperial Government records' means classified records or portions of records that pertain to any person with respect to whom the United States Government, in its sole discretion, has grounds to believe ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person because of race, gender, religion, national origin, or political opinion, during the period beginning September 18, 1931, and ending on September 2, 1945, under the direction of, or in association with-- ``(1) the Japanese Imperial Army; ``(2) the Japanese Imperial Government; ``(3) any government in any area occupied by the military forces of the Japanese Imperial Army; ``(4) any government established with the assistance or cooperation of the Japanese Imperial Army or Japanese Imperial Government; or ``(5) any government which was an ally of the Japanese Imperial Government.''. (3) Application of exemptions.--Paragraph (3)(A) of section 3(c) of such Act, as redesignated by paragraph (2)(A) of this section, is amended to read as follows: ``(A) In general.--In applying the exemptions provided in subparagraphs (B) through (J) of paragraph (2), there shall be a presumption that the public interest will be served by disclosure and release of the Nazi war criminal records or Japanese Imperial Government records, as the case may be. The exemption may be asserted only when the head of the agency that maintains the records determines that disclosure and release would be harmful to a specific interest identified in the exemption. An agency head who makes such a determination shall promptly report such determination to the committees of Congress with appropriate jurisdiction, including the Committee on the Judiciary and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. The exemptions set forth in paragraph (2) shall constitute the only authority pursuant to which an agency head may exempt records otherwise subject to release under paragraph (1).''. (4) Conforming amendments.--Such Act is further amended as follows: (A) In section 2(a)-- (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3); (ii) by striking paragraph (4); and (iii) by adding after paragraph (3) the following new paragraphs: ``(4) `Japanese Imperial Government records' has the meaning given such term under section 3(b) of this Act; and ``(5) `record' means a Nazi war criminal record or a Japanese Imperial Government record.''. (B) In section 3(c)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection, by inserting ``and Japanese Imperial Government records'' after ``Nazi war criminal records''. (C) In section 4(d), as so redesignated, by inserting ``or Japanese Imperial Government record'' after ``Nazi war criminal record''. (D) In section 4, by inserting ``or Japanese Imperial Government record'' after ``Nazi war criminal record'' each place it appears. (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2(d) of such Act is amended to read as follows: ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated for the Interagency Group to carry out this section, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001, 2002 and 2003.''. (f) Records Included.--Section 3(a)(2)(A) of such Act is amended by striking ``beginning on March 23, 1933, and ending on May 8, 1945'' and inserting ``beginning on January 1, 1931, and ending on September 2, 1945''. (g) Modification of Name of Interagency Group.--Such Act is amended by striking ``Nazi War Criminal Records Interagency Working Group'' each place it appears and inserting ``Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group''. (h) Clerical Amendments.--(1) The section heading of section 2 of such Act is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NAZI WAR CRIMES AND JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.''. (2) The section heading of section 3 of such Act is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT OF DISCLOSURE OF NAZI WAR CRIMINAL RECORDS AND JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS.''. (3) The section heading of section 4 of such Act is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 4. EXPEDITED PROCESSING OF FOIA REQUESTS FOR NAZI WAR CRIMINAL RECORDS AND JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS.''. SEC. 4. REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF NAZI WAR CRIMES AND JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP. (a) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Interagency Working Group shall submit to Congress, including the committees of Congress specified in subsection (b), a report on the activities of the Interagency Group under the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act, as amended by section 3 of this Act, during the one-year period ending on the date of the report. The report shall describe the activities of the Interagency Group and applicable Federal agencies under section 2(c) of that Act, as so amended, and include a description of the records processed by the Interagency Group under that Act (including the disposition of such records). (b) Committees of Congress.--The committees of Congress specified in this subsection are as follows: (1) The Committee on the Judiciary and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. (2) The Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING COOPERATION OF FOREIGN NATIONS. It is the sense of Congress that foreign nations, and in particular Japan, should make every effort possible to make its records available to and cooperate with the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group established by section 2 of the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act, as amended by section 3 of this Act, in carrying out the duties of the Interagency Group under such Act, as so amended.

Amends the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act to rename the Nazi War Criminal Records Interagency Working Group the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group, and to extend its authority for an additional two years. Requires the Interagency Group to locate, identify, inventory, recommend for declassification, and make available to the public at the National Archives and Records Administration all classified Japanese Imperial Government records of the United States. Authorizes appropriations. Expresses the sense of Congress that foreign nations (in particular Japan) should make every effort possible to make its records available to and cooperate with the Interagency Group.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Truth in Lending Modernization Act of 2001''. SEC. 2. APPLICABLE CONSUMER CREDIT AND LEASE TRANSACTIONS. (a) Credit Transactions.--Section 104(3) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1603(3)) is amended by striking ``$25,000'' and inserting ``$75,000''. (b) Lease Transactions.--Section 181(1) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1667(1)) is amended by striking ``$25,000'' and inserting ``$75,000''. SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO RIGHT OF RESCISSION. (a) Timing of Waiver by Consumer.--Section 125(a) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1635(a)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``(a) Except as otherwise provided'' and inserting ``(a) Right Established.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(2) Timing of election of waiver by consumer.--No election by a consumer to waive the right established under paragraph (1) to rescind a transaction shall be effective if-- ``(A) the waiver was required by the creditor as a condition for the transaction; ``(B) the creditor advised or encouraged the consumer to waive such right of the consumer; or ``(C) the creditor had any discussion with the consumer about a waiver of such right during the period beginning when the consumer provides written acknowledgement of the receipt of the disclosures and the delivery of forms and information required to be provided to the consumer under paragraph (1) and ending at such time as the Board determines, by regulation, to be appropriate.''. (b) Noncompliance With Requirements as Recoupment in Foreclosure Proceeding.--Section 130(e) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1640(e)) is amended by inserting after the 2d sentence the following new sentence: ``This subsection also does not bar a person from asserting a rescission under section 125, in an action to collect the debt as a defense to a judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure after the expiration of the time periods for affirmative actions set forth in this section and section 125.''. SEC. 4. CIVIL LIABILITY. (a) In General.--Section 130(a)(2)(A) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1640(a)(2)(A)) is amended-- (1) in clause (ii)-- (A) by striking ``$100'' and inserting ``$200''; and (B) by striking ``$1,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''; and (2) in clause (iii), by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``$10,000''. (b) Maximum Amount.--Section 130(a)(2)(B) (15 U.S.C. 1640(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ``lesser of $500,000 or 1 percentum of the net worth of the creditor'' and inserting ``the greater of-- ``(i) the amount determined by multiplying the maximum amount of liability under subparagraph (A) for such failure to comply in an individual action by the number of members in the certified class; or ``(ii) the amount equal to 2 percent of the net worth of the creditor.''. SEC. 5. USE OF RULE OF 78S PROHIBITED. Section 933(b) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 1615(b)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``of a term exceeding 61 months''; and (2) by striking ``September 30, 1993'' and inserting ``September 30, 1999''. SEC. 6. ACCESS TO COURT PROVISION. (a) In General.--Section 130(i) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1640(i)) is amended to read as follows: ``(i) Availability of Statutory Remedies.-- ``(1) In general.--No provision of any agreement or contract between a consumer and any creditor which requires binding arbitration or any other nonjudicial procedure to resolve any controversy or settle any claim arising out of such contract or any transaction covered by the contract, or the refusal to perform the whole or any part of the transaction, shall be enforceable to the extent that the construction or application of such provision with respect to such controversy, claim, or refusal would deny the consumer the right to bring any action under this section or any other provision of this title for any liability of the creditor to the consumer under this title. ``(2) Rule of construction.--Paragraph (1) shall not be construed as creating any inference that any provision of any contract or agreement described in such paragraph could be construed so as to deny any consumer the right to bring an action under this title absent this subsection.''. SEC. 7. REGULATIONS. Before the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall issue regulations in final form to implement the amendments made by this Act.

Truth in Lending Modernization Act of 2001 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to: (1) apply consumer credit information and disclosure requirements to all credit and lease transactions involving real and personal property in which the total amount financed exceeds $75,000 (currently $25,000); and (2) increase the civil penalties for creditor violations of such requirements.Amends the Truth in Lending Act to: (1) deem ineffective any consumer waiver of the right to rescission of a transaction required (as a condition of the transaction), urged, or discussed by a creditor; and (2) deem unenforceable any contract provision which requires binding arbitration or any other nonjudicial procedure to resolve a dispute if it would deny the consumer any right to bring an action for any liability of the creditor.Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to eliminate the Rule of 78s accounting method for calculating refunds of unearned interest on credit transactions consummated after September 30, 1999 (currently, September 30, 1993).

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Medical Malpractice Reform Act of 1994''. SEC. 2. CALCULATION AND PAYMENT OF DAMAGES IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CLAIMS AND ACTIONS. (a) Limitation on Noneconomic Damages.--The total amount of noneconomic damages that may be awarded to a claimant and the members of the claimant's family for losses resulting from the injury which is the subject of a medical malpractice liability claim or action may not exceed $250,000, regardless of the number of parties against whom the claim or action is brought or the number of actions brought with respect to the injury. (b) Mandatory Offsets for Damages Paid by a Collateral Source.-- (1) In general.--With respect to a medical malpractice liability claim or action, the total amount of damages received by an individual under such claim or action shall be reduced, in accordance with paragraph (2), by any other payment that has been, or will be, made to an individual to compensate such individual for the injury that was the subject of such claim or action. (2) Amount of reduction.--The amount by which an award of damages to an individual for an injury shall be reduced under paragraph (1) shall be-- (A) the total amount of any payments (other than such award) that have been made or that will be made to such individual to pay costs of or compensate such individual for the injury that was the subject of the claim or action; minus (B) the amount paid by such individual (or by the spouse, parent, or legal guardian of such individual) to secure the payments described in subparagraph (A). (c) Periodic Payments for Future Losses.-- (1) General rule.--In any medical malpractice liability claim or action in which future economic damages exceed $100,000, a defendant may not be required to pay such damages in a single, lump-sum payment, but shall be permitted to make such payments periodically based on when the damages are found likely to occur, as such payments are determined by the court. (2) Waiver.--A court may waive the application of paragraph (1) with respect to a defendant if the court determines that it is not in the best interests of the plaintiff to receive payments for damages on such a periodic basis. SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON ATTORNEYS' CONTINGENCY FEES AND OTHER COSTS UNDER MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CLAIMS. (a) In General.--An attorney who represents, on a contingency fee basis, a claimant in a medical malpractice liability claim may not charge, demand, receive, or collect for services rendered in connection with such claim in excess of the following amount recovered by judgment or settlement under such claim: (1) 25 percent of the first $150,000 (or portion thereof) recovered, plus (2) 10 percent of any amount in excess of $150,000 recovered. (b) Calculation of Periodic Payments.--In the event that a judgment or settlement includes periodic or future payments of damages, the amount recovered for purposes of computing the limitation on the contingency fee under subsection (a) shall be based on the cost of the annuity or trust established to make the payments. In any case in which an annuity or trust is not established to make such payments, such amount shall be based on the present value of the payments. SEC. 4. APPLICABILITY; EFFECT ON STATE LAW. (a) Applicability.--This Act shall apply with respect to any medical malpractice liability claim and to any medical malpractice liability action brought in any State or Federal court, except that this subtitle shall not apply to a claim or action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death to the extent that title XXI of the Public Health Service Act applies to the claim or action. (b) Preemption.--The provisions of this Act shall preempt any State law to the extent such law is inconsistent with such provisions, except that such provisions shall not preempt any State law that places greater limitations on the amount of damages that may be awarded or the amount of attorneys' fees that may be collected with respect to medical malpractice liability claims. (c) Effect on Sovereign Immunity and Choice of Law or Venue.-- Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to-- (1) waive or affect any defense of sovereign immunity asserted by any State under any provision of law; (2) waive or affect any defense of sovereign immunity asserted by the United States; (3) affect the applicability of any provision of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976; (4) preempt State choice-of-law rules with respect to claims brought by a foreign nation or a citizen of a foreign nation; or (5) affect the right of any court to transfer venue or to apply the law of a foreign nation or to dismiss a claim of a foreign nation or of a citizen of a foreign nation on the ground of inconvenient forum. (d) Federal Court Jurisdiction Not Established on Federal Question Grounds.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to establish any jurisdiction in the district courts of the United States over medical malpractice liability actions on the basis of section 1331 or 1337 of title 28, United States Code. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act: (1) Claimant.--The term ``claimant'' means any person who alleges a medical malpractice liability claim, and any person on whose behalf such a claim is alleged, including the decedent in the case of an action brought through or on behalf of an estate. (2) Economic damages.--The term ``economic damages'' means damages paid to compensate an individual for hospital and other medical expenses, lost wages, lost employment, and other pecuniary losses. (3) Health care professional.--The term ``health care professional'' means any individual who provides health care services in a State and who is required by the laws or regulations of the State to be licensed or certified by the State to provide such services in the State. (4) Health care provider.--The term ``health care provider'' means any organization or institution that is engaged in the delivery of health care services in a State and that is required by the laws or regulations of the State to be licensed or certified by the State to engage in the delivery of such services in the State. (5) Injury.--The term ``injury'' means any illness, disease, or other harm that is the subject of a medical malpractice liability action or a medical malpractice liability claim. (6) Medical malpractice liability action.--The term ``medical malpractice liability action'' means a civil action brought in a State or Federal court against a health care provider or health care professional in which the plaintiff alleges a medical malpractice liability claim, but does not include any action in which the plaintiff's sole allegation is an allegation of an intentional tort. (7) Medical malpractice liability claim.--The term ``medical malpractice liability claim'' means a claim in which the claimant alleges that injury was caused by the provision of (or the failure to provide) health care services or the use of a medical product. (8) Medical product.-- (A) In general.--The term ``medical product'' means, with respect to the allegation of a claimant, a drug (as defined in section 201(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)) or a medical device (as defined in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(h)) if-- (i) such drug or device was subject to premarket approval under section 505, 507, or 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355, 357, or 360e) or section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262) with respect to the safety of the formulation or performance of the aspect of such drug or device which is the subject of the claimant's allegation or the adequacy of the packaging or labeling of such drug or device, and such drug or device is approved by the Food and Drug Administration; or (ii) the drug or device is generally recognized as safe and effective under regulations issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 201(p) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(p)). (B) Exception in case of misrepresentation or fraud.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the term ``medical product'' shall not include any product described in such subparagraph if the claimant shows that the product is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for marketing as a result of withheld information, misrepresentation, or an illegal payment by manufacturer of the product. (9) Noneconomic damages.--The term ``noneconomic damages'' means damages paid to compensate an individual for physical and emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and other nonpecuniary losses, but does not include punitive damages. (10) Punitive damages.--The term ``punitive damages'' means compensation, in addition to compensation for actual harm suffered, that is awarded for the purpose of punishing a person for conduct deemed to be malicious, wanton, willful, or excessively reckless. (11) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall apply with respect to claims accruing or actions brought on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Medical Malpractice Reform Act of 1994 - Limits to $250,000 the total amount of noneconomic damages that may be awarded to a claimant and members of the claimant's family for losses resulting from the injury which is the subject of a medical malpractice liability claim or action (claim), regardless of the number of parties against whom the claim is brought or the number of actions brought. Provides for a reduction of the total amount of damages received by an individual under such claim by any other payment made to compensate for the injury. Specifies that, in any such claim in which future economic damages exceed $100,000, a defendant shall be permitted to make payments periodically, rather than in a single, lump-sum payment, based on when the damages are found likely to occur. Permits a court to waive such provision if the court determines that it is not in the plaintiff's best interests to receive payments on a periodic basis. Prohibits an attorney from charging or collecting a contingency fee for services rendered in connection with such a claim in excess of: (1) 25 percent of the first $150,000 (or portion thereof) recovered, plus; (2) ten percent of any amount in excess of $150,000 recovered. Makes this Act applicable to any such claim brought in State or Federal court, except with respect to a claim for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death to the extent that title XXI of the Public Health Service Act applies. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) preemption; and (2) effect on sovereign immunity and choice of law or venue.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings: (1) In 1998, Congress enacted the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act Amendments of 1998, which amended chapter 2205 of title 36, United States Code, which included a statement that the purpose of the Act was ``to encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletic programs and competition for amateur athletes with disabilities, including, where feasible, the expansion of opportunities for meaningful participation by such amateur athletes in programs of athletic competition for able-bodied amateur athletes''. (2) The United States Olympic Committee manages and administers the Paralympic Program for physically disabled athletes. (3) In 2005, the United States Olympic Committee entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Paralympic Program to provide special training and rehabilitation to disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces as part of their rehabilitation and return to an active lifestyle. (4) The Paralympic Program has a significant positive effect on the quality of life of such veterans and servicemembers, including helping to improve the mobility, vitality, and physical, psychological, and social well-being of disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces who participate in the program and reducing the incidence of secondary medical conditions in those participants. (5) Because of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the number of disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces has increased substantially and it is therefore necessary to expand the scope and size of the Paralympic Program to provide rehabilitative services through sports to disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces. (b) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To promote the life-long health of disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces through regular participation in physical activity and sports. (2) To develop a system that promotes disabled sports from the local level through elite levels by creating partnerships among organizations specializing in supporting, training, and promoting programs for disabled athletes. (3) To provide training and support to local organizations to provide Paralympic sports training to disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces in their own communities. (4) To provide support to the United States Olympic Committee for the Paralympic Program to increase the participation of disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces in sports as part of their rehabilitation. SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PARALYMPIC PROGRAM. (a) Provision of Assistance Authorized.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 521 the following: ``Sec. 521A. Assistance for the United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program ``(a) Authorization To Provide Assistance.--The Secretary may make grants to the United States Olympic Committee to plan, develop, manage, and implement the Paralympic Program for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. ``(b) Oversight by Secretary.--As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, the United States Olympic Committee shall permit the Secretary to conduct such oversight of the use of grant funds as the Secretary determines is appropriate. ``(c) Application Requirement.--(1) Before the Secretary may make a grant to the United States Olympic Committee under this section, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary an application that describes the activities to be carried out with the grant, including information on specific measurable goals and objectives to be achieved using grant funds. The application shall include a detailed description of all partnerships referred to in paragraph (2) at the national and local levels that will be participating in such activities and the amount of grant funds that will be made available for each of such partnerships. ``(2) Partnerships.--Partnerships referred to in this paragraph are agreements between the United States Olympic Committee and national organizations with significant experience in the training and support of disabled athletes and the promotion of disabled sports at the local and national levels. Such organizations include Disabled Sports USA, Blaze Sports, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans. The agreements shall detail the scope of activities and funding provided by the United States Olympic Committee to the partner. ``(d) Use of Funds.--(1) The United States Olympic Committee, with the assistance and cooperation of the Secretary and the heads of other appropriate Federal and State departments and agencies and partnerships referred to in subsection (c)(2), shall use a grant under this section to recruit, support, encourage, schedule, facilitate, supervise, and implement the activities described in paragraph (3) for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces either directly or by supporting a program described in paragraph (2). ``(2) A program described in this paragraph is a sport program that-- ``(A) promotes basic physical activity, games, recreation, training, and competition; ``(B) is approved by the Secretary; and ``(C)(i) provides services and activities described in paragraph (3) for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces; and ``(ii) may also provide services and activities described in paragraph (3) for individuals with disabilities who are not veterans or members of the Armed Forces, or both; except that funds made available to carry out this section may not be used to support those individuals with disabilities who are not veterans or members of the Armed Forces. ``(3) Activities described in this paragraph are-- ``(A) instruction, participation, and competition in Paralympic sports; ``(B) training and technical assistance to program administrators, coaches, recreational therapists, instructors, Department employees, and other appropriate individuals; and ``(C) coordination, Paralympic classification of athletes, athlete assessment, sport-specific training techniques, program development (including programs at the local level), program- specific medical and personal care support, sports equipment, supplies, program evaluation, and other activities related to the implementation and operation of the program. ``(4) A grant made under this section may include, at the discretion of the Secretary, an amount for administrative expenses, but not to exceed ten percent of the amount of the grant. ``(5) Funds made available by the United States Olympic Committee to a grantee under subsection (c) may include an amount for administrative expenses, but not to exceed ten percent of the amount of such funds. ``(e) Outreach Requirement.--The Secretary shall conduct an outreach campaign to inform all eligible veterans and separating members of the Armed Forces with physical disabilities about the existence of the Paralympic Program and shall provide for, facilitate, and encourage participation of such veterans and separating servicemembers in programs under this section to the extent possible. ``(f) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure access to and use of appropriate Department facilities by disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces participating in the Paralympic Program to the maximum extent possible and to the extent that such access and use does not adversely affect any other assistance provided to veterans. ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 annually to carry out this section. ``(h) Separate Accounting.--The Department shall have a separate line item in budget proposals of the Department for funds to be appropriated to carry out this section. Funds appropriated to carry out this section shall not be commingled with any other funds appropriated to the Department. ``(i) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Except as provided in subsections (d)(4) and (d)(5), funds appropriated to carry out this section may not be used to support or provide services to individuals who are not disabled veterans or disabled members of the Armed Forces.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 521 the following new item: ``521A. Assistance for United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program.''. (c) Deadline for Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not award a grant under section 521A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), until the United States Olympic Committee has entered into a memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement with the Secretary regarding implementation of the Paralympic Program. Such agreement shall be concluded not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE OF NATIONAL VETERANS SPORTS PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. (a) Establishment of Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 321. Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events ``(a) Establishment.--There is in the Department an Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events. There is at the head of the Office a Director, who shall report directly to the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs of the Department. ``(b) Responsibilities of Director.--Subject to the direction of the Secretary, the Director-- ``(1) shall establish and carry out qualifying programs and events; ``(2) may provide for sponsorship by the Department of qualifying programs and events; ``(3) may provide for, facilitate, and encourage participation by disabled veterans in qualifying programs and events; and ``(4) shall cooperate with the United States Olympic Committee and its subsidiaries to promote the participation of disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces in sporting events sponsored by the United States Olympic Committee and its subsidiaries. ``(c) Qualifying Program or Event.--For purposes of this section, a qualifying program or event is a sports program or other event in which disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces participate and that is approved by the Secretary as being consistent with the goals and missions of the Department. ``(d) Monthly Assistance Allowance.--(1) The Director may provide a monthly assistance allowance to a veteran with a disability invited by the United States Olympic Committee 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 United States Olympic Committee or who is residing at a United States Olympic Committee training center. ``(2) The amount of the monthly assistance payable to a veteran under paragraph (1) shall be equal to the monthly amount of subsistence allowance that would be payable to the veteran under chapter 31 of this title if the veteran were eligible for and entitled to rehabilitation under such chapter. ``(3) Any amount of assistance paid to a veteran under this subsection shall be in addition to any other assistance available to the veteran under any other provision of law. ``(4) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and thereafter. ``(e) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation on current disabled sports and special events supported by the Department.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: ``321. Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events.''. (c) Responsibilities of Under Secretary for Health.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall direct the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs-- (1) to make available, to the maximum extent possible, recreational therapists, physical therapists, and other medical staff to facilitate participation of veterans in sporting events conducted under the auspices of the United States Olympic Committee; (2) to allow such personnel to participate in the United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program without requiring the use of personal leave; and (3) to support other similar activities or events as those described in this section and determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.

United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to plan, develop, manage, and implement the Paralympic Program for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. Directs the USOC to use a grant to recruit, support, encourage, schedule, facilitate, supervise, and implement paralympic instruction, participation, and competition activities, training and technical assistance, and coordination, program development, and other specified activities for veterans and members of the Armed Forces with physical disabilities. Sets forth outreach, coordination, application, and memorandum of understanding requirements. Establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events to establish, carry out, and provide for VA sponsorship of and participation by disabled veterans in qualifying programs and events. Authorizes the Office Director to provide a monthly assistance allowance to a disabled veteran invited by the USOC to compete for, or selected for, the Paralympic Team. Requires the Secretary to direct the Under Secretary for Health of the VA to: (1) make available recreational and physical therapists and other medical staff to facilitate veteran participation in sporting events conducted under the auspices of the USOC; (2) allow such personnel to participate in the USOC Paralympic Program without requiring the use of personal leave; and (3) support other similar activities or events.

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Create a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Superfund Equity and Megasite Remediation Act of 2007''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 established a Federal Superfund trust fund for the purpose of hazardous substance removal and remediation at sites across the Nation. (2) The release of hazardous substances may threaten and impair public health, the local environment, community infrastructure, the economy, and social well being. (3) The Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated more than 45,000 sites and has currently listed 1,086 non-Federal sites on the National Priorities List. (4) One in 4 Americans lives within 3 miles of a Superfund site. (5) The expiration of the Superfund crude oil, chemical feedstock, and corporate taxes in 1995 has contributed to a funding shortfall and has shifted the burden of cleanup to the general public, which has prevented numerous Superfund sites from receiving new construction funding in fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006 and slowed the pace of existing cleanups. (6) Delayed and slowed Superfund cleanup actions magnify public health risks and increase total remediation costs. (7) Responsible parties or potentially responsible parties would continue to be liable for hazardous releases under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 after reestablishment of Superfund taxes. (8) Although costs vary from site to site, costs at some sites are substantial and place a greater demand on the Hazardous Substance Superfund resources to clean up contamination. (9) The Environmental Protection Agency generally considers Superfund sites where cleanup costs exceed $50,000,000 to be megasites. (10) Megasites typically are among the larger, more complex, and more severely contaminated of sites, presenting the greatest cleanup challenges. As such, megasites are a substantial factor driving future funding needs to clean up hazardous substances under the Superfund program. (11) The Environmental Protection Agency commits a large percentage of annual Superfund obligations for long-term ongoing cleanup work at only a few sites. These megasites siphon funding from other Superfund sites and result in construction delays. In fiscal year 2006, 45 percent of funds for Superfund construction and post-construction activities went to only 14 sites. (12) As more megasites move beyond the analysis and design phase into actual construction, funding needs for these sites will increase. The average annual cost per megasite is projected to be at least $140,000,000. (13) Megasites differ from non-megasites in that they require more resources over the long term to address complexities associated with developing remedies and cleaning up contamination that can cover many square miles and may involve multiple communities, responsible parties, Indian Tribes, or States. (14) For some megasites there is no ascertainable final remedy because remediation may involve decades of sequential actions, and institutional controls may be required in perpetuity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than half of the mining sites currently listed on the National Priorities List will require operation and maintenance in perpetuity. (15) Responsible parties may not be able to fund megasite remediation activities that are anticipated to last for decades or longer. The lack of a dedicated revenue stream raises serious concerns about how a remediation program expected to last for decades, if not centuries, can be successfully implemented. (16) At megasites with no viable responsible parties, the Federal Government pays 90 percent of the construction costs, with the State paying the other 10 percent. Once construction is completed, the State is solely responsible for paying all operation and maintenance costs, a time frame that for many megasites may extend in perpetuity. SEC. 3. SUPERFUND TAXES. (a) Permanent Extension.-- (1) Excise taxes.--Section 4611(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: ``(e) Application of Hazardous Substance Superfund Financing Rate.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate under this section shall apply after December 31, 1986, and before January 1, 1996, and after the date of the enactment of the Superfund Equity and Megasite Remediation Act of 2007 or if later, the date which is 30 days after the last day of any calendar quarter for which the Secretary estimates that, as of the close of that quarter, the unobligated balance in the Hazardous Substance Superfund is less than $5,700,000,000. ``(2) No tax if unobligated balance in fund exceeds $5,700,000,000.--The Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate shall not apply during a calendar quarter if the Secretary estimates that, as of the close of the preceding calendar quarter, the unobligated balance in the Hazardous Substance Superfund exceeds $5,700,000,000.''. (2) Corporate environmental income tax.--Section 59A(e) of such Code is amended to read as follows: ``(e) Application of Tax.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the tax imposed by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986, and before January 1, 1996, and to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of the Superfund Equity and Megasite Remediation Act of 2007 or if later, the date which is 30 days after the last day of any calendar quarter for which the Secretary estimates that, as of the close of that quarter, the unobligated balance in the Hazardous Substance Superfund is less than $5,700,000,000. ``(2) No tax if unobligated balance in fund exceeds $5,700,000,000.--The tax imposed by this section shall not apply during a calendar quarter if the Secretary estimates that, as of the close of the preceding calendar quarter, the unobligated balance in the Hazardous Substance Superfund exceeds $5,700,000,000.''. (3) Technical amendments.-- (A) Section 4611(b) of such Code is amended-- (i) by striking ``or exported from'' in paragraph (1)(A), (ii) by striking ``or exportation'' in paragraph (1)(B), and (iii) by striking ``and Exportation'' in the heading. (B) Section 4611(d)(3) of such Code is amended-- (i) by striking ``or exporting the crude oil, as the case may be'' in the text and inserting ``the crude oil'', and (ii) by striking ``or exports'' in the heading. (b) Temporary Tax Increase for Cleanup of Certain Superfund Sites.-- (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 4611 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) Temporary rate increase to fund cleanup of certain superfund sites.--During the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2012, the rate of tax specified by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) shall be increased by the amount equal to 50 percent of such rate.''. (2) Certain chemicals and imported substances.--Section 4661 of such Code (relating to imposition of tax on certain chemicals) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) Temporary Increase To Fund Cleanup of Certain Superfund Sites.--During the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2012, each amount of tax per ton with respect to a substance specified in subsection (b) shall be increased by an amount equal to 50 percent of such amount.''. (3) Temporary increase in corporate environmental income tax cleanup of certain superfund sites.--Subsection (a) of section 59A of such Code (relating to imposition of tax) is amended by adding at the end the following flush sentence: ``In the case of taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, and ending on or before December 31, 2012, the preceding sentence shall be applied by substituting `0.18 percent' for `0.12 percent'.''. (4) Separate accounting for cleanup funds.--Section 9507 of such Code (relating to Hazardous Substance Superfund) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(f) Establishment of Megasites and High Risk Sites Cleanup Account.-- ``(1) Creation of account.--There is established in the Hazardous Substance Superfund a separate account to be known as the `Megasites and High Risk Sites Cleanup Account' consisting of such amounts as may be transferred or credited to the Megasites and High Risk Sites Cleanup Account as provided in this subsection or section 9602(b). ``(2) Transfers to account.--The Secretary shall transfer to the Megasites and High Risk Sites Cleanup Account from the amounts appropriated to Superfund under subsection (b) amounts equal to-- ``(A) the increase in the tax imposed under section 59A by reason of the last sentence of subsection (a) thereof, ``(B) the increase in the tax imposed under section 4611(c) by reason of paragraph (3) thereof, ``(C) the increase in the tax imposed under section 4661 by reason of subsection (d) thereof, and ``(D) the increase in the tax imposed under section 4671 by reason of the increase in tax under section 4661(d). ``(3) Expenditures from account.--Amounts in the Megasites and High Risk Sites Cleanup Account shall be available, as provided by appropriation Acts, for making expenditures in accordance with section 4 of the Superfund Equity and Megasite Remediation Act of 2007. ``(4) Reversion of unexpended funds.--Amounts remaining in the Megasites and High Risk Sites Cleanup Account shall revert to the Hazardous Substance Superfund on the date which is the later of-- ``(A) December 31, 2013, or ``(B) the date as of which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency makes the determination under section 4 of such Act.''. (c) Effective Dates.-- (1) Excise taxes.--The amendments made by subsections (a) (other than paragraph (2) thereof) and (b) (other than paragraph (3) thereof shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Income tax.--The amendments made by subsections (a)(2) and (b)(3) shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. EXPENDITURES FROM TRUST FUND. Amounts in the Megasites Cleanup and High Risk Sites Account established under section 9507(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be used only for making expenditures in accordance with such section 9507(f) with respect to any site on the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (``Superfund'')-- (1) at which response is cumulatively estimated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to cost more than $50,000,000, or (2) the Administrator has designated as presenting high health risks, including sites where hazardous substance exposure to humans remains uncontrolled, until such time as the Administrator determines by rule that no response actions are necessary to protect human health and the environment with respect to such sites. Before initiating a rulemaking under this section, the Administrator shall notify the Congress of the intention to initiate the rulemaking. SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS. (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall submit to the Congress each year, not later than 45 days after the date on which the President submits to the Congress the budget for a fiscal year, a report on the progress of response actions funded by the Hazardous Substance Superfund with respect to each non- Federal site placed on the National Priorities List. (b) Contents of Report.--Each such report shall include, with respect to response actions at each site, the following: (1) A statement of the number of sites at which a hazardous substance has been identified. (2) A statement of the status of response actions proposed for or initiated at each site. (3) A statement of the total cost estimated for such response actions at each site. (4) A statement of the amount of funds obligated by the Administrator for such response actions at each site, and the progress made in implementing the response actions at each site during the fiscal year preceding the year in which the report is submitted, including an explanation of-- (A) any cost overruns for such response actions, if the amount of funds obligated for those response actions exceeds the estimated cost for those response actions by the greater of 15 percent of the estimated cost or $10,000,000; and (B) any deviation in the schedule of more than 180 days for such response actions at each site. (5) A statement of the amount of funds allocated by the Administrator for, and the anticipated progress in implementing, such response actions during the fiscal year in which the report is submitted. (6) A statement of the amount of funds requested for such response actions for the 5 fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the report is submitted, and the anticipated progress in implementing such response actions for the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted. (7) A statement of the total costs incurred for such response actions as of the date of the submission of the report. (8) A statement of the estimated cost of completing all response actions required with respect to each site, including, where relevant, the estimated cost of such activities in each of the 5 fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the report is submitted. (9) A statement of the estimated schedule for completing all response actions at each site. (10) A statement of the activities, if any, including expenditures for grants awarded to communities for technical assistance.

Superfund Equity and Megasite Remediation Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate and the corporate environmental income tax, except in certain calendar quarters in which the unobligated balance in the Hazardous Substance Superfund exceeds $5.7 billion. Provides for a 50% increase in the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate and the corporate environmental income tax between 2008 and 2013 to fund response actions at Superfund sites estimated to cost more than $50 million (megasites) or which pose high health risks. Establishes the Megasites and High Risk Sites Cleanup Account in the Hazardous Substance Superfund. Transfers to such Account revenues resulting from the temporary 50% increase in the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate and the corporate environmental income tax. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to report to Congress annually on the progress of response actions funded by the Hazardous Substance Superfund.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION. 1. BAN ON TRADE OFFICIAL REPRESENTING OR ADVISING FOREIGN ENTITIES. (a) Representing After Service.--Section 207(f)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by-- (1) inserting ``, Deputy United States Trade Representative, Secretary of Commerce, or Commissioner of the International Trade Commission'' after ``is the United States Trade Representative''; and (2) striking ``within 3 years'' and inserting ``at any time''. (b) Limitation on Appointments.--Section 141(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2171(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) Limitation on appointments.--A person who has directly represented, aided, or advised a foreign entity (as defined by section 207(f)(3) of title 18, United States Code) in any trade negotiation, or trade dispute, with the United States may not be appointed as United States Trade Representative, Deputy United States Trade Representative, Secretary of Commerce, or Commissioner of the International Trade Commission.''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to an individual appointed as United States Trade Representative, Deputy United States Trade Representative, Secretary of Commerce, or Commissioner of the International Trade Commission on or after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON REPRESENTING OR ADVISING CERTAIN FOREIGN ENTITIES. (a) Amendment.--Section 207(f) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``(f) Restrictions Relating to Foreign Entities.-- ``(1) Permanent restriction.--Any person who is an officer or employee described in paragraph (3) and who, after the termination of his or her service or employment as such officer or employee, knowingly acts as an agent or attorney for or otherwise represents or advises, for compensation, a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party, if the representation or advice relates directly to a matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, shall be punished as provided in section 216 of this title. ``(2) Five-year restriction.--Any person who is an officer or employee described in paragraph (3) and who, within 5 years after the termination of his or her service or employment as such officer or employee, knowingly acts as an agent or attorney for or otherwise represents or advises, for compensation-- ``(A) a person outside of the United States, unless such person-- ``(i) if an individual, is a citizen of and domiciled within the United States, or ``(ii) if not an individual, is organized under or created by the laws of the United States or of any State or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and has its principal place of business within the United States, or ``(B) a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country, if the representation or advice relates directly to a matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest, shall be punished as provided in section 216 of this title. ``(3) Persons to whom restrictions apply.--The officers and employees referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) to whom the restrictions contained in such paragraphs apply are-- ``(A) the President of the United States; and ``(B) any person subject to the restrictions contained in subsection (c), (d), or (e). ``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection-- ``(A) the term `compensation' means any payment, gift, benefit, reward, favor, or gratuity which is provided, directly or indirectly, for services rendered; ``(B) the term `government of a foreign country' has the meaning given that term in section 1(e) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended; ``(C) the term `foreign political party' has the meaning given that term in section 1(f) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended; ``(D) the term `United States' means the several States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States; and ``(E) the term `State' includes the District of Columbia and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.''. (b) Effective Date.-- (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the amendment made by subsection (a) take effect on January 1, 1996. (2) Effect on employment.-- (A) The amendment made by subsection (a) does not, except as provided in subparagraph (B), apply to a person whose service as an officer or employee to which such amendment apply terminated before the effective date of such amendment. (B) Subparagraph (A) does not preclude the application of the amendment made by subsection (a) to a person with respect to service as an officer or employee by that person on or after the effective date of such amendment. SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION ACT. (a) Definitions.-- (1) Agent of a foreign principal.-- (A) In general.--Section 1(c) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended (22 U.S.C. 611(c)), is amended-- (i) by striking ``agent of a foreign principal'' each place it appears and inserting ``representative of a foreign principal''; (ii) in paragraph (1)(iv), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end; (iii) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (iv) by adding at the end the following: ``(3) any person who engages in political activities for purposes of furthering commercial, industrial, or financial operations with a foreign principal. For purposes of clause (1), a foreign principal shall be considered to control a person in major part if the foreign principal holds more than 50 percent equitable ownership in such person or, subject to rebuttal evidence, if the foreign principal holds at least 20 percent but not more than 50 percent equitable ownership in such person.''. (B) Further definition.--Section 1(d) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 611(d)) is amended to read as follows: ``(d) The term `representative of a foreign principal' does not include-- ``(1) any news or press service or association organized under the laws of the United States or of any State or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, or any newspaper, magazine, periodical, or other publication for which there is on file with the United States Postal Service information in compliance with section 3685 of title 39, United States Code, published in the United States, solely by virtue of any bona fide news or journalistic activities, including the solicitation or acceptance of advertisements, subscriptions, or other compensation therefor, so long as it is at least 80 percent beneficially owned by, and its officers and directors, if any, are citizens of the United States, and such news or press service or association, newspaper magazine, periodical, or other publication, is not owned, directed, supervised, controlled, subsidized, or financed, and none of its policies are determined by any foreign principal defined in subsection (b) of this section, or by any representative of a foreign principal required to register under this Act; or ``(2) any incorporated, nonprofit membership organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any State or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that is registered under section 308 of the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act and has obtained tax-exempt status under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and whose activities are directly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidized in whole by citizens of the United States.''. (2) Political promotional or informational materials.-- Section 1(j) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 611(j)) is amended-- (A) in the matter preceding clause (1), by striking ``propaganda'' and inserting ``promotional or informational materials''; and (B) in clause (1), by striking ``prevail upon, indoctrinate, convert, induce, or in any other way'' and inserting ``in any way''. (3) Political activities.--Section 1(o) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 611(o)) is amended-- (A) by striking ``prevail upon, indoctrinate, convert, induce, persuade, or in any other way'' and inserting ``in any way''; and (B) by striking ``or changing the domestic or foreign'' and inserting ``enforcing, or changing the domestic or foreign laws, regulations, or''. (4) Political consultant.--Section 1(p) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 611(p)) is amended-- (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``any person''; and (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ``, or (2) who distributes political promotional or informational materials to an officer or employee of the United States Government, in his or her capacity as such officer or employee''. (b) Supplemental Registration.--Section 2(b) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 612(b)) is amended-- (1) in the first sentence by striking ``, within thirty days'' and all that follows through ``preceding six months' period'' and inserting ``on January 31 and July 31 of each year file with the Attorney General a supplement thereto under oath, on a form prescribed by the Attorney General, which shall set forth regarding the six-month periods ending the previous December 31, and June 30, respectively, or, if a lesser period, the period since the initial filing,''; and (2) by inserting after the first sentence the following new sentence: ``Any registrant using an accounting system with a fiscal year which is different from the calendar year may petition the Attorney General to permit the filing of supplemental statements at the close of the first and seventh month of each such fiscal year in lieu of the dates specified by the preceding sentence.''. (c) Removal of Exemption for Certain Countries.--Section 3(f) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 613(f)) is repealed. (d) Limiting Exemption for Legal Representation.--Section 3(g) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 613(g)) is amended by striking ``or any agency of the Government of the United States'' and all that follows through ``informal'' and inserting ``or before the Patent and Trademark Office, including any written submission to that Office''. (e) Notification of Reliance on Exemptions.--Section 3 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 613) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Any person who does not register under section 2(a) on account of any provision of subsections (a) through (g) of this section shall so notify the Attorney General in such form and manner as the Attorney General prescribes.''. (f) Civil Penalties and Enforcement Provisions.--Section 8 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 618) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(i)(1) Any person who is determined, after notice and opportunity for an administrative hearing-- ``(A) to have failed to file when such filing is required a registration statement under section 2(a) or a supplement thereto under section 2(b), ``(B) to have omitted a material fact required to be stated therein, or ``(C) to have made a false statement with respect to such a material fact, shall be required to pay for each violation committed a civil penalty of not less than $2,000 and not more than $1,000,000. In determining the amount of the penalty, the Attorney General shall give due consideration to the nature and duration of the violation. ``(2)(A) Whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe that any person may be in possession, custody, or control of any documentary material relevant to an investigation regarding any violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection or of section 5, the Attorney General may, before bringing any civil or criminal proceeding thereon, issue in writing, and cause to be served upon such person, a civil investigative demand requiring such person to produce such material for examination. ``(B) Civil investigative demands issued under this paragraph shall be subject to the applicable provisions of section 1968 of title 18, United States Code.''. (g) Change in Short Title of the Act.--Section 14 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 611 note) is amended by striking ``Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended'' and inserting ``Foreign Interests Representation Act''. (h) References to Agent of a Foreign Principal.--The Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended is amended-- (1) by striking ``agent of a foreign principal'' each place it appears and inserting ``representative of a foreign principal''; (2) by striking ``agents of foreign principals'' each place it appears and inserting ``representatives of foreign principals''; (3) by striking ``agent of such principal'' each place it appears and inserting ``representative of such principal''; and (4) by striking ``such agent'' each place it appears and inserting ``such representative''. (i) References to Political Propaganda.-- (1) The paragraph preceding section 1 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended is amended by striking ``propaganda'' and inserting ``political''. (2) The Foreign Interests Representation Act (other than the paragraph amended by paragraph (1) of this subsection) is amended by striking ``propaganda'' each place it appears and inserting ``promotional or informational materials''. (j) References to the Act.-- (1) Section 207(f)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended,'' and inserting ``Foreign Interests Representation Act''. (2) Section 219 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (A) in subsection (a) by striking ``agent of a foreign principal required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended,'' and inserting ``representative of a foreign principal required to register under the Foreign Interests Representation Act''; and (B) in subsection (b)-- (i) by striking ``agent of a foreign principal'' and inserting ``representative of a foreign principal''; (ii) by striking ``such agent'' and inserting ``such representative''; and (iii) by striking ``Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended'' and inserting ``Foreign Interests Representation Act''. (3) Section 5210(4) of the Competitiveness Policy Council Act (15 U.S.C. 4809(4)) is amended-- (A) by striking ``agent of a foreign principal'' and inserting ``representative of a foreign principal''; and (B) by striking ``subsection (d) of the first section of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611)'' and inserting ``section 1(d) of the Foreign Interests Representation Act (22 U.S.C. 611(d)),''. (4) Section 34(a) of the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 34(a)) is amended by striking ``Act of June 8, 1934 (ch. 327, 52 Stat. 631), as amended'' and inserting ``Foreign Interests Representation Act''. SEC. 4. MISUSE OF NAME. (a) Amendment.--Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 1035. Misappropriation of Person's Name in Connection with Lobbying Contact ``Whoever falsely uses or employs the name of any person, or causes such name to be falsely used or employed, in any telegram, letter, other printed or written matter, or electronic communication intended or designed to influence in any manner a Member of Congress to favor or oppose, by vote or otherwise, any legislation before the Congress or any nomination pending before the Senate, whether before or after the introduction of such legislation or the submission of such nomination, for the purpose of conveying the impression that such person authorized such use or employment of the person's name shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.''. (b) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter 47 is amended by adding at the end the following: ``1035. Misappropriation of person's name in connection with lobbying contact.''. SEC. 5. DISCLOSURES OF VISITS TO MEMBERS AND SENATORS. (a) In General.--The Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate shall jointly establish a registry to record visits to Members of the House of Representatives and Senators by lobbyists registered under any Federal law which requires lobbyists to register. Such lobbyists shall record each such visit, including the date of the visit and the subject of the visit. The registry shall be open to the public. (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect January 1, 1996.

Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the ban against representing, aiding, or advising foreign entities on any person who has been the U.S. Trade Representative to extend the ban: (1) from three years after leaving the position to any time after leaving the position; and (2) to the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, the Secretary of Commerce, and any Commissioner of the International Trade Commission. (Sec. 1) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit appointment as U.S. Trade Representative, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, the Secretary of Commerce, or Commissioner of the International Trade Commission of any person who has represented, aided, or advised a foreign entity in any trade negotiation or trade dispute with the United States. (Sec. 2) Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the post-Federal employment ban relating to foreign entities on certain senior and very senior personnel (including the Vice President) of the executive branch and independent agencies, and on members of Congress and officers and employees of the legislative branch. Applies the same ban to the President. Makes such ban permanent with respect to knowingly acting as an agent or attorney for or otherwise representing or advising, for compensation, a foreign government or foreign political party, if the representation or advice relates directly to a matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest. Sets a five-year ban on knowingly acting, for compensation, as an agent or attorney for or otherwise representing or advising in such a matter: (1) any person outside of the United States, unless such person is an individual U.S. citizen domiciled within the United States, or an organization created by Federal or State law with a principal place of business within the United States; or (2) any partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country. (Sec. 3) Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to: (1) rename it the Foreign Interests Representation Act; (2) change "agent of a foreign principal" to "representative of a foreign principal"; and (3) cover as such a representative any person who engages in political activities for purposes of furthering commercial, industrial, or financial operations with a foreign principal. Declares that a foreign principal controls a person in major part if the foreign principal holds: (1) more than 50 percent equitable ownership in such person; or (2) (subject to rebuttal evidence) between 20 percent and 50 percent equitable ownership in such person. Excludes from the meaning of "representative of a foreign principal": (1) U.S.-organized news or press services or associations and newspapers and periodicals whose officers, directors, and at least 80 percent of whose beneficial owners are U.S. citizens, and which are not owned or financed by any representative of a foreign principal required to register under such Act; or (2) any U.S.-organized incorporated, nonprofit membership organization that is a registered lobbying organization whose activities are directly supervised or subsidized in whole by U.S. citizens. Repeals the exemption from the registration requirements of such Act for persons, or their employees, whose foreign principal is the government of a foreign country whose defense is presidentially deemed vital to defense of the United States. Revises the exemption from such registration requirements for lawyers engaged in legal representation of a disclosed foreign principal before any Federal agency to limit such exemption to legal representation before the Patent and Trademark Office. Sets forth civil penalties for failure to file required registration statements, or for false statements, or omission of material facts from such statements. (Sec. 4) Amends the Federal criminal code to set forth misdemeanor penalties for misappropriation of any person's name in connection with a lobbying contact about any legislation before the Congress or nomination pending before the Senate. (Sec. 5) Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate to establish a joint registry to record visits by registered lobbyists to Members of the House and Senators. Requires lobbyists to record each such visit in the registry, including date and subject.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Volunteer Protection Act of 1997''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. The Congress finds and declares that-- (1) the willingness of volunteers to offer their services is deterred by potential for liability actions against them and the organizations they serve; (2) as a result, many nonprofit public and private organizations and governmental entities, including voluntary associations, social service agencies, educational institutions, and other civic programs, have been adversely affected by the withdrawal of volunteers from boards of directors and service in other capacities; (3) the contribution of these programs to their communities is thereby diminished, resulting in fewer and higher cost programs than would be obtainable if volunteers were participating; and (4) because Federal funds are expended on useful and cost- effective social service programs, many of which are national in scope, depend heavily on volunteer participation, and represent some of the most successful public-private partnerships, protection of volunteerism through clarification and limitation of the personal liability risks assumed by the volunteer in connection with such participation is an appropriate subject for Federal legislation. (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to promote the interests of social service program beneficiaries and taxpayers and to sustain the availability of programs, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities that depend on volunteer contributions by reforming the laws to provide protection from personal financial liability to volunteers serving nonprofit organizations and governmental entities for actions undertaken in good faith on behalf of such organizations. SEC. 3. PREEMPTION. This Act preempts the laws of any State to the extent that such laws are inconsistent with this Act, except that this Act shall not preempt any State law that provides additional protections to volunteers or category of volunteers from personal liability in the performance of services for a nonprofit organization or governmental organization. SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEERS. (a) Liability Protection for Volunteers.--Except as provided in subsections (b) and (d), no volunteer of a nonprofit organization or governmental entity shall be liable for harm caused by an act or omission of the volunteer on behalf of the organization or entity if-- (1) the volunteer was acting within the scope of the volunteer's responsibilities in the nonprofit organization or governmental entity at the time of the act or omission; (2) if appropriate or required, the volunteer was properly licensed, certified, or authorized by the appropriate authorities for the activities or practice in the State, in which the harm occurred, undertaken within the scope of the volunteer's responsibilities in the nonprofit organization or governmental entity; and (3) the harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the volunteer. (b) Concerning Responsibility of Volunteers to Organizations and Entities.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any civil action brought by any nonprofit organization or any governmental entity against any volunteer of such organization or entity. (c) No Effect on Liability of Organization or Entity.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the liability of any nonprofit organization or governmental entity with respect to harm caused to any person, except that in an action brought on the basis of such liability punitive damages may not be awarded against such organization or entity unless the harm was proximately caused by the action of a volunteer of such organization or entity which was willful or criminal or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed. (d) Exceptions to Volunteer Liability Protection.--If the laws of a State limit volunteer liability subject to one or more of the following conditions, such conditions shall not be construed as inconsistent with this section: (1) A State law that requires a nonprofit organization or governmental entity to adhere to risk management procedures, including mandatory training of volunteers. (2) A State law that makes the organization or entity liable for the acts or omissions of its volunteers to the same extent as an employer is liable for the acts or omissions of its employees. (3) A State law that makes a limitation of liability inapplicable if the volunteer was operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or other vehicle for which the State requires the operator or vehicle owner to possess an operator's license or to maintain insurance. (4) A State law that makes a limitation of liability inapplicable if the civil action was brought by an officer of a State or local government pursuant to State or local law. (5) A State law that makes a limitation of liability applicable only if the nonprofit organization or governmental entity provides a financially secure source of recovery for individuals who suffer harm as a result of actions taken by a volunteer on behalf of the organization or entity. A financially secure source of recovery may be an insurance policy within specified limits, comparable coverage from a risk pooling mechanism, equivalent assets, or alternative arrangements that satisfy the State that the organization or entity will be able to pay for losses up to a specified amount. Separate standards for different types of liability exposure may be specified. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of section 4: (1) Economic loss.--The term ``economic losses'' means objectively verifiable monetary losses, including past and future medical expenses, loss of past and future earnings, cost of obtaining replacement services in the home (including child care, transportation, food preparation, and household care), cost of making reasonable accommodations to a personal residence, loss of employment, and loss of business or employment opportunities. (2) Harm.--The term ``harm'' includes physical, nonphysical, economic, and noneconomic losses. (3) Noneconomic losses.--The term ``noneconomic losses'' means losses for physical and emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of society and companionship, loss of consortium (other than loss of domestic service), hedonic damages, injury to reputation and all other nonpecuniary losses of any kind or nature. (4) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit organization'' means any organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code. (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, any other territory or possession of the United States, or any political subdivision of any such State, territory, or possession. (6) Volunteer.--The term ``volunteer'' means an individual performing services for a nonprofit organization or a governmental entity who does not receive-- (A) compensation (other than reimbursement or allowance for expenses actually incurred); or (B) any other thing of value in lieu of compensation, in excess of $300 per year, and such term includes a volunteer serving as a director, officer, trustee, or direct service volunteer. SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 4 applies to any claim for harm caused by an act or omission of a volunteer filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act, without regard to whether the harm that is the subject of the claim or the conduct that caused the harm occurred before such date of enactment.

Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 - Prescribes circumstances under which volunteers working for nonprofit organizations or government entities shall be immune from personal financial liability for acts on behalf of the organization or entity, provided harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed, by the volunteer. Sets forth exceptions and conditions that a State may impose on the granting of such immunity.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Independence Hall Commemorative Coin Act''. SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. The Congress finds that-- (1) for 150 years, the historic buildings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as Congress Hall, the Old City Hall, and Independence Hall which housed the Liberty Bell, the symbol of the heritage of free people in the United States, were under the occasional care of local government units; (2) the Federal Government decided that it was its responsibility to preserve and maintain these sites and others related to it for generations of Americans alive and yet to be born; (3) the recent years of financial exigency and growth of the responsibility and sphere of service of the National Park Service has prevented the ability to provide current capital needs for these historic sites; (4) in 1994, the people of the United States will mark the anniversary of the adoption of the National Park Service of the responsibility for the care and maintenance of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other historic buildings which were the birthplace of the United States of America; and (5) the minting and issuance of a United States coin to commemorate the ongoing maintenance and preservation of these shrines is an appropriate method by which to commemorate this action. SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. (a) Issuance.--The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall issue not more than 1,000,000 $1 coins each of which shall-- (1) weigh 26.73 grams; (2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and (3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. (b) Design.--The design of the coins issued under subsection (a) shall be emblematic of the shrines of liberty and shall show the Liberty Bell on one side and the Independence Hall on the other. On each coin there shall be a designation of the value of the coin, an inscription of the year ``1994'', and inscription of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus Unum''. (c) Numismatic Items.--The coins issued under subsection (a) shall be numismatic items for purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code. (d) Legal Tender.--The coins issued under subsection (a) shall be legal tender as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code. SEC. 4. SOURCES OF BULLION. The Secretary shall obtain silver for the coins authorized under section 3 from stockpiles established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. SEC. 5. SELECTION OF DESIGN. The design for the coins authorized by this Act shall be-- (1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts; and (2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Advisory Committee in accordance with section 5135 of title 31, United States Code. SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the coins authorized under section 3 shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the face value, plus the cost of designing and issuing such coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses), and the surcharge provided for in subsection (d). (b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins authorized under section 3 at a reasonable discount. (c) Prepaid Orders.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins authorized under section 3 prior to the issuance of such coins. Sales under this subsection shall be at a reasonable discount. (d) Surcharges.--All sales of the coins authorized under section 3 shall include a surcharge of $7 per coin. SEC. 7. ISSUANCE OF COINS. (a) In General.--The coins authorized under section 3 may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not more than 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality. (b) Commencement of Issuance.--The Secretary may issue the coins authorized under section 3 beginning on July 4, 1994. (c) Period of Authority.--Coins authorized under section 3 may be minted beginning 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act and for a period of not more than 1 year after such date. SEC. 8. GENERAL WAIVER OF PROCUREMENT RELATIONS. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no provision of law governing procurement or public contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods or services required to carry out this Act. (b) Equal Employment Opportunity.--Subsection (a) shall not relieve any person entering into a contract under the authority of this Act from complying with any law relating to equal employment opportunity. SEC. 9. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES. Of the total surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins in accordance with section 6 of this Act-- (1) 50 percent shall be returned to the Federal Treasury for the purpose of reducing the national debt; and (2) 50 percent shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Independence Hall Preservation Fund for the purposes of-- (A) creating an endowment fund moneys from which shall be used to meet the needs for capital improvements in Independence National Historic Park; (B) funding projects of capital replacement in buildings in Independence National Historic Park; and (C) funding those needs deemed appropriate by the Directors of the fund to foster and increase the respect and admiration of visitors to Independence National Historic Park. SEC. 10. AUDITS. The Comptroller General of the United States shall have the right to examine such books, records, documents, and other data of the Independence Hall Preservation Fund as may be related to the expenditure of amounts paid under section 9. SEC. 11. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES. (a) No Net Cost to the Government.--The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the minting and issuance of the coins referred to in section 3 will not result in any net cost to the Federal Government. (b) Payment for Issuance of Coins.--No coin shall be issued under this Act unless the Secretary has received-- (1) full payment for such coin; (2) security satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the United States for full payment for such coin; or (3) a guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the Secretary from a depository institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration.

Independence Hall Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue one-dollar coins emblematic of the shrines of liberty, showing the Liberty Bell on one side and the Independence Hall on the other. Mandates that surcharges from the sale of coins be distributed equally between the Treasury and the Independence Hall Preservation Fund.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; ETC. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Tax Rate Reduction Act of 1999''. (b) Section 15 Not To Apply.--The amendments made by section 2 shall not be treated as a change in a rate of tax for purposes of section 15 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. SEC. 2. 5 PERCENTAGE POINT REDUCTION IN 15 AND 28 PERCENT INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATES OVER 10 YEARS. (a) In General.--Section 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to tax imposed) is amended by striking subsections (a) through (e) and inserting the following: ``(a) Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns and Surviving Spouses.--There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of-- ``(1) every married individual (as defined in section 7703) who makes a single return jointly with his spouse under section 6013, and ``(2) every surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a)), a tax determined in accordance with the following table: ``If taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $43,050............... 14.5% of taxable income. Over $43,050 but not over $104,050. $6,242.25, plus 27.5% of the excess over $43,050 Over $104,050 but not over $158,550. $23,017.25, plus 31% of the excess over $104,050 Over $158,550 but not over $283,150. $39,912.25, plus 36% of the excess over $158,550 Over $283,150.................. $84,768.25, plus 39.6% of the excess over $283,150 ``(b) Heads of Households.--There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of every head of a household (as defined in section 2(b)) a tax determined in accordance with the following table: ``If taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $34,550............... 14.5% of taxable income. Over $34,550 but not over $89,150. $5,009.75, plus 27.5% of the excess over $34,550 Over $89,150 but not over $144,400. $20,024.75, plus 31% of the excess over $89,150 Over $144,400 but not over $283,150. $37,152.25, plus 36% of the excess over $144,400 Over $283,150.................. $87,102.25, plus 39.6% of the excess over $283,150 ``(c) Unmarried Individuals (Other Than Surviving Spouses and Heads of Households).--There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of every individual (other than a surviving spouse as defined in section 2(a) or the head of a household as defined in section 2(b)) who is not a married individual (as defined in section 7703) a tax determined in accordance with the following table: ``If taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $25,570............... 14.5% of taxable income. Over $25,570 but not over $62,450. $3,707.65, plus 27.5% of the excess over $25,570 Over $62,450 but not over $130,250. $13,849.65, plus 31% of the excess over $62,450 Over $130,250 but not over $283,150. $34,867.65, plus 36% of the excess over $130,250 Over $283,150.................. $89,911.65, plus 39.6% of the excess over $283,150 ``(d) Married Individuals Filing Separate Returns.--There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of every married individual (as defined in section 7703) who does not make a single return jointly with his spouse under section 6013, a tax determined in accordance with the following table: ``If taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $21,525............... 14.5% of taxable income. Over $21,525 but not over $52,025. $3,121.12, plus 27.5% of the excess over $21,525 Over $52,025 but not over $79,275. $11,508.62, plus 31% of the excess over $52,025 Over $79,275 but not over $141,575. $19,956.12, plus 36% of the excess over $79,275 Over $141,575.................. $42,384.12, plus 39.6% of the excess over $141,575 ``(e) Estates and Trusts.--There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of-- ``(1) every estate, and ``(2) every trust, taxable under this subsection a tax determined in accordance with the following table: ``If taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $1,750................ 14.5% of taxable income. Over $1,750 but not over $4,050 $253.75, plus 27.5% of the excess over $1,750 Over $4,050 but not over $6,200 $886.25, plus 31% of the excess over $4,050 Over $6,200 but not over $8,450 $1,552.75, plus 36% of the excess over $6,200 Over $8,450.................... $2,362.75, plus 39% of the excess over $8,450 (b) Additional Reductions After 1999.-- (1) In general.--Paragraph (7) of section 1(f) of such Code is amended to read as follows: ``(7) Phasein of 5 percentage point rate reduction in lower brackets.--In prescribing the tables under paragraph (1) which apply with respect to taxable years beginning in a calendar year after 1999, the corresponding percentages specified for such calendar year in the following table shall be substituted for 14.5% and 27.5%, respectively, in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The corresponding percentage shall be In the case of taxable substituted for the years beginning during following calendar year: percentages: --------------------- 14.5% 27.5% ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2000...................... 14.0% 27.0% 2001...................... 13.5% 26.5% 2002...................... 13.0% 26.0% 2003...................... 12.5% 25.5% 2004...................... 12.0% 25.0% 2005...................... 11.5% 24.5% 2006...................... 11.0% 24.0% 2007...................... 10.5% 23.5% 2008 or thereafter........ 10.0% 23.0%.'' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (2) Technical amendments.-- (A) Subparagraph (B) of section 1(f)(2) of such Code is amended by inserting ``except as provided in paragraph (7),'' before ``by not changing''. (B) Subparagraph (C) of section 1(f)(2) of such Code is amended by inserting ``and the reductions under paragraph (7) in the rates of tax'' before the period. (C) The heading for subsection (f) of section 1 of such Code is amended by inserting ``Rate Reductions;'' before ``Adjustments''. (D) Subparagraph (B) of section 1(g)(7) of such Code is amended-- (i) by striking ``15 percent'' in clause (ii)(II) and inserting ``the applicable first bracket percentage'', and (ii) by adding at the end the following flush sentence: ``For purposes of clause (ii), the applicable first bracket percentage is the percentage applicable to the lowest income bracket in the table contained in subsection (c).'' (E) Section 1(h) of such Code is amended-- (i) by striking ``28 percent'' both places it appears in paragraphs (1)(A)(ii)(I) and (1)(B)(i) and inserting ``23 percent'', and (ii) by striking paragraph (13). (F) Section 3402(p)(1)(B) of such Code is amended by striking ``7, 15, 28, or 31 percent'' and inserting ``7 percent, a percentage applicable to any income bracket in the table contained in section 1(c) other than the highest 2 brackets,''. (G) Section 3402(p)(2) of such Code is amended by striking ``15 percent'' and inserting ``the applicable first bracket percentage (as defined in section 1(g)(7))''. (H) Section 3402(q)(1) of such Code is amended by striking ``28 percent of such payment.'' and inserting ``the applicable percentage of such payment. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the applicable percentage is the percentage applicable to the next to the lowest income bracket in the table contained in section 1(c).'' (c) Inflation Adjustment Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Subsection (f) of section 1 of such Code is amended-- (A) by striking ``1993'' in paragraph (1) and inserting ``1999'', and (B) by striking ``1992'' in paragraph (3)(B) and inserting ``1998''. (2) The following provisions of such Code are each amended by striking ``1992'' and inserting ``1998'' each place it appears: (A) Section 25A(h). (B) Section 32(j)(1)(B). (C) Section 41(e)(5)(C). (D) Section 59(j)(2)(B). (E) Section 63(c)(4)(B). (F) Section 68(b)(2)(B). (G) Section 135(b)(2)(B)(ii). (H) Section 151(d)(4). (I) Section 220(g)(2). (J) Section 221(g)(1)(B). (K) Section 512(d)(2)(B). (L) Section 513(h)(2)(C)(ii). (M) Section 685(c)(3)(B). (N) Section 877(a)(2). (O) Section 911(b)(2)(D)(ii)(II). (P) Section 2032A(a)(3)(B). (Q) Section 2503(b)(2)(B). (R) Section 2631(c)(1)(B). (S) Section 4001(e)(1)(B). (T) Section 4261(e)(4)(A)(ii). (U) Section 6039F(d). (V) Section 6323(i)(4)(B). (W) Section 6601(j)(3)(B). (X) Section 7430(c)(1). (3) Subclause (II) of section 42(h)(6)(G)(i) of such Code is amended by striking ``1987'' and inserting ``1998''. (d) Effective Dates.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998. (2) Amendments to withholding provisions.--The amendments made by subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H) of subsection (b)(2) shall apply to amounts paid after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Tax Rate Reduction Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the 15 and 28 percent individual income tax rates to 10 and 23 percent over a ten-year period.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Lumbee Recognition Act''. SEC. 2. PREAMBLE. The preamble to the Act of June 7, 1956 (70 Stat. 254), is amended-- (1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of each of the first three clauses; (2) by striking out ``: Now therefore,'' at the end of the last clause and inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end thereof the following new clauses: ``Whereas the Lumbee Indians of Robeson and adjoining counties in North Carolina are descendants of coastal North Carolina Indian tribes, principally Cheraw, and have remained a distinct Indian community since the time of contact with white settlers; ``Whereas the Lumbee Indians have been recognized by the State of North Carolina as an Indian tribe since 1885; ``Whereas the Lumbee Indians have sought Federal recognition as an Indian tribe since 1888; and ``Whereas the Lumbee Indians are entitled to Federal recognition of their status as an Indian tribe and the benefits, privileges, and immunities that accompany such status: Now, therefore,''. SEC. 3. FEDERAL RECOGNITION. The Act of June 7, 1956 (70 Stat. 254), is amended-- (1) by striking out the last sentence of the first section; and (2) by striking out section 2 and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``federal recognition; acknowledgment ``Sec. 2. (a) Federal recognition is hereby extended to the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina. All laws and regulations of the United States of general application to Indians and Indian tribes shall apply to the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina and its members. ``(b) Notwithstanding the first section of this Act, any group of Indians in Robeson or adjoining counties whose members are not enrolled in the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina, as determined under section 4(b), may petition under part 83 of title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations for acknowledgment of tribal existence. ``services ``Sec. 3. (a) The Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina and its members shall be eligible for all services and benefits provided to Indians because of their status as federally recognized Indians, except that members of the tribe shall not be entitled to such services until the appropriation of funds for these purposes. For the purposes of the delivery of such services, those members of the tribe residing in Robeson and adjoining counties, North Carolina, shall be deemed to be resident on or near an Indian reservation. ``(b) Upon verification of a tribal roll under section 4 by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop, in consultation with the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina, a determination of needs and a budget required to provide services to which the members of the tribe are eligible. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall each submit a written statement of such needs and budget with the first budget request submitted to the Congress after the fiscal year in which the tribal roll is verified. ``(c)(1) The Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina is authorized to plan, conduct, consolidate, and administer programs, services, and functions authorized under the Act of April 16, 1934 (48 Stat. 596; 25 U.S.C. 452, et seq.), and the Act of November 2, 1921 (42 Stat. 208; 25 U.S.C. 13), popularly known as the Snyder Act, pursuant to an annual written funding agreement among the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which shall specify-- ``(A) the services to be provided, the functions to be performed, and the procedures to be used to reallocate funds or modify budget allocations, within any fiscal year; and ``(B) the responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior for, and the procedure to be used in, auditing the expenditures of the tribe. ``(2) The authority provided under this subsection shall be in lieu of the authority provided under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450, et seq.). ``(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as affecting, modifying, diminishing, or otherwise impairing the sovereign immunity from lawsuit enjoyed by the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina or authorizing or requiring the termination of any trust responsibility of the United States with respect to the tribe. ``constitution and membership ``Sec. 4. (a) The Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina shall organize for its common welfare and adopt a constitution and bylaws. Any constitution, bylaws, or amendments to the constitution or bylaws that are adopted by the tribe must be consistent with the terms of this Act and shall take effect only after such documents are filed with the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary shall assist the tribe in the drafting of a constitution and bylaws, the conduct of an election with respect to such constitution, and the reorganization of the government of the tribe under any such constitution and bylaws. ``(b)(1) Until the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina adopts a constitution and except as provided in paragraph (2), the membership of the tribe shall, subject to review by the Secretary, consist of every individual who is named in the tribal membership roll that is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. ``(2)(A) Before adopting a constitution, the roll of the tribe shall be open for a 180-day period to allow the enrollment of any individual previously enrolled in another Indian group or tribe in Robeson or adjoining counties, North Carolina, who demonstrates that-- ``(i) the individual is eligible for enrollment in the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians; and ``(ii) the individual has abandoned membership in any other Indian group or tribe. ``(B) The Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina shall advertise in newspapers of general distribution in Robeson and adjoining counties, North Carolina, the opening of the tribal roll for the purposes of subparagraph (A). The advertisement shall specify the enrollment criteria and the deadline for enrollment. ``(3) The review of the tribal roll of the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina shall be limited to verification of compliance with the membership criteria of the tribe as stated in the Lumbee Petition for Federal Acknowledgment filed with the Secretary by the tribe on December 17, 1987. The Secretary shall complete his review and verification of the tribal roll within the 12-month period beginning on the date on which the tribal roll is closed under paragraph (2). ``jurisdiction ``Sec. 5. (a)(1) The State of North Carolina shall exercise jurisdiction over-- ``(A) all criminal offenses that are committed on, and ``(B) all civil actions that arise on, lands located within the State of North Carolina that are owned by, or held in trust by the United States for, the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina, any member of the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina, or any dependent Indian community of the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina. ``(2) The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept on behalf of the United States, after consulting with the Attorney General of the United States, any transfer by the State of North Carolina to the United States of any portion of the jurisdiction of the State of North Carolina described in paragraph (1) pursuant to an agreement between the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians and the State of North Carolina. Such transfer of jurisdiction may not take effect until two years after the effective date of such agreement. ``(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not affect the application of section 109 of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1919). ``(b) Section 5 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (Chapter 576; 25 U.S.C. 465), and the Act of April 11, 1970 (84 Stat. 120; 25 U.S.C. 488 et seq.), shall apply to the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina with respect to lands within the exterior boundaries of Robeson and adjoining counties, North Carolina. ``authorization of appropriations ``Sec. 6. (a) There are authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry out this Act. ``(b) In the first fiscal year in which funds are appropriated under this Act, the tribe's proposals for expenditures of such funds shall be submitted to the Select Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 60 calendar days prior to any expenditure of such funds by the tribe.''. Passed the House of Representatives October 28, 1993. Attest: DONNALD K. ANDERSON, Clerk.

Lumbee Recognition Act - Extends Federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of Cheraw Indians of North Carolina.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. REQUIREMENT RELATING TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) without the cooperation of other countries, the United States cannot reverse global climate change to ensure the recovery of species that are listed as threatened or endangered species on the list of threatened species or the list of endangered species published under section 4(c)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(1)); and (2) the ratification of an international agreement by each major carbon emitting country is the likely path towards-- (A) reversing global climate change; and (B) ensuring through applicable laws (including regulations) the recovery of species described in paragraph (1) that are affected by global climate change. (b) Requirement Relating to Global Climate Change.--Section 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)(E), by inserting ``subject to paragraph (4),'' before ``other natural''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(4) Requirement relating to global climate change.-- ``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph: ``(i) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. ``(ii) Global climate change.--The term `global climate change' includes any significant increase in-- ``(I) global air temperatures; or ``(II) global sea levels. ``(iii) Greenhouse gas.--The term `greenhouse gas' has the meaning given the term in section 1610(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13389(a)). ``(iv) Major emitter of greenhouse gas.-- ``(I) In general.--The term `major emitter of greenhouse gas' means any country that the Administrator determines to be a major emitter of greenhouse gas. ``(II) Inclusions.--The term `major emitter of greenhouse gas' includes-- ``(aa) China; ``(bb) India; and ``(cc) the United States. ``(B) Duties of secretary.-- ``(i) Ratification of international agreement.--In determining whether any species is a threatened or endangered species under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not consider global climate change as a natural or manmade factor under paragraph (1)(E) until the date on which the Administrator notifies the Secretary that each major emitter of greenhouse gas has ratified an international agreement to reduce the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted from each major emitter of greenhouse gas. ``(ii) Compliance with international agreement.-- ``(I) Annual determinations.--The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, request the Administrator to determine whether each major emitter of greenhouse gas is in compliance with the international agreement described in clause (i). ``(II) Effects.--If the Administrator determines that any major emitter of greenhouse gas is not in compliance with the international agreement described in clause (i) for the period covered by the determination-- ``(aa) the Secretary shall not consider global climate change as a natural or manmade factor under paragraph (1)(E) until the date on which the Administrator notifies the Secretary that each major emitter of greenhouse gas is in compliance with the international agreement; and ``(bb) each species that the Secretary has determined to be a threatened or endangered species under paragraph (1) as the result of global climate change shall not be considered to be a threatened or endangered species until the date described in item (aa).''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (b) take effect on January 1, 2006.

Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from considering global climate change as a natural or manmade factor in the determination as to whether a species is threatened or endangered until the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notifies the Secretary that: (1) each major emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) (specifically including China, India, and the United States) has ratified an international agreement to reduce the quantity of GHGs emitted; and (2) any such emitter found to not to be in compliance with such agreement, in any year, becomes compliant. Makes this Act effective as of January 1, 2006.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Commonsense Contracting Act of 2015''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that, when used appropriately, reverse auctions may improve the Federal Government's procurement of commercially available commodities by increasing competition, reducing prices, and improving opportunities for small businesses. SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON REVERSE AUCTIONS FOR COVERED CONTRACTS. The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended-- (1) by redesignating section 47 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) as section 48; and (2) by inserting after section 46 the following new section: ``SEC. 47. REVERSE AUCTIONS PROHIBITED FOR COVERED CONTRACTS. ``(a) In General.--In the case of a covered contract described in subsection (c), reverse auction methods may not be used if the award of the contract is to be made under-- ``(1) section 8(a); ``(2) section 8(m); ``(3) section 15(a); ``(4) section 15(j); ``(5) section 31; or ``(6) section 36. ``(b) Limitations on Using Reverse Auctions.-- ``(1) Decisions regarding use of a reverse auction.--The following decisions are the responsibility of the contracting officer and may not be delegated to any person except for another contracting officer who meets the training requirements of paragraph (2): ``(A) A decision to use reverse auction methods as part of the competition for award of a covered contract. ``(B) Any decision made after the decision described in subsection (A) regarding the appropriate evaluation criteria, the inclusion of vendors, the acceptability of vendor submissions (including decisions regarding timeliness), and the selection of the winner. ``(2) Training required.--Only a contracting officer who has received training on the appropriate use and supervision of reverse auction methods of contracting may supervise or use such methods in a procurement for a covered contract. The training shall be provided by, or similar to the training provided by, the Defense Acquisition University as described in section 824 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. `Buck' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291). ``(3) Number of offers; revisions to bids.--A Federal agency may not award a covered contract using a reverse auction method if only one offer is received or if offerors do not have the ability to submit revised bids with lower prices throughout the course of the auction. ``(4) Technically acceptable offers.--A Federal agency awarding a covered contract using a reverse auction method shall evaluate the technical acceptability of offers only as technically acceptable or unacceptable. ``(5) Use of price rankings.--A Federal agency may not award a covered contract using a reverse auction method if at any time during the award process the Federal agency misinforms an offeror about the price ranking of the offeror's last offer submitted in relation to offers submitted by other offerors. ``(6) Use of third-party agents.--If a Federal agency uses a third party agent to assist with the award of covered contracts using a reverse auction method, the Federal agency shall ensure that-- ``(A) inherently governmental functions (as such term is used in section 2303 of title 41, United States Code) are not performed by private contractors, including by the third party agent; ``(B) information on the past contract performance of offerors created by the third party agent and shared with the Federal agency is collected, maintained, and shared in compliance with section 1126 of title 41, United States Code; ``(C) information on whether an offeror is a responsible source (as defined in section 113 of title 41, United States Code) that is created by the third party agent and shared with the Federal agency is shared with the offeror and complies with section 8(b)(7) of this Act; and ``(D) disputes between the third party agent and an offeror may not be used to justify a determination that an offeror is not a responsible source (as defined in section 113 of title 41, United States Code) or to otherwise restrict the ability of an offeror to compete for the award of a contract or task or delivery order. ``(c) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Contracting officer.--The term `contracting officer' has the meaning given that term in section 2101(1) of title 41, United States Code. ``(2) Covered contract.--The term `covered contract' means a contract-- ``(A) for design and construction services; ``(B) for goods purchased to protect Federal employees, members of the Armed Forces, or civilians from bodily harm; or ``(C) for goods or services other than those goods or services described in subparagraph (A) or (B)-- ``(i) to be awarded based on factors other than price and technical responsibility; or ``(ii) if awarding the contract requires the contracting officer to conduct discussions with the offerors about their offer. ``(3) Design and construction services.--The term `design and construction services' means-- ``(A) site planning and landscape design; ``(B) architectural and interior design; ``(C) engineering system design; ``(D) performance of construction work for facility, infrastructure, and environmental restoration projects; ``(E) delivery and supply of construction materials to construction sites; ``(F) construction, alteration, or repair, including painting and decorating, of public buildings and public works; and ``(G) architectural and engineering services as defined in section 1102 of title 40, United States Code. ``(4) Reverse auction.--The term `reverse auction' means, with respect to procurement by an agency, an auction between a group of offerors who compete against each other by submitting offers for a contract or task or delivery order with the ability to submit revised offers with lower prices throughout the course of the auction.''.

Commonsense Contracting Act of 2015 This bill expresses the sense of Congress that, when used appropriately, with respect to federal agency procurement, an auction between a group of offerors who compete against each other by submitting offers for a contract or task or delivery order with the ability to submit revised offers with lower prices throughout the course of the auction (reverse auction) may improve the federal government's procurement of commercially available commodities by increasing competition, reducing prices, and improving opportunities for small businesses. The Small Business Act is amended to prohibit the use of reverse auction methods for certain Small Business Administration federal procurement contracts for: design and construction services; goods purchased to protect federal employees, members of the Armed Forces, or civilians from bodily harm; or goods or services other than these: (1) to be awarded based on factors other than price and technical responsibility, or (2) if awarding the contract requires the contracting officer to conduct discussions with the offerors about their offer.

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Summarize the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Community Health Center and Primary Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2017''. SEC. 2. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM. (a) In General.--Section 10503(b)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(1)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end; (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(F) $5,110,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; ``(G) $5,410,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; ``(H) $5,790,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; ``(I) $6,620,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; ``(J) $7,510,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; ``(K) $8,460,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; ``(L) $9,490,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; ``(M) $10,590,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; ``(N) $11,780,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; ``(O) $12,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and ``(P) for fiscal year 2028, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the product of-- ``(i) one plus the average percentage increase in costs incurred per patient served; and ``(ii) one plus the average percentage increase in the total number of patients served; and''. (b) Capital Projects.--In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated under section 10503(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)), there is authorized to be appropriated, and there is appropriated, for the community health centers program under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) for capital projects, $18,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2017. (c) Limitation.--Amounts otherwise appropriated for community health centers may not be reduced as a result of the appropriations made under this section. (d) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended. SEC. 3. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS. (a) In General.--Section 10503(b)(2) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(2)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end; (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(F) $850,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; ``(G) $893,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; ``(H) $938,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; ``(I) $985,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; ``(J) $1,030,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; ``(K) $1,090,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; ``(L) $1,100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; ``(M) $1,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; ``(N) $1,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; ``(O) $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and ``(P) for fiscal year 2028, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the product of-- ``(i) one plus the average percentage increase in the costs of health professions education during the prior fiscal year; and ``(ii) one plus the average percentage change in the number of individuals residing in health professions shortage areas designated under section 333 of the Public Health Service Act during the prior fiscal year, relative to the number of individuals residing in such areas during the previous fiscal year.''. (b) Limitation.--Amounts otherwise appropriated for National Health Service Corps may not be reduced as a result of the appropriations made under this section. (c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended. SEC. 4. TEACHING HEALTH CENTERS. (a) In General.--Section 340H(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h(g)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``2015 and'' and inserting ``2015,''; and (2) by striking the period and inserting ``, $176,000,000 for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, $184,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, $194,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, $203,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, $214,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, $224,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, $235,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, $247,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $260,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and for fiscal year 2028, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the greater of the annual percentage increase in the medical care component of the consumer price index for all urban consumers (U.S. city average) as rounded up in an appropriate manner, or the percentage increase for the fiscal year involved under section 2(a)(11).''. (b) Limitation.--Amounts otherwise appropriated for Teaching Health Centers may not be reduced as a result of the appropriations made under this section. (c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended. SEC. 5. NURSE PRACTITIONER RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAMS. (a) In General.--Section 5316 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is amended by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following: ``(i) Appropriations.--In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated, there is authorized to be appropriated, and there is appropriated to carry out this section-- ``(1) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; ``(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; ``(3) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; ``(4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; ``(5) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; ``(6) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; ``(7) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; ``(8) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; ``(9) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; ``(10) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and ``(11) for fiscal year 2028, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the greater of the annual percentage increase in the medical care component of the consumer price index for all urban consumers (U.S. city average) as rounded up in an appropriate manner, or the percentage increase for the fiscal year involved under section 10503(b)(1)(P) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.''. (b) Limitation.--Amounts otherwise appropriated for Nurse Practitioner Residency Training Programs may not be reduced as a result of the appropriations made under this section. (c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended.

Community Health Center and Primary Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2017 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to make appropriations for and extend indefinitely: (1) enhanced funding for the community health centers program and the National Health Service Corps, and (2) grants for federally qualified health centers and nurse-managed health centers to train family nurse practitioners to become primary care providers. The bill makes appropriations for capital projects under the community health centers program. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to make appropriations for and extend indefinitely a program that pays teaching health centers to establish or expand graduate medical residency training programs.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds and declares the following: (1) The public lands within the Otay Mountain region of California are one of the last remaining pristine locations in western San Diego County, California. (2) This rugged mountain adjacent to the United States-Mexico border is internationally known for its diversity of unique and sensitive plants. (3) This area plays a critical role in San Diego's multi- species conservation plan, a national model made for maintaining biodiversity. (4) Due to its proximity to the international border, this area is the focus of important law enforcement and border interdiction efforts necessary to curtail illegal immigration and protect the area's wilderness values. (5) The illegal immigration traffic, combined with the rugged topography, also presents unique fire management challenges for protecting lives and resources. SEC. 3. DESIGNATION. In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain public lands in the California Desert District of the Bureau of Land Management, California, comprising approximately 18,500 acres as generally depicted on a map entitled ``Otay Mountain Wilderness'' and dated May 7, 1998, are hereby designated as wilderness and therefore as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which shall be known as the Otay Mountain Wilderness. SEC. 4. MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION. (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, a map and a legal description for the Wilderness Area shall be filed by the Secretary with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives. Such map and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary, as appropriate, may correct clerical and typographical errors in such legal description and map. Such map and legal description for the Wilderness Area shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the Director and California State Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. (b) United States-Mexico Border.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the southern boundary of the Wilderness Area is 100 feet north of the trail depicted on the map referred to in subsection (a) and is at least 100 feet from the United States-Mexico international border. SEC. 5. WILDERNESS REVIEW. The Congress hereby finds and directs that all the public lands not designated wilderness within the boundaries of the Southern Otay Mountain Wilderness Study Area (CA-060-029) and the Western Otay Mountain Wilderness Study Area (CA-060-028) managed by the Bureau of Land Management and reported to the Congress in 1991, have been adequately studied for wilderness designation pursuant to section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), and are no longer subject to the requirements contained in section 603(c) of that Act pertaining to the management of wilderness study areas in a manner that does not impair the suitability of such areas for preservation as wilderness. SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREA. (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights and to subsection (b), the Wilderness Area shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that-- (1) any reference in such provisions to the effective date of the Wilderness Act is deemed to be a reference to the effective date of this Act; and (2) any reference in such provisions to the Secretary of Agriculture is deemed to be a reference to the Secretary of the Interior. (b) Border Enforcement, Drug Interdiction, and Wildland Fire Protection.--Because of the proximity of the Wilderness Area to the United States-Mexico international border, drug interdiction, border operations, and wildland fire management operations are common management actions throughout the area encompassing the Wilderness Area. This Act recognizes the need to continue such management actions so long as such management actions are conducted in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and are subject to such conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate. SEC. 7. FURTHER ACQUISITIONS. Any lands within the boundaries of the Wilderness Area that are acquired by the United States after the date of the enactment of this Act shall become part of the Wilderness Area and shall be managed in accordance with all the provisions of this Act and other laws applicable to such a wilderness. SEC. 8. NO BUFFER ZONES. The Congress does not intend for the designation of the Wilderness Area by this Act to lead to the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around the Wilderness Area. The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within the Wilderness Area shall not, of itself, preclude such activities or uses up to the boundary of the Wilderness Area. SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act: (1) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the same meaning as that term has in section 103(e) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (3) Wilderness area.--The term ``Wilderness Area'' means the Otay Mountain Wilderness designated by section 3. Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1998 - Designates specified public lands in the California Desert District of the Bureau of Land Management as the Otay Mountain Wilderness. Recognizes that, because of the Wilderness Area's proximity to the U.S.-Mexican international border, drug interdiction, border operations, and wildland fire management operations need to continue so long as they are conducted in accordance with the Wilderness Act and any conditions the Secretary of the Interior considers appropriate. Declares that such designation is not intended to lead to the creation of protective buffer zones around the Wilderness.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that all authorities with jurisdiction, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other entities within the Department of Justice, should-- (1) expeditiously investigate unsolved civil rights murders, due to the amount of time that has passed since the murders and the age of potential witnesses; and (2) provide all the resources necessary to ensure timely and thorough investigations in the cases involved. SEC. 3. DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE CRIMINAL SECTION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION. (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (in this Act referred to as the ``Deputy Chief''). (b) Responsibility.-- (1) In general.--The Deputy Chief shall be responsible for coordinating the investigation and prosecution of violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred not later than December 31, 1969, and resulted in a death. (2) Coordination.--In investigating a complaint under paragraph (1), the Deputy Chief may coordinate investigative activities with State and local law enforcement officials. (c) Study and Report.-- (1) Study.--The Attorney General shall annually conduct a study of the cases under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Chief or under the jurisdiction of the Supervisory Special Agent and, in conducting the study, shall determine-- (A) the number of open investigations within the Department of Justice for violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred not later than December 31, 1969; (B) the number of new cases opened pursuant to this Act since the most recent study conducted under this paragraph; (C) the number of unsealed Federal cases charged within the study period, including the case names, the jurisdiction in which the charges were brought, and the date the charges were filed; (D) the number of cases referred by the Department of Justice to a State or local law enforcement agency or prosecutor within the study period, the number of such cases that resulted in State charges being filed, the jurisdiction in which such charges were filed, the date the charges were filed, and if a jurisdiction declines to prosecute or participate in an investigation of a case so referred, the fact it did so; (E) the number of cases within the study period that were closed without Federal prosecution, the case names of unsealed Federal cases, the dates the cases were closed, and the relevant Federal statutes; (F) the number of attorneys who worked, in whole or in part, on any case described in subsection (b)(1); and (G) the applications submitted for grants under section 5, the award of such grants, and the purposes for which the grant amount were expended. (2) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter, the Attorney General shall prepare and submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1). SEC. 4. SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS UNIT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice (in this Act referred to as the ``Supervisory Special Agent''). (b) Responsibility.-- (1) In general.--The Supervisory Special Agent shall be responsible for investigating violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred not later than December 31, 1969, and resulted in a death. (2) Coordination.--In investigating a complaint under paragraph (1), the Supervisory Special Agent may coordinate the investigative activities with State and local law enforcement officials. SEC. 5. GRANTS TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. (a) In General.--The Attorney General may make grants to State or local law enforcement agencies for expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses, involving civil rights, that occurred not later than December 31, 1969, and resulted in a death. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2017 to carry out this section. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated, in addition to any other amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated for this purpose, to the Attorney General $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2017 for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred not later than December 31, 1969, and resulted in a death. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall be allocated by the Attorney General to the Deputy Chief and the Supervisory Special Agent in order to advance the purposes set forth in this Act. (b) Community Relations Service of the Department of Justice.--In addition to any amounts authorized to be appropriated under title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000h et seq.), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Community Relations Service of the Department of Justice $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal year, to enable the Community Relations Service (in carrying out the functions described in title X of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000g et seq.)) to provide technical assistance by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities in the investigation of violations of criminal civil rights statutes, in cases described in section 4(b). SEC. 7. DEFINITION OF CRIMINAL CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES. In this Act, the term ``criminal civil rights statutes'' means-- (1) section 241 of title 18, United States Code (relating to conspiracy against rights); (2) section 242 of title 18, United States Code (relating to deprivation of rights under color of law); (3) section 245 of title 18, United States Code (relating to federally protected activities); (4) sections 1581 and 1584 of title 18, United States Code (relating to involuntary servitude and peonage); (5) section 901 of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3631); and (6) any other Federal law that-- (A) was in effect on or before December 31, 1969; and (B) the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice enforced, before the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 8. SUNSET. Sections 2 through 6 of this Act shall cease to have force or effect at the end of fiscal year 2017. SEC. 9. AUTHORITY OF INSPECTORS GENERAL. Title XXXVII of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5779 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 3703. AUTHORITY OF INSPECTORS GENERAL. ``(a) In General.--An Inspector General appointed under section 3 or 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) may authorize staff to assist the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children-- ``(1) by conducting reviews of inactive case files to develop recommendations for further investigations; and ``(2) by engaging in similar activities. ``(b) Limitations.-- ``(1) Priority.--An Inspector General may not permit staff to engage in activities described in subsection (a) if such activities will interfere with the duties of the Inspector General under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). ``(2) Funding.--No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.''. SEC. 10. USE OF RESOURCES. The Attorney General may reprogram funds appropriated for any congressionally directed spending item (as that term is defined under rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate) to carry out this Act or the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109- 248; 120 Stat. 587), or an amendment made by that Act, if Congress does not provide funding to carry out those Acts or amendments at the levels authorized.

Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970, and resulted in a death. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of such cases. Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to authorize staff of an Inspector General to assist the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by conducting reviews of inactive case files to develop recommendations for further investigations and engaging in similar activities.

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Summarize the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Corporate Inverters Earnings Stripping Reform Act of 2014''. SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL RULES RELATED TO INVERTED CORPORATIONS. (a) In General.--Section 7874 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h) and by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection: ``(g) Special Rules Applicable to Earnings Stripping and Related Party Transactions.-- ``(1) Modifications of limitation on interest deduction.-- ``(A) In general.--In the case of any additional limitation year of a corporation which is an applicable entity, section 163(j) shall be applied with the modifications described in subparagraph (B). ``(B) Modifications for additional limitation years.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), the modifications described in this subparagraph are as follows: ``(i) No carryover.--No carryforward to any other taxable year shall be allowed under section 163(j)(1)(B) for interest paid or accrued during any additional limitation year with respect to which a deduction was disallowed to the corporation under section 163(j). ``(ii) Rules for determining whether interest limitation rules apply.--In applying section 163(j)(2) to determine whether section 163(j) applies to the corporation for any additional limitation year-- ``(I) subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be disregarded, and ``(II) subparagraph (B)(i)(II) shall be applied by substituting `25 percent of the adjusted taxable income of the corporation' for `the sum of 50 percent of the adjusted taxable income of the corporation plus any excess limitation carryforward under clause (ii)' for purposes of determining the corporation's excess interest expense for the year. ``(C) Additional limitation year.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term `additional limitation year' means, with respect to any corporation which is an applicable entity, any taxable year beginning on or after the first day of the later of the corporation's-- ``(i) first taxable year beginning on or after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, or ``(ii) first taxable year for which the corporation is an applicable entity. ``(2) Annual application for agreements on return positions.-- ``(A) In general.--Each applicable entity shall file with the Secretary an application for an approval agreement under subparagraph (C) for each approval year. Such application shall be filed at such time and manner, and shall contain such information, as the Secretary may prescribe. ``(B) Failures to comply.--If an applicable entity fails to file an application under subparagraph (A), or the approval agreement does not contain the necessary provisions described in subparagraph (C), for any taxable year, then for such taxable year-- ``(i) there shall not be allowed any deduction, or addition to basis or cost of goods sold, for amounts paid or incurred, or losses incurred, by reason of a transaction between the entity and a foreign related person, ``(ii) any transfer or license of intangible property (as defined in section 936(h)(3)(B)) between the entity and a foreign related person shall be disregarded, and ``(iii) any cost-sharing arrangement between the entity and a foreign related person shall be disregarded. ``(C) Approval agreement.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `approval agreement' means a prefiling, advance pricing, or other agreement specified by the Secretary which contains such provisions as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure that the requirements of sections 163(j), 267(a)(3), 367, 482, and 845, and any other provision of this title applicable to transactions between related persons and specified by the Secretary, are met. ``(D) Approval year.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term `approval year' means, with respect to any applicable entity, any taxable year beginning on or after the date of enactment of this subparagraph if such taxable year is within the 10-taxable-year period beginning with the first taxable year for which the entity is an applicable entity. ``(3) Applicable entity.--For purposes of this subsection-- ``(A) In general.--The term `applicable entity' means any corporation which is a member of an expanded affiliated group which includes an entity which-- ``(i) is a surrogate foreign corporation, determined by applying subsection (a)(2)(B)-- ``(I) by substituting `more than 50 percent' for `at least 60 percent' in clause (ii) thereof, ``(II) by substituting `before, on, or after' for `after' in clause (i) thereof, and ``(III) by disregarding the matter following clause (iii) thereof, and ``(ii) is not treated as a domestic corporation by reason of subsection (b). ``(B) Special rule for inclusion of noncorporate entities.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), a partnership or other entity (other than a corporation) shall be treated as a member of an expanded affiliated group if such entity controls (as determined under section 954(d)(3)), or is controlled by (as so determined), members of such group (including any entity treated as a member of such group by reason of this sentence).''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.

Corporate Inverters Earnings Stripping Reform Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose limitations on the tax deduction for interest paid by corporations which are designated as applicable entities (i.e., members of an expanded affiliated group which includes a surrogate foreign corporation which is not treated as a domestic corporation). Prohibits such an entity from claiming a tax deduction for interest that exceeds 25% of its adjusted taxable income and from carrying forward interest which is paid or accrued during the first year in which such entity becomes an applicable entity. Requires an applicable entity to file an annual application for an approval agreement (i.e., a prefiling, advance pricing, or other agreement involving a related-party transaction) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during the 10-year period after it becomes an applicable entity.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) the United States needs short- and long-term policies designed-- (A) to eliminate the reliance of the United States on foreign energy sources; (B) to create jobs in the United States; and (C) to harness all of the energy resources of the United States; (2) promoting the energy security of the United States can be achieved by leveraging all domestic energy resources, including-- (A) traditional fossil fuels; (B) alternative energy resources; and (C) renewable energy; and (3) the United States needs to adopt policies that would foster a more sustainable domestic energy supply that would-- (A) decrease risks to national security; (B) lower domestic energy prices; (C) reduce trade deficits; and (D) create jobs in the United States. SEC. 3. REPEAL OF UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO DOMESTIC FUEL PRODUCTION. (a) In General.--Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17142) is repealed. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1112 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 17827) is repealed. SEC. 4. TRANSPARENCY FOR DELAYED LOAN GUARANTEE APPLICATIONS. Section 1702 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16512) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(l) Reporting Requirement.-- ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary fails to make a final decision by the date that is 270 days after the date on which the Secretary selects an application to proceed to negotiations of terms and conditions for issuance of a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee application under this title for a substitute natural gas, chemical feedstock, or liquid transportation fuel project, not later than 7 days after that date, and for every 90-day period thereafter, the Secretary shall-- ``(A) prepare a status report for the period covered by the report; and ``(B) submit the status report to-- ``(i) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and ``(ii) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. ``(2) Contents.--The status report described in paragraph (1) shall contain-- ``(A) a description of each reason for the delay of the application; ``(B) the name and office of the official who, for the period covering the status report, has reviewed the application; and ``(C) a detailed schedule for completion of the application review.''. SEC. 5. ALGAE-BASED FUEL INCENTIVES. Section 211(o)(2)(B) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(vi) Algae-based fuel incentives.--For purposes of calculating the applicable volume of renewable fuel under clauses (i) and (ii) for each calendar year, the Administrator shall consider each gallon of renewable biomass produced from algae to be equal to 3 gallons of renewable fuel if the algae-based fuel was produced using carbon dioxide that was captured in a manner that prevented the uncontrolled release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during a separate energy production process.''. SEC. 6. LOAN GUARANTEES. Section 1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16513(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(11) Substitute natural gas production facilities, if the gas is produced-- ``(A) from a solid feedstock through a gasification process; and ``(B) in a manner that captures at least 90 percent of the carbon produced through the gasification process.''. SEC. 7. MULTIYEAR CONTRACT AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR PROCUREMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS. (a) Multiyear Contracts for the Procurement of Alternative Fuels Authorized.-- (1) In general.--Chapter 141 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 2410R. MULTIYEAR CONTRACT AUTHORITY: PURCHASE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS. ``(a) In General.--The head of an agency (as defined in section 2302) may enter into contracts for a period not to exceed 20 years for the purchase of alternative fuels. ``(b) Required Provisions.--A contract entered into under subsection (a) shall include the following provisions: ``(1) A statement that the obligation of the United States to make payments under the contract in any fiscal year is subject to appropriations being provided specifically for that fiscal year and specifically for alternative fuels. ``(2) A commitment to obligate the necessary amount for each fiscal year covered by the contract when and to the extent that funds are appropriated for that purpose for that fiscal year. ``(3) A statement that a commitment given under the authority of this section does not constitute an obligation of the United States.''. (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 141 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``2410r. Multiyear contract authority: purchase of alternative fuels.''. (b) Regulations.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations providing that the head of an agency may enter into a multiyear contract as authorized by section 2410r of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), only if the head of the agency has determined in writing that-- (1) there is a reasonable expectation that, throughout the contemplated contract period, the head of the agency will request funding for the contract at the level required to avoid contract cancellation; (2) the technical risks associated with the technologies for the production of alternative fuel under the contract are not excessive; (3) the contract will contain appropriate pricing mechanisms to minimize risk to the Federal Government from significant changes in market prices for energy; and (4) the contract will not be used by the Department of Defense to finance new facilities intended to produce fuel for consumption by the Federal Government. (c) Limitation on Use of Authority.--No contract may be entered into under section 2410r of title 10, United States Code (as so added), until the regulations required by subsection (b) are issued. SEC. 8. ELECTRIC VEHICLE IMPACT ON ELECTRICITY DEMAND. Section 169(3) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7479(3)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``(3) The term'' and inserting the following: ``(3) Best available control technology.-- ``(A) Definition.-- ``(i) In general.--The term''; (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``In no event'' and inserting the following: ``(B) Emission limitations.-- ``(i) In general.--In no event''; (3) in the third sentence, by striking ``Emissions'' and inserting the following: ``(ii) Prohibition on certain increases.-- Emissions''; and (4) by adding at the end the following: ``(C) Additional considerations.--For purposes of establishing the `best available control technology' for a major emitting facility that is an electric generating facility located in a region in which demand for electricity has increased significantly due to the volume of electric vehicles, the permitting authority shall take into account the extent to which the emissions of a pollutant have been reduced as a result of the increased use of electric vehicles.''.

American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011 - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal the requirement that any federal agency procurement contract for an alternative or synthetic fuel, including those from nonconventional petroleum sources, for any mobility-related use (except research or testing) specify that lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuel must, on an ongoing basis, be less than or equal to such emissions from equivalent conventional fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to: (1) require the Secretary of Energy to report to certain congressional committees the reasons for any delayed approval of an application for a loan guarantee for a substitute natural gas, chemical feedstock, or liquid transportation fuel project; and (2) make certain substitute natural gas production facilities eligible for loan guarantees. Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an algae-based fuel incentive when calculating the applicable volume of renewable fuel for each calendar year, to consider each gallon of renewable biomass produced from algae to be equal to three gallons of renewable fuel if the algae-based fuel was produced using carbon dioxide captured in a manner that prevented its uncontrolled release into the atmosphere during a separate energy production process. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD), the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to enter into multiyear procurement contracts for alternative fuels, subject to certain requirements. Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the permitting authority, when establishing the best available control technology for a major emitting facility that is an electric generating facility located in a region in which demand for electricity has increased significantly due to the volume of electric vehicles, to take into account the extent to which emissions of a pollutant have been reduced as a result of the increased use of such vehicles.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 2003''. SEC. 2. REPEAL OF THE 160-ACRE LIMITATION FOR COAL LEASES. Section 3 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 203) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``such lease,'' and all that follows through the end of the sentence and inserting ``such lease.''. SEC. 3. MINING PLANS. Section 2(d)(2) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 202a(2)) is amended-- (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(2)''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(B) The Secretary may establish a period of more than 40 years if the Secretary determines that the longer period-- ``(i) will ensure the maximum economic recovery of a coal deposit; or ``(ii) the longer period is in the interest of the orderly, efficient, or economic development of a coal resource.''. SEC. 4. PAYMENT OF ADVANCE ROYALTIES UNDER COAL LEASES. (a) In General.--Section 7(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 207(b)) is amended to read as follows: ``(b)(1) Each lease shall be subjected to the condition of diligent development and continued operation of the mine or mines, except where operations under the lease are interrupted by strikes, the elements, or casualties not attributable to the lessee. ``(2)(A) The Secretary of the Interior, upon determining that the public interest will be served thereby, may suspend the condition of continued operation upon the payment of advance royalties. ``(B) Such advance royalties shall be computed based on the average price for coal sold in the spot market from the same region during the last month of each applicable continued operation year. ``(C) The aggregate number of years during the initial and any extended term of any lease for which advance royalties may be accepted in lieu of the condition of continued operation shall not exceed 20. ``(3) The amount of any production royalty paid for any year shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any advance royalties paid under such lease to the extent that such advance royalties have not been used to reduce production royalties for a prior year. ``(4) This subsection shall be applicable to any lease or logical mining unit in existence on the date of the enactment of this paragraph or issued or approved after such date. ``(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the requirement contained in the second sentence of subsection (a) relating to commencement of production at the end of 10 years.''. (b) Authority To Waive, Suspend, or Reduce Advance Royalties.-- Section 39 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 209) is amended by striking the last sentence. SEC. 5. ELIMINATION OF DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF COAL LEASE OPERATION AND RECLAMATION PLAN. Section 7(c) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 207(c)) is amended by striking ``and not later than three years after a lease is issued,''. SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSURANCES WITH RESPECT TO BONUS BIDS. (a) Prohibition on Requiring Surety Bonds.--Section 2(a) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 201(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(4) The Secretary shall not require a surety bond or any other financial assurance to guarantee payment of deferred bonus bid installments with respect to any coal lease issued based upon a cash bonus bid. ``(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the lessee under a coal lease fails to pay any installment of a deferred cash bonus bid within 10 days after the Secretary provides written notice that payment of such installment is past due-- ``(A) such lease shall automatically terminate; ``(B) any deferred bonus payments that have not been paid to the United States with respect to such lease shall no longer be owed to the United States; and ``(C) any bonus payments already made to the United States with respect to such lease shall not be returned to the lessee or credited in any future lease sale.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2(a)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 201(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``Upon default or cancellation of any coal lease for which bonus payments are due, any unpaid remainder of the bid shall be immediately payable to the United States.''. SEC. 7. INVENTORY REQUIREMENT. (a) Review of Assessments.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy, shall review coal assessments and other available data to identify-- (A) public lands with coal resources; (B) the extent and nature of any restrictions or impediments to the development of coal resources on public lands identified under paragraph (1); and (C) with respect to areas of such lands for which sufficient data exists, resources of compliant coal and supercompliant coal. (2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection-- (A) the term ``compliant coal'' means coal that contains not less than 1.0 and not more than 1.2 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu; and (B) the term ``supercompliant coal'' means coal that contains less than 1.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu. (b) Completion and Updating of the Inventory.--The Secretary-- (1) shall complete the inventory under subsection (a) by not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) shall update the inventory as the availability of data and developments in technology warrant. (c) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and make publicly available-- (1) a report containing the inventory under this section, by not later than 2 years after the effective date of this section; and (2) each update of such inventory. SEC. 8. APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS. The amendments made by this Act apply with respect to any coal lease issued before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 2003 - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to repeal the 160-acre limitation placed upon coal leases.Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish a mining plan period of more than 40 years upon a determination that the longer period: (1) will ensure the maximum economic recovery of a coal deposit; or (2) the longer period is in the interest of the orderly, efficient, or economic development of a coal resource.Revises the statutory formula for the payment of advance royalties. Extends from ten years to twenty years the lease term for which advance royalties may be accepted in lieu of the condition of continued operation.Eliminates the deadline for submission of a coal lease operation and reclamation plan.Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a surety bond or any other financial assurance to guarantee payment of deferred bonus bid installments with respect to any coal lease issued based upon a cash bonus bid.Requires the Secretary to review and identify for Congress coal assessments on public lands and the restrictions or impediments to development of those resources.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Design Piracy Prohibition Act''. SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 17, UNITED STATES CODE. (a) Designs Protected.--Section 1301 of title 17, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: ``(3) Fashion design.--A fashion design is subject to protection under this chapter.''; and (2) in subsection (b)-- (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or an article of apparel,'' after ``plug or mold''; and (B) by adding at the end the following: ``(7) A `fashion design'-- ``(A) is the appearance as a whole of an article of apparel, including its ornamentation; and ``(B) includes original elements of the article of apparel or the original arrangement or placement of original or non-original elements as incorporated in the overall appearance of the article of apparel. ``(8) The term `design' includes fashion design, except to the extent expressly limited to the design of a vessel. ``(9) The term `apparel' means-- ``(A) an article of men's, women's, or children's clothing, including undergarments, outerwear, gloves, footwear, and headgear; ``(B) handbags, purses, wallets, duffel bags, suitcases, tote bags, and belts; and ``(C) eyeglass frames. ``(10) In the case of a fashion design, the term `trend' means a newly popular concept, idea, or principle expressed in, or as part of, a wide variety of designs of articles of apparel that create an immediate amplified demand for articles of apparel embodying that concept, idea, or principle.''. (b) Designs Not Subject to Protection.--Section 1302(5) of title 17, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking ``(5)'' and inserting ``(5)(A) in the case of a design of a vessel hull,''; (2) by striking the period and inserting ``; or''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(B) in the case of a fashion design, embodied in a useful article that was made public by the designer or owner in the United States or a foreign country more than 6 months before the date of the application for registration under this chapter.''. (c) Revisions, Adaptations, and Rearrangements.--Section 1303 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The presence or absence of a particular color or colors or of a pictorial or graphic work imprinted on fabric shall not be considered in determining the originality of a fashion design under section 1301 or 1302 or this section or the similarity or absence of similarity of fashion designs in determining infringement under section 1309.''. (d) Term of Protection.--Section 1305(a) of title 17, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the protection provided under this chapter-- ``(1) for a design of a vessel hull, shall continue for a term of 10 years beginning on the date of the commencement of protection under section 1304; and ``(2) for a fashion design, shall continue for a term of 3 years beginning on the date of the commencement of protection under section 1304.''. (e) Infringement.--Section 1309 of title 17, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``that a design was protected'' and inserting ``or reasonable grounds to know that protection for the design is claimed''; (2) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows: ``(e) Infringing Article Defined.-- ``(1) In general.--As used in this section, an `infringing article' is any article the design of which has been copied from a design protected under this chapter, or from an image thereof, without the consent of the owner of the protected design. An infringing article is not an illustration or picture of a protected design in an advertisement, book, periodical, newspaper, photograph, broadcast, motion picture, or similar medium. ``(2) Vessel hull design.--In the case of a design of a vessel hull, a design shall not be deemed to have been copied from a protected design if it is original and not substantially similar in appearance to a protected design. ``(3) Fashion design.--In the case of a fashion design, a design shall not be deemed to have been copied from a protected design if it is original and not closely and substantially similar in overall visual appearance to a protected design, if it merely reflects a trend, or if it is the result of independent creation. This paragraph shall not be construed to permit the copying of a discrete design protected by this chapter.''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(h) Secondary Liability.--The doctrines of secondary infringement or secondary liability that are applied in actions under chapter 5 of this title apply to the same extent to actions under this chapter. Any person who is liable under either such doctrine under this chapter is subject to all the remedies provided under this chapter, including those attributable to any underlying or resulting infringement.''. (f) Application for Registration.--Section 1310 of title 17, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: ``(a) Time Limit for Application for Registration.-- ``(1) Vessel hull design.--In the case of a design of a vessel hull, protection under this chapter shall be lost if application for registration of the design is not made within 2 years after the date on which the design is first made public. ``(2) Fashion design.--In the case of a fashion design, protection under this chapter shall be lost if application for registration of the design is not made within 6 months after the date on which the design is first made public by the designer or owner in the United States or a foreign country.''; (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``offered for sale'' and inserting ``offered for individual or public sale''; and (3) in subsection (d)-- (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (6) as subparagraphs (A) through (F), respectively, and moving such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right; (B) by striking ``The application for registration shall be made to the Administrator and shall state--'' and inserting the following: ``(1) In general.--The application for registration shall be made to the Administrator and shall state--''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(2) Vessel hull designs.--In the case of a design of a vessel hull, the application for registration may include a description setting forth the salient features of the design, but the absence of such a description shall not prevent registration under this chapter. ``(3) Fashion designs.--In the case of a fashion design, the Administrator shall require a brief description of the design for purposes of matching the search criteria of the searchable database established under section 1333, except that such brief descriptions shall in no way limit the protection granted to the design or the subject matter of the registration under this chapter.''. (g) Recovery for Infringement.--Section 1323 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$50,000 or $1 per copy'' and inserting ``250,000 or $5 per copy''. (h) Penalty for False Representation.--Section 1327 of title 17, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking ``$500'' and inserting ``5,000''; and (2) by striking ``$1,000'' and inserting ``$10,000''. (i) Common Law and Other Rights Unaffected.--Section 1330 of title 17, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or'' after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting ``; or''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(3) any rights that may exist under provisions of this title other than this chapter.''. (j) Searchable Database for Fashion Design.-- (1) In general.--Chapter 13 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 1333. Searchable database for fashion design ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish and maintain a computerized database of fashion designs protected under this chapter. The database-- ``(1) shall be searchable electronically, by general apparel and accessory categories; ``(2) shall include the information required by subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), and (F) of paragraph (1), and paragraph (3), or section 1310(d); and ``(3) shall be available to the public without a fee or other access charge. ``(b) Additional Requirements.--The database under subsection (a) shall contain a substantially complete visual representation of all fashion designs that have been submitted for registration under this chapter, and shall include information as to the status of those designs, such as whether such designs are-- ``(1) registered under section 1313(a); ``(2) denied registration under section 1313 (b); ``(3) cancelled under section 1313(c); or ``(4) expired under section 1305.''. (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 13 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``1333. Searchable database for fashion design.''. (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the amendments made by this subsection. SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Design Piracy Prohibition Act - Extends copyright protection to fashion designs. Includes as protected items clothing, handbags, duffel bags, tote bags, and eyeglass frames. Excludes from such protection designs embodied in a useful article made public by the designer more than six months before the registration of copyright application. Prohibits considering certain factors in determining the originality of a fashion design. Sets the term of protection at three years. Declares that it is not infringement to make, have made, import, sell, or distribute any article which was created without reasonable grounds to know that design protection is claimed. Prohibits deeming a fashion design to have been copied from a protected design if it: (1) is original and not closely and substantially similar in overall visual appearance to a protected design; (2) merely reflects a trend; or (3) is the result of independent creation. Prohibits deeming a vessel hull design to have been copied from a protected design if it is original and not substantially similar in appearance to a protected design. Applies the doctrines of secondary infringement or secondary liability to actions related to original designs. Requires that applications for design registration be made within two years after the design is made public for vessel hulls and within six months after the design is made public for fashion designs. (Current law sets such a time limit at two years for designs in general.) Increases allowable damage awards for infringement of original designs and for false representation. Requires the Register of Copyrights to establish and maintain an electronically searchable fashion design database available to the public without charge.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Courts Budget Protection Act''. SEC. 2. BUDGET ESTIMATES. (a) In General.--Section 605 of title 28, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 605. Budget estimates ``(a) The Director, under the supervision of the Judicial Conference of the United States, shall submit to Congress before January 25 of each year annual estimates of the following: ``(1)(A) The expenditures and appropriations necessary for the maintenance and operation of the courts and the Administrative Office and the operation of the judicial survivors annuity fund and any supplemental and deficiency estimates as may be required for such purposes according to law. ``(B) The estimates required by this paragraph shall be approved, before presentation to Congress, by the Judicial Conference of the United States, except that the estimate with respect to the Court of International Trade shall be approved by that court and the estimate with respect to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit shall be approved by that court. ``(2)(A) The expenditures and appropriations necessary for real property construction activities, including construction and acquisitions and repairs and alterations, related to United States courthouses and other space occupied by entities of the judicial branch. ``(B) Estimated expenditures and appropriations under this paragraph shall be based on prospectuses and other information provided by the Administrator of General Services. ``(C) For the purpose of preparing estimated expenditures and appropriations under this paragraph, the Administrator of General Services shall, at such times as are required by Congress or the judicial branch to ensure timely development and consideration of courthouse needs and budget requests, prepare and submit directly-- ``(i) prospectuses, including cost estimates, for future judicial branch construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration projects to the Director, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives; and ``(ii) preliminary planning, design and cost estimates of future judicial branch construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration projects to the Director. ``(D) In accordance with estimates prepared under this paragraph, funds may be appropriated to the judicial branch for deposit into the Federal Buildings Fund for the construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration of Federal courthouses. Funds deposited into the Federal Buildings Fund under this subparagraph shall not be available for expenses in connection with any construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration project for which a prospectus, if required by section 7 of the Public Buildings Act of 1959 (40 U.S.C. 606), has not been approved by the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, except that necessary funds may be expended for each project for required expenses in connection with the development of a proposed prospectus. ``(b)(1) The estimates submitted to Congress under subsection (a) shall also be submitted to the President for inclusion in the budget of the United States. In each budget of the United States Government submitted by the President under the first sentence of section 1105(a) of title 31, the President shall make no change or alterations whatsoever, and shall not impose or otherwise recommend, directly or indirectly, implementation of a negative allowance, rescission, or any other form of reduction or change to such estimates. ``(2) For the purpose of preparing a unified Federal budget by the President, the Director shall transmit to the President-- ``(A) preliminary estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the judicial branch before October 16 of each year; and ``(B) final estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the judicial branch before December 24 of each year, and such final estimates shall be identical to the estimates to be submitted to Congress under subsection (a). ``(c) The Director shall cause periodic examinations of the judicial survivors annuity fund to be made by an actuary, who may be an actuary employed by another department of the Government temporarily assigned for the purpose, and whose findings and recommendations shall be transmitted by the Director to the Judicial Conference.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1105(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the judicial branch described under section 605 of title 28 shall be included in the budget and submitted to the President in accordance with that section.''. (c) Responsibilities of the Administrator.--Except for the budget submission process provided in section 605(a)(2) of title 28, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, the responsibilities of the Administrator of General Services for-- (1) assessing, with the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the facility requirements, specifications, and costs associated with housing the needs of the judicial branch in buildings to be constructed, leased, or renovated through funds made available to the General Services Administration from the Federal Buildings Fund or any other source; (2) the planning, cost estimating, design and performance of construction, leasing and repair, and alteration functions for the purpose of housing the activities of the judicial branch; and (3) the planning and determination of the housing plans of those elements of the executive branch which should be included in buildings to be constructed, leased, or renovated for the judicial branch where necessary to support the activities of the judicial branch or to best meet the needs of the Federal community; shall not be affected by section 605(a) of title 28, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

Requires the Administrator, at such times as are required by Congress or the judicial branch to ensure timely development and consideration of courthouse needs and budget requests, to prepare and submit directly: (1) to the Director and to specified congressional committees prospectuses, including cost estimates, for future judicial branch construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration projects; and (2) to the Director preliminary planning, design, and cost estimates of future judicial branch construction, acquisition, and repair and alteration projects. Authorizes funds to be appropriated (in accordance with such estimates) to the judicial branch for deposit into the Federal Buildings Fund. Directs that the estimates submitted to Congress also be submitted to the President for inclusion in the U.S. budget. Prohibits the President from: (1) making any changes in including the estimates in the budget; and (2) imposing or otherwise recommending implementation of a negative allowance, rescission, or any other form of reduction or change to such estimates. Requires the Director, for the purpose of preparing a unified Federal budget, to transmit to the President: (1) preliminary estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the judicial branch before October 16 of each year; and (2) final estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the judicial branch before December 24 of each year, which shall be identical to the estimates to be submitted to Congress. Requires the Director to cause periodic examinations of the Fund to be made by an actuary, whose findings and recommendations shall be transmitted to the Judicial Conference.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Transparency and Accountability in Security Contracting Act''. SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PERSONNEL PERFORMING PRIVATE SECURITY FUNCTIONS UNDER FEDERAL CONTRACTS. (a) Accountability Requirements for Personnel Performing Private Security Functions Under Federal Contracts.-- (1) Requirement to provide certain information about personnel performing private security functions.--Each covered contract shall require the contractor to provide to the contracting officer for the contract, not later than 5 days after award of the contract, the following information regarding private security functions performed under the contract: (A) Number of persons to be used to perform such functions. (B) A description of how such persons are trained to carry out tasks specified under the contract relating to such functions. (C) A description of each category of activity relating to such functions required by the contract. (2) Updates of information.--The information provided under paragraph (1) shall be updated during contract performance as necessary. (3) Safeguarding information.--The head of each agency awarding a covered contract shall take such actions as are necessary to protect any information provided under paragraph (1) that is a trade secret, or commercial or financial information, from disclosure to persons outside the Government. (4) Accounting.--Each covered contract shall include the following requirements: (A) Upon award of the contract, the contractor shall provide cost estimates of salary, benefits, insurance, materials, logistics, travel, administrative costs, and other costs of carrying out private security functions under the contract. (B) Before contract closeout (other than closeout of a firm, fixed price contract), the contractor shall provide a report on the actual costs of carrying out private security functions under the contract, in the same categories as provided under subparagraph (A). (5) Casualty reporting.--Each covered contract shall require full reporting to the contracting officer for the contract by the contractor of all personnel casualties in carrying out the contract. (6) Oversight.--Before a covered contract is awarded, the head of the agency awarding the contract shall ensure that sufficient resources are available to enable contracting officers of the agency to perform oversight of the performance of the contract. (7) Waiver authority.-- (A) The head of the agency awarding a covered contract may waive a requirement of this section with respect to a contract in an emergency or exceptional situation, as determined by the head of the agency. Any such waiver shall be limited to the requirements that are impossible or impracticable to implement because of the emergency or exceptional situation. In any case in which the head of an agency waives a requirement under this section with respect to a contract, the agency head shall submit to the congressional committees listed in subparagraph (B) a report, within 30 days after the date of the waiver, that describes the contract, the waiver, the emergency or exceptional situation that justified the waiver, and a plan for bringing the contract into compliance with the waived requirements as soon as possible or an explanation of why the waiver needs to be permanent. (B) The congressional committees referred to in subparagraph (A) are the following: (i) The Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, Government Reform, and International Relations of the House of Representatives. (ii) The Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Foreign Relations of the Senate. (b) Hiring, Training, and Equipment Standards Relating to Private Security Contractors.-- (1) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall prescribe in regulations minimum standards (appropriate for each department or agency) for the persons that covered contractors may hire for the performance of private security functions under the contract, and minimum standards for the training of such persons, including the level of training and any certifications required. The standards may vary based on the duties of personnel, but must address past criminal activity, security clearance requirements, and other issues that either Secretary or the Administrator determines may lead to security or performance concerns. (2) Guidance for equipment.--The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development shall issue guidance (appropriate for each department or agency) on equipment used for private security functions under covered contracts with the department or agency concerned, including appropriate levels of body armor and equipment armor, and a recommended list of re- armorers and weapons and armor manufacturers for complying with such guidelines. (3) Consultation with secretary of defense.--The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall consult with the Secretary of Defense in developing regulations and guidance under this subsection. (c) Report on Cost Analysis Relating to Equipment.--Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to Congress a report containing-- (1) an analysis of the costs to the Federal Government of purchasing equipment to supply to contractors to carry out private security functions under covered contracts in comparison to the costs to the Federal Government of reimbursing contractors for equipment purchased by the contractors to carry out such functions; and (2) such findings and recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (d) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered contract.--The term ``covered contract'' means-- (A) a prime contract with the Department of Defense, the Department of State, or the United States Agency for International Development; (B) a subcontract at any tier under any prime contract with a department or agency referred to in subparagraph (A); or (C) a task order issued under a task or delivery order contract entered into by a department or agency referred to in subparagraph (A); if the work to be performed under the contract, subcontract, or task order includes private security functions to be performed outside the United States. (2) Private security functions.--The term ``private security functions'', with respect to a covered contract, means-- (A) any activities for which personnel are allowed to carry weapons in the performance of the contract; or (B) the performance of any of the following: (i) Military logistics and maintenance. (ii) Interrogation of prisoners. (iii) Convoy security. (iv) Guarding vital facilities and personnel. (v) Tactical security work. (vi) Local force training. (e) Effective Date.--This section shall apply to covered contracts entered into on or after the date occurring 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Transparency and Accountability in Security Contracting Act - Directs that each "covered contract" (i.e., a contract entered into by the government with a private security contractor, or a task order issued under the contract) require contractors to provide the contracting officer with information at the time the contract is awarded and to update the information during contract performance regarding: (1) the number of persons being used to perform contract functions; (2) training of personnel; and (3) categories of activity required by the contract. Directs the contractor to provide: (1) pre-contract cost estimates of salary, insurance, materials, logistics, travel, administrative costs, and other contract costs; (2) before contract closeout, a report on the actual costs; and (3) casualty information. Sets forth oversight and emergency waiver authority provisions. Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD), the Secretary of State, and the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with respect to such contracts to: (1) prescribe minimum hiring standards, including criminal activity or security clearance information requirements, and (2) issue equipment guidance.

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Change the following text into a summary: That this Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Preservation and Protection Act of 1993''. congressional finding and declaration of policy Sec. 2. (a) The Congress finds that the existence, in businesses engaged in commerce or in the production, processing, manufacturing, and distribution of livestock and meat food products for commerce, of marketing conditions detrimental to the maintenance of a free and competitive environment needed for the health, efficiency, and the general well-being of business (1) unduly burdens small businesses; (2) burdens commerce and the free flow of livestock and meat food products in commerce; (3) impairs the participation of small business enterprises in Federal procurement and Government contracts; (4) interferes with the orderly and fair marketing of goods in commerce by small businesses; (5) leads to a burdening and obstruction of commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce; and (6) that it is in the national interest to further define the level of activity and course of conduct which is appropriate for the protection of small businesses. (b) It is declared to be the policy of this Act, through the exercise by Congress of its power to assist and protect small businesses, to correct, to prevent, and as rapidly as possible to eliminate the conditions referred to above. definitions Sec. 3. As used in this Act-- (a) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration of the United States, or any officer or employee of the Small Business Administration to whom authority has been or may be delegated to act in his stead; (b) ``State'' means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; (c) ``commerce'' means trade, traffic, commerce, or transportation, within the jurisdiction of the United States (1) between a place in a State and any place outside of such State, or (2) which affects trade, traffic, commerce, or transportation described in clause (1); (d) ``activity affecting commerce'' means any activity in commerce, or burdening or obstructing commerce or the free flow of goods in commerce, or having led or tending to lead to a burdening or obstruction of commerce or the free flow of commerce, or having led or tending to impair a free and competitive environment needed for the health, efficiency, and general well-being of business; (e) ``person'' means any individual or any partnership, corporation, joint stock company, any organized group whether or not incorporated, or any other business association existing under or authorized by the laws of either the United States, the laws of any State, or the laws of any foreign country; (f) ``packer'' means any person engaged in the business (1) of buying livestock in commerce for the purposes of slaughter, or (2) of manufacturing or preparing meats or meat food products for sale, or shipment in commerce, or (3) of marketing meats, meat food products, or livestock products in an unmanufactured form acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or distributor in commerce, or (4) of buying, slaughtering, manufacturing, preparing, or processing meats, meat food products, or livestock which involves any activity affecting commerce. For the purposes of this Act, all references to ``packer'' also include any person who directly or indirectly owns or controls a packer or any subsidiary, plant, facility, division, affiliate, joint venture, or any other entity under the direct or indirect control of a packer; (g) ``small business meatpacking concern'' means any packer which has less than a 5 per centum share of the national slaughter for each of the three classifications; (h) ``slaughter'' means the act of killing an animal for human consumption; (i) ``process'' means any reduction of the carcass, after slaughter, into smaller cuts (such as primals or fabricated cuts) or cutting the carcass or primals to subprimals or smaller. For purposes of this Act, ``process'' shall be synonymous with ``fabricate'' or ``break''; (j) ``carcass'' means the dressed body of a slaughtered animal, excluding viscera, and includes each of the four quarters of the animal; (k) ``meat food products'' means all products and byproducts of the cattle and hog slaughtering and meatpacking industry, if edible; (l) ``livestock'' means cattle or hogs, whether live or dead; (m) ``classification'' refers to each of the following: (1) steers and heifers, (2) cows and bulls, or (3) hogs. For the purposes of this Act, there are three separate classifications; (n) ``livestock futures contract'' means standardized contracts covering the purchase or sale of cattle, hogs or meat food products for future delivery on or subject to the rules of a contract market designated pursuant to section 5 of the Commodity Exchange Act as amended (7 U.S.C. 7); (o) ``retail'' means to sell directly to the consumer; and (p) ``future livestock transaction'' means any livestock futures contract and any contract dealing with cattle, hogs or meat food products, whether traded on a contract market or not, commonly known to the trade as a margin account, margin contract, leverage account, leverage contract, option, privilege, indemnity, bid, offer, put, call, advance guaranty, or decline guaranty. prohibited activities Sec. 4. (a) Each of the following activities is deemed to be unfair and detrimental to small business meatpacking concerns and each such activity is prohibited as follows: (1) No packer which is not a small business meatpacking concern shall own, lease, or operate in any manner any retail meat outlet in the United States. (2) No packer's total slaughter for any classification during any calendar year shall exceed 25 per centum of the larger of the last two annual national slaughter totals for that classification as most recently published by the Crop Reporting Board, Economics, Statistics, and Cooperatives Service, United States Department of Agriculture. For the purposes of this paragraph, a packer's purchase, acquisition, or control in any manner of carcasses or any other meat food products from any other person or packer shall be added to that packer's annual slaughter total for the appropriate classification and this combined total shall not exceed 25 per centum of the larger of the last two annual national slaughter totals published for that classification. (3) No packer shall engage in any unreasonable use of economic power or discriminate in price between different purchasers of meat food products in any marketing area of the United States for the purpose of impairing in any manner the marketing ability of one or more small business meatpacking concerns in such marketing area. (4) No packer shall sell below cost or contract to sell below cost any meat food products for the purpose of impairing in any manner the marketing ability of one or more small business meatpacking concerns or for the purpose of eliminating one or more small business meatpacking concerns. Nothing contained herein shall prevent a packer from selling below cost from time to time where such action is in response to changing supply and demand conditions affecting the market for or the marketability of the meat food products concerned, such as but not limited to actual or imminent deterioration of perishable goods, distress sales under court process, or sales in good faith in discontinuance of business. (5) Any officer of a packer which is required to file an annual report by the regulations issued under the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. 181) by the United States Department of Agriculture is prohibited from owning or entering into any future livestock transaction. (6) No packer, which is required to file an annual report by the regulations issued under the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. 181) by the United States Department of Agriculture, may engage in any livestock futures contract activity or future livestock transaction other than a bona fide hedge transaction as defined by the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission enacted pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 7). (b) Authority to enforce compliance with this section is vested in the Administrator. The Administrator is empowered to secure compliance with this section by filing a complaint with the appropriate department or agency of the United States. Such department or agency shall immediately and forthwith investigate the complaint filed by the Administrator and if such department or agency deems that the complaint has merit, shall initiate the appropriate action to enforce compliance with this section, utilizing all applicable statutes and regulations of such department or agency. (c) Any person or packer who knowingly violates any provision of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $500,000 for each such offense committed. Additionally, after such person or packer has received notice from either the Administrator or the department or agency to whom the Administrator has referred the complaint that a violation of this section has occurred or is occurring, each day during which a violation of this section occurs shall be deemed a separate offense. (d) Any small business meatpacking concern which is injured in his business or property in an amount exceeding $10,000 by reason of any activity forbidden by this section may sue therefor in any district court in the United States in the district in which the defendant resides or is found or has an agent and shall recover threefold the damages sustained by such small business meatpacking concern, together with the cost of the suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee. miscellaneous provisions and effective date Sec. 5. (a) If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the Act and of the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby. (b) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to prevent or interfere with the enforcement of the Antitrust Acts or the Acts to regulate commerce, nor shall anything contained in this Act be construed to release any person from any obligation, limitation, or requirement of any Act prohibiting restraint of trade or unfair competition. (c) This Act shall become effective on the first day of January after the date of enactment.

Small Business Preservation and Protection Act of 1993 - Prohibits any packer with more than a five percent share of the national slaughter in three classifications from owning or operating any retail meat outlet. Prohibits any packer's total annual slaughter for any classification from exceeding 25 percent of the larger of the last two annual national slaughter totals. Prohibits any packer from discriminating in price between different purchasers of meat food products in any marketing area or selling below costs for the purpose of impairing the marketing ability of small business meatpacking concerns. Prohibits certain packers which are required to file reports under the Packers and Stockyards Act from engaging in livestock futures contracts. Vests authority to enforce such prohibitions in the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Establishes fines for violations and permits small business meatpacking concerns which are injured to sue in district court for treble damages.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``International Cooperative Antiterrorism Act of 2002''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The use of terrorism is detestable and an illegitimate means of political expression. (2) International terrorist organizations pose a direct threat to the United States, and this threat is becoming more acute and more difficult to prevent. (3) The threat from international terrorism is made far more dangerous by the proliferation of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons and the means to produce those weapons. (4) The prosecution of the war against international terrorist organizations must continue until the threat they pose to the people and interests of the United States is eliminated. (5) The United States can only win the war against terrorism if it receives cooperation from other countries and entities. (6) Protecting the United States homeland and United States interests overseas from terrorism is of the highest priority in the foreign relations of the United States. (7) Cooperation in the global war against international terrorism must be a primary focus of United States foreign relations, United States assistance, and international security relations. (8) Winning the global war against international terrorism requires cooperation from the international community, especially in the areas of preventing the financing of terror, sharing information on international terror networks, eliminating terror cells, and in preventing the promotion of virulent anti-Americanism with the intent to incite violence and the glorification of terrorism in state-owned media and state-controlled schools. (9) The promotion of terrorism, intolerance, and virulent anti-Americanism in state-owned media and state-controlled education systems is abhorrent and poses a long-term threat to the safety and security of the United States as well as the community of nations. (10) All countries and entities must be encouraged to cooperate in the global war against international terrorism. (11) Some foreign governments and entities are doing little to counter proterrorist and prointolerance messages to mass audiences, including to school age children. (12) Countries providing direct or indirect assistance to international terrorist organizations undermine the direct security interests of the United States. (13) Countries demonstrating indifference to or providing actual endorsement of international terror as a legitimate political tool make a direct threat to the security interests of the United States. (14) United States economic assistance programs and the transfer of United States Munitions List items are a critical tool of United States foreign policy and winning the global war against international terrorism. (15) Countries receiving United States assistance and the export of items on the United States Munitions List should be expected to support the global war against international terror. (16) Several existing laws, including the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Export Administration Act of 1979 (or successor statute), prohibit the provision of United States assistance, and the licensing for export of items on the United States Munitions List, to countries supporting terror or not fully cooperating in antiterror efforts of the United States. It would be appropriate in the implementation of these laws to apply the definition of ``fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism'' set forth in this Act, including preventing promotion of terror in state-owned and state- controlled media and educational systems. SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. It shall be the policy of the United States that-- (1) no United States economic assistance, other than humanitarian assistance, may be provided to any foreign country or entity that is not making a maximum effort to be fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism; and (2) no license for export of an item on the United States Munitions List to a country or entity may be issued if that country or entity is not making a maximum effort to be fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism. SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND COMMERCIAL ARMS EXPORTS. (a) United States Economic Assistance.--If the President determines that a country or entity is not making a maximum effort to be fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism-- (1) no United States economic assistance may be provided to such country or entity; and (2) the United States shall oppose and vote against any lending from any international financial institution, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, or other related institutions to such country or entity. (b) Commercial Arms Exports.--No license for the export of an item on the United States Munitions List to any country or entity may be issued if the President determines that such country or entity is not making a maximum effort to be fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism. SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT FOR AN ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Requirement for Report.--The President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the Director of Central Intelligence, shall prepare an unclassified annual report that-- (1) contains a list of each country or entity for which the President has determined that there is credible evidence that such country or entity is not being fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism under section 4; and (2) describes for each country or entity listed under paragraph (1)-- (A) the specific failures of each country or entity to be fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism; (B) the reasons why such country or entity is not fully cooperative; (C) the efforts being made by the United States Government to promote greater adherence by such countries or entities with the global war against international terrorism; and (D) any removal of a country or entity from the list in paragraph (1). (b) Transmission to Congress.-- (1) Report.--The report required by this section shall be submitted to Congress every year as a section of the annual country reports on terrorism required by section 140(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656(f)). (2) Briefing.--The President shall make the appropriate officials available to provide a classified briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress if such committees request additional clarifying details on why a country or entity is listed under subsection (a)(1). SEC. 6. PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER. United States economic assistance or exports prohibited by section 4 may be provided to a country or entity described in that section if the President-- (1) determines that permitting such assistance or exports is important to the national security interests of the United States; and (2) not later than 15 days before permitting such assistance or exports, furnishes a report describing the United States economic assistance or exports to be provided to the appropriate committees of Congress. SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Expression of support for terrorism against the united states.--The term ``expression of support for terrorism against the United States'' means a pattern of actions or expressions that are designed to provoke or incite anti-American violence, advocate international terrorism, or to glorify the use of violence against citizens or government officials of the United States. (2) Fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism.--The term ``fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism'' means a country or entity that has the necessary legal framework and, to the maximum extent possible, is enforcing efforts to-- (A) prevent the knowing financing of terrorism, including preventing-- (i) direct financial payments to any terrorist organization; (ii) any terrorist organization or any entity supporting a terrorist organization from receiving financial services such as brokering, lending, or transferring currency or credit; (iii) any person from soliciting funds or items of value for a terrorist group; and (iv) any humanitarian or other nongovernmental organization from providing financial support to terrorist organizations; (B) share intelligence information with the United States, including-- (i) releasing information to the United States related to any terrorist organization; (ii) cooperating in investigations conducted by the United States; and (iii) providing, to the extent possible, access to individuals suspected of or supporting terrorist organizations to United States investigators; and (C) act against terrorist organizations, including-- (i) preventing terrorist organizations from committing or inciting to commit terrorist acts against the United States or its interests overseas; (ii) preventing terrorist organizations from operating safe houses or providing transportation, communication, documentation, identification, weapons (including chemical, biological, or radiological weapons), explosives, or training to terrorists; and (iii) in the cases of a country-- (I) investigating suspected terrorists within its national territory; (II) enforcing international agreements and United Nations Security Council Resolutions against terrorism; and (III) curbing any domestic expression of support for terrorism against the United States and its allies in state-owned media, state- sanctioned gatherings, state-governed religious institutions, and state- sanctioned school and textbooks. (3) Humanitarian assistance.--The term ``humanitarian assistance'' means any humanitarian goods and services, including foodstuffs, medicines, and health assistance programs. (4) Terrorist organization.--The term ``terrorist organization'' means an organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189). (5) United states economic assistance.--The term ``United States economic assistance'' means-- (A) any assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (including programs under title IV of chapter 2, relating to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation); (B) sales, or financing on any terms, under the Arms Export Control Act; (C) the provision of agricultural commodities, other than food, under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954; (D) financing under the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945; and (E) does not include humanitarian assistance or other assistance that is intended to support cooperative antiterrorism, peacekeeping, counter- narcotics, nonproliferation and counter-proliferation programs, or funding for nongovernmental organizations promoting education and democratic institutions. (6) United states munitions list.--The term ``United States Munitions List'' means the defense articles and defense services controlled by the President under section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778).

International Cooperative Antiterrorism Act of 2002 - Prohibits the provision of U.S. economic assistance (except humanitarian assistance), or the issuance of a license for the export of an item on the U.S. Munitions List, to any country or entity that the President has determined is not making a maximum effort to be fully cooperative in the global war against international terrorism. Declares that the United States shall oppose and vote against any lending from any international financial institution, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, or other related institutions to such a country or entity. Authorizes the President to waive the requirements of this Act in the national security interests of the United States.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Keeping Families Together Act of 2005''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Restoration of definition of aggravated felony (repeal of section 321 of IIRIRA). Sec. 3. Restoration of detention policy. Sec. 4. Repeal of time stop provisions. Sec. 5. Repeal of section 101(a)(48). Sec. 6. Restoration of section 212(c). Sec. 7. Restoration of judicial review provisions. Sec. 8. Post-proceeding relief for affected aliens. SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF DEFINITION OF AGGRAVATED FELONY (REPEAL OF SECTION 321 OF IIRIRA). (a) In General.--Effective as if included in the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104-208), section 321 of such Act is repealed and the provisions of law amended by such section are restored as if such section had not been enacted. (b) Restoration of Rights.--Any alien whose legal permanent resident status, application for permanent residence, or application for cancellation of removal, was affected by the changes in the definition of ``aggravated felony'' made by such section 321 may apply to the Secretary of Homeland Security to be considered for adjustment of status or cancellation of removal in conformance with the provisions of section 101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as restored by subsection (a). SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF DETENTION POLICY. (a) In General.--Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)) is amended to read as follows: ``(c) Detention of Criminal Aliens.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take into custody any alien convicted of an aggravated felony upon release of the alien (regardless of whether or not such release is on parole, supervised release, or probation, and regardless of the possibility of rearrest or further confinement in respect of the same offense). Notwithstanding subsection (a) or section 241(a) but subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall not release such felon from custody. ``(2) Non-release.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may not release from custody any who has been convicted of an aggravated felony, either before or after a determination of removability, unless-- ``(A)(i) the alien was lawfully admitted, or ``(ii) the alien was not lawfully admitted but the alien cannot be removed because the designated country of removal will not accept the alien; and ``(B) the alien satisfies the Secretary of Homeland Security that the alien will not pose a danger to the safety of other persons or of property and is likely to appear for any scheduled proceeding.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be effective as if included in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. SEC. 4. REPEAL OF TIME STOP PROVISIONS. (a) In General.--Section 240A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(d)) is repealed. (b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall be effective as if included in the enactment of subtitle A of title III of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. SEC. 5. REPEAL OF SECTION 101(A)(48). (a) In General.--Paragraph (48) of section 101(a)(48) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is repealed. (b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 322(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. SEC. 6. RESTORATION OF SECTION 212(C). (a) In General.--Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection: ``(c) Aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation or removal, and who are returning to a lawful unrelinquished domicile of seven consecutive years, may be admitted in the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security without regard to the provisions of subsection (a) (other than paragraphs (3) and (10)(C)). Nothing contained in this subsection shall limit the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to exercise the discretion vested in him under section 211(b). The first sentence of this subsection shall not apply to an alien who has been convicted of one or more aggravated felonies and has served for such felony or felonies a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies as of April 24, 1996, as if section 440(d) of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-132) and section 304(b) of Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104-208) had not been enacted. SEC. 7. RESTORATION OF JUDICIAL REVIEW PROVISIONS. (a) In General.--Section 242 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1252) is amended to read as follows: ``judicial review of orders of removal ``Sec. 242. (a) The procedure prescribed by, and all the provisions of chapter 158 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to, and shall be the sole and exclusive procedure for, the judicial review of all final orders of removal heretofore or hereafter made against aliens within the United States pursuant to administrative proceedings under section 240 of this Act or comparable provisions of any prior Act, except that-- ``(1) a petition for review may be filed not later than 90 days after the date of the issuance of the final removal order, or, in the case of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony not later than 30 days after the issuance of such order; ``(2) the venue of any petition for review under this section shall be in the judicial circuit in which the administrative proceedings before an immigration judge were conducted in whole or in part, or in the judicial circuit wherein is the residence, as defined in this Act, of the petitioner, but not in more than one circuit; ``(3) the action shall be brought against the Department of Homeland Security, as respondent. Service of the petition to review shall be made upon the Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States and upon the official of the Department of Homeland Security in charge of the district in which the office of the clerk of the court is located. The service of the petition for review upon such official of the Service shall stay the removal of the alien pending determination of the petition by the court, unless the court otherwise directs or unless the alien is convicted of an aggravated felony, in which case the Service shall not stay the removal of the alien pending determination of the petition of the court unless the court otherwise directs; ``(4) except as provided in clause (B) of paragraph (5) of this subsection, the petition shall be determined solely upon the administrative record upon which the removal order is based and the Secretary of Homeland Security's findings of fact, if supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole, shall be conclusive; ``(5) whenever any petitioner, who seeks review of an order under this section, claims to be a national of the United States and makes a showing that his claim is not frivolous, the court shall (A) pass upon the issues presented when it appears from the pleadings and affidavits filed by the parties that no genuine issue of material fact is presented; or (B) where a genuine issue of material fact as to the petitioner's nationality is presented, transfer the proceedings to a United States district court for the district where the petitioner has his residence for hearing de novo of the nationality claim and determination as if such proceedings were originally initiated in the district court under the provisions of section 2201 of title 28, United States Code. Any such petitioner shall not be entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a) of this Act or otherwise; ``(6) whenever a petitioner seeks review of an order under this section, any review sought with respect to a motion to reopen or reconsider such an order shall be consolidated with the review of the order; ``(7) if the validity of a removal order has not been judicially determined, its validity may be challenged in a criminal proceeding against the alien for violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 243 of this Act only by separate motion for judicial review before trial. Such motion shall be determined by the court without a jury and before the trial of the general issue. Whenever a claim to United States nationality is made in such motion, and in the opinion of the court, a genuine issue of material fact as to the alien's nationality is presented, the court shall accord him a hearing de novo on the nationality claim and determine that issue as if proceedings had been initiated under the provisions of section 2201 of title 28, United States Code. Any such alien shall not be entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a) of this Act or otherwise. If no such hearing de novo as to nationality is conducted, the determination shall be made solely upon the administrative record upon which the removal order is based and the Secretary of Homeland Security's findings of fact, if supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole, shall be conclusive. If the removal order is held invalid, the court shall dismiss the indictment and the United States shall have the right to appeal to the court of appeals within 30 days. The procedure on such appeals shall be as provided in the Federal rules of criminal procedure. No petition for review under this section may be filed by any alien during the pendency of a criminal proceeding against such alien for violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 243 of this Act; ``(8) nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to defer removal of an alien after the issuance of a removal order because of the right of judicial review of the order granted by this section, or to relieve any alien from compliance with subsections (a) and (b) of section 243 of this Act. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to preclude the Secretary of Homeland Security from detaining or continuing to detain an alien or from taking the alien into custody pursuant to section 241 of this Act at any time after the issuance of a removal order; ``(9) it shall not be necessary to print the record or any part thereof, or the briefs, and the court shall review the proceedings on a typewritten record and on typewritten briefs; and ``(10) any alien held in custody pursuant to an order of removal may obtain judicial review thereof by habeas corpus proceedings. ``(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any alien against whom a final order of removal has been made heretofore or hereafter under the provisions of section 235 of this Act or comparable provisions of any prior Act may obtain judicial review of such order by habeas corpus proceedings and not otherwise. ``(c) An order of removal shall not be reviewed by any court if the alien has not exhausted the administrative remedies available to the alien as of right under the immigration laws and regulations or if the alien has departed from the United States after the issuance of the order. Every petition for review or for habeas corpus shall state whether the validity of the order has been upheld in any prior judicial proceeding, and, if so, the nature and date thereof, and the court in which such proceeding took place. No petition for review or for habeas corpus shall be entertained if the validity of the order has been previously determined in any civil or criminal proceeding, unless the petition presents grounds which the court finds could not have been presented in such prior proceeding, or the court finds that the remedy provided by such prior proceeding was inadequate or ineffective to test the validity of the order. ``(d)(1) A petition for review or for habeas corpus on behalf of an alien against whom a final order of removal has been issued pursuant to section 238(b) may challenge only-- ``(A) whether the alien is in fact the alien described in the order; ``(B) whether the alien is in fact an alien described in section 238(b)(2); ``(C) whether the alien has been convicted of an aggravated felony and such conviction has become final; and ``(D) whether the alien was afforded the procedures required by section 238(b)(4). ``(2) No court shall have jurisdiction to review any issue other than an issue described in paragraph (1).''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to determinations pending on or after such date with respect to which-- (1) a final administrative decision has been/not been rendered as of such date; or (2) such a decision has been rendered but the period for seeking judicial review of the decision has not expired. SEC. 8. POST-PROCEEDING RELIEF FOR AFFECTED ALIENS. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 240(c)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(6)) or any other limitation imposed by law on motions to reopen removal proceedings, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a process (whether through permitting the reopening of a removal proceeding or otherwise) under which an alien-- (1) who is (or was) in removal proceedings before the date of the enactment of this Act (whether or not the alien has been removed as of such date); and (2) whose eligibility for cancellation of removal has been established by this Act; may apply (or reapply) for cancellation of removal under section 240A(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(a)) as a beneficiary of the relief provided under this Act. (b) Parole.--The Secretary of Homeland Security should exercise the parole authority under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)(A)) for the purpose of permitting aliens removed from the United States to participate in the process established under subsection (a).

Keeping Families Together Act of 2005 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Act) to repeal the provision amending the definition of "aggravated felony," and restore provisions of law amended by such provision as if it had not been enacted, including residency-or status-related rights of an affected legal alien. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise detention of criminal alien provisions, effective as if included in the Act. Repeals, as if included in the Act: (1) certain provisions respecting termination of continuous presence or physical presence in the United States; and (2) the definition of "conviction." Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to admit certain lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens returning to the United States who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation or removal, effective as of a specified date, as if certain sections of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 had not been enacted. Revises provisions respecting judicial review of removal orders. Requires the Secretary to establish a post-proceeding removal relief process for affected aliens.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Business Training Centers Act of 1996''. SEC. 2. WOMEN'S BUSINESS TRAINING CENTERS. Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 29. (a) The Administration may provide financial assistance to private organizations to conduct five-year projects for the benefit of small business concerns owned and controlled by women. The projects shall provide-- ``(1) financial assistance, including training and counseling in how to apply for and secure business credit and investment capital, preparing and presenting financial statements, and managing cashflow and other financial operations of a business concern; ``(2) management assistance, including training and counseling in how to plan, organize, staff, direct and control each major activity and function of a small business concern; and ``(3) marketing assistance, including training and counseling in identifying and segmenting domestic and international market opportunities, preparing and executing marketing plans, developing pricing strategies, locating contract opportunities, negotiating contracts, and utilizing varying public relations and advertising techniques. ``(b)(1) As a condition of receiving financial assistance authorized by this section, the recipient organization shall agree to obtain, after its application has been approved and notice of award has been issued, cash contributions from non-Federal sources as follows: ``(A) in the first and second years, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 2 Federal dollars; ``(B) in the third year, 1 non-Federal dollar for each Federal dollar; and ``(C) in the fourth and fifth years, 2 non-Federal dollars for each Federal dollar. ``(2) Up to one-half of the non-Federal sector matching assistance may be in the form of in-kind contributions which are budget line items only, including but not limited to office equipment and office space. ``(3) The financial assistance authorized pursuant to this section may be made by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement and may contain such provision, as necessary, to provide for payments in lump sum or installments, and in advance or by way of reimbursement. The Administration may disburse up to 25 percent of each year's Federal share awarded to a recipient organization after notice of the award has been issued and before the non-Federal sector matching funds are obtained. ``(4) If any recipient of assistance fails to obtain the required non-Federal contribution during any project, it shall not be eligible thereafter for advance disbursements pursuant to paragraph (3) during the reminder of that project, or for any other project for which it is or may be funded. In addition, prior to approving assistance to such organization for any other projects, the Administration shall specifically determine whether the Administration believes that the recipient will be able to obtain the requisite non-Federal funding and enter a written finding setting forth the reasons for making such determination. ``(c) Each applicant organization initially shall submit a five- year plan on proposed fundraising and training activities, and a recipient organization may receive financial assistance under this program for a maximum of five years per site. The Administration shall evaluate and rank applicants in accordance with predetermined selection criteria that shall be stated in terms of relative importance. Such criteria and their relative importance shall be made publicly available and stated in each solicitation for applications made by the Administration. The criteria shall include-- ``(1) the experience of the applicant in conducting programs or on-going efforts designed to impart or upgrade the business skills of women business owners or potential owners; ``(2) the present ability of the applicant to commence a project within a minimum amount of time; and ``(3) the ability of the applicant to provide training and services to a representative number of women who are both socially and economically disadvantaged. ``(d) For the purposes of this section, the term small business concern, either `start-up' or existing, owned and controlled by women includes any small business concern-- ``(1) which is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women; and ``(2) the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women. ``(e) There are authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 per year to carry out the projects authorized by this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administration may use such expedited acquisition methods as it deems appropriate to achieve the purposes of this section, except that it shall ensure that all eligible sources are provided a reasonable opportunity to submit proposals. ``(f) The Administration shall prepare and transmit a biennial report to the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and House of Representatives on the effectiveness of all projects conducted under the authority of this section. Such report shall provide information concerning-- ``(1) the number of individuals receiving assistance; ``(2) the number of start-up business concerns formed; ``(3) the gross receipts of assisted concerns; ``(4) increases or decreases in profits of assisted concerns; and ``(5) the employment increases or decreases of assisted concerns. ``(g) Office of Women's Business Ownership.--There is hereby established within the Administration an Office of Women's Business Ownership, which shall be responsible for the administration of the Administration's programs for the development of women's business enterprises, as such term is defined in section 408 of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988. The Office of Women's Business Ownership shall be administered by an Assistant Administrator, who shall be appointed by the Administrator.''.

Women's Business Training Centers Act of 1996 - Amends the Small Business Act to: (1) authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to provide financial assistance to private organizations to conduct five-year (currently, three-year) demonstration projects to benefit small businesses owned and controlled by women; (2) adjust the level of cash contributions required from Federal and non-Federal sources for each of the five years of the projects; (3) require each assistance applicant to submit a five-year (currently, three year) plan on proposed fund raising and training activities under a project; (4) allow each recipient to receive such assistance for five years (in lieu of three); and (5) increase the annual authorization of appropriations for such projects.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Quality of Life Study Act of 2007''. SEC. 2. STUDY ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES. (a) Study Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment, the Secretary shall contract with the Institute of Medicine, or other appropriate entity, to conduct a study analyzing the extent to which the schedule for rating disabilities prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 1155 of title 38, United States Code, accounts for or should be amended or expanded to account, measure, and compensate for loss of quality of life to veterans due to a disability resulting from a personal injury suffered, physical or mental, or disease contracted in the line of duty, or for aggravation of a preexisting injury suffered or disease contracted in the line of duty. (b) Contents of Study.--The study which will be completed by the Institute of Medicine, or other appropriate entity, within 180 days after contracting with the Secretary shall be carried out pursuant to subsection (a) and shall-- (1) examine-- (A) the extent to which the schedule for rating disabilities, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, accounts for loss of quality of life; and (B) specific approaches and instruments for measuring-- (i) the effect of a service-connected disability on a veteran's quality of life, including the veteran's psychological state, loss of physical integrity, and social inadaptability; and (ii) the ways in which quality of life disability compensation is managed under various other disability programs of Federal and State governments and in other countries; (2) include recommendations with respect to-- (A) the appropriate standards for determining whether a service-connected disability has caused a loss in the veterans' quality of life; (B) the means for determining the appropriate level of compensation for loss of quality of life; and (C) the practicability of implementing quality of life evaluations in the course of providing the benefits relating to disability compensation and pension administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; (3) take into account advice and information received through consultations carried out with public and private entities, veteran service organizations, agencies, advocacy groups, and, if necessary, other consultants, with particular attention paid to how to manage any changes for veterans who are receiving disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and (4) include such other matters as the Secretary and the entity carrying out the study determine are appropriate. (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the completion of the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following: (1) The Secretary's recommendations with respect to the findings and conclusions of the study regarding accounting for the loss of quality of life in the schedule for rating disabilities prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 1155 of title 38, United States Code. (2) The Secretary's recommendations with respect to compensation that should be paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans for loss of quality of life and the basis for determining the amount of any such compensation. SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF CLAIMS UPON DEATH OF CLAIMANT. (a) Treatment of Beneficiary of Veteran's Accrued Benefits as Claimant for Purposes of Incomplete Claims Upon Death of Veteran.-- Title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5121 the following: ``Sec. 5121A. Death of claimant ``If a veteran who is a claimant dies while a pending claim is awaiting final adjudication for any benefit under a law administered by the Secretary, the person who would receive any accrued benefits due to the veteran under section 5121(a)(2) of this title shall be treated as the claimant for the purposes of processing to completion the pending claim. If the person who would receive such accrued benefits does not want to be treated as the claimant under this subsection, that person may designate to be treated as the claimant under this subsection the person who would receive such benefits upon the death of the person who would otherwise be treated as the claimant under the preceding sentence.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the claim of any veteran who dies on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORTS ON WORKLOAD OF UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 72 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 7288. Annual report ``The chief judge of the Court shall annually submit to the Committee on Veterans Affairs' of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans Affairs' of the House of Representatives a report summarizing the workload of the Court during the last fiscal year that ended before the submission of such report. Such report shall include, with respect to such fiscal year, the following information: ``(1) The number of appeals filed. ``(2) The number of petitions filed. ``(3) The number of applications filed under section 2412 of title 28. ``(4) The number and type of dispositions, including settlements. ``(5) The median time from filing to disposition. ``(6) The number of oral arguments. ``(7) The number and status of pending appeals and petitions and of applications described in paragraph (3). ``(8) A summary of any service performed by recalled retired judges during the fiscal year. ``(9) The number of decisions or dispositions rendered by a single judge, multi-judge panels and the full Court. ``(10) The number of cases pending longer than 18 months.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 72 of such title is amended by inserting after the item related to section 7287, the following new item: ``7288. Annual report.''. SEC. 5. REPORT ON EXPANSION OF FACILITIES FOR UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is currently located in the District of Columbia in a commercial office building that is also occupied by other Federal tenants. (2) In February 2006, the General Services Administration provided Congress with a preliminary feasibility analysis of a dedicated Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center that would house the Court and other entities that work with the Court. (3) In February 2007, the Court notified Congress that the ``most cost-effective alternative appears to be leasing substantial additional space in the current location'', which would ``require relocating other current government tenants'' from that building. (4) The February 2006 feasibility report of the General Services Administration does not include an analysis of whether it would be feasible or desirable to locate a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center at the current location of the Court. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims should be provided with appropriate office space to meet its needs, as well as to provide the image, security, and stature befitting a court that provides justice to the veterans of the United States; and (2) in providing that space, Congress should avoid undue disruption, inconvenience, or cost to other Federal entities. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the feasibility of-- (A) leasing additional space for the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims within the building where the Court was located on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (B) using the entirety of such building as a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center. (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall include a detailed analysis of the following: (A) The impact that the matter analyzed in accordance with paragraph (1) would have on Federal tenants of the building used by the Court. (B) Whether it would be feasible to relocate such Federal tenants into office space that offers similar or preferable cost, convenience, and usable square footage. (C) If relocation of such Federal tenants is found to be feasible and desirable, an analysis of what steps should be taken to convert the building into a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center and a time line for such conversion. (D) If relocation is not desirable, then the cost of constructing a new facility for the use as a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center. (3) Comment period.--The Administrator shall provide an opportunity to such Federal tenants-- (A) before the completion of the report required by paragraph (1), to comment on the subject of the report required by such paragraph; and (B) before the Administrator submits the report required by paragraph (1) to the congressional committees specified in such paragraph, to comment on a draft of such report.

Veterans Quality of Life Study Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with the Institute of Medicine, or other appropriate entity, to conduct a study analyzing the extent to which the Department of Veterans Affairs schedule for rating disabilities accounts for or should be amended to account, measure, and compensate for loss of quality of life to veterans due to a disability resulting from a personal injury suffered or disease contracted in the line of duty. Provides that if a veteran who is a claimant dies before completing the submission of a claim for benefits, the person who would receive any accrued benefits due to such veteran shall be treated as the claimant for purposes of completing submission of the claim. Requires an annual report from the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) to the congressional veterans' committees summarizing the Court's workload. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Court should be provided with appropriate office space, without undue disruption, inconvenience, or cost. Requires a report from the Administrator of General Services to the veterans' committees on the feasibility of leasing additional space for the Court, and using the entire building in which the Court is now housed as a Veterans Courthouse and Justice Center.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2010''. SEC. 2. ENHANCING PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ARTHRITIS THROUGH THE NATIONAL ARTHRITIS ACTION PLAN. Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 314 the following: ``SEC. 315. NATIONAL ARTHRITIS ACTION PLAN. ``(a) Establishment of Plan.--The Secretary may develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Plan (in this section referred to as the `Plan') consistent with this section. ``(b) Control, Prevention, and Surveillance.-- ``(1) In general.--Under the Plan, the Secretary may, directly or through competitive grants to eligible entities, conduct, support, and promote the coordination of research, investigations, demonstrations, training, and studies relating to the control, prevention, and surveillance of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. ``(2) Training and technical assistance.-- ``(A) Provision.--Upon the request of an applicant receiving a grant under paragraph (1), the Secretary may, subject to subparagraph (B), provide training, technical assistance, supplies, equipment, or services for the purpose of aiding the applicant in carrying out grant activities and, for such purpose, may detail to the applicant any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services. ``(B) Corresponding reduction in payments.--With respect to a request described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of payments under the grant under paragraph (1) to the applicant involved by an amount equal to the costs of detailing personnel (including pay, allowances, and travel expenses) and the fair market value of any supplies, equipment, or services provided by the Secretary. ``(3) Arthritis prevention research at the centers for disease control and prevention.--The Secretary may provide additional grant support under this subsection to encourage the expansion of research related to the prevention and management of arthritis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ``(4) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible entity' means a public or private nonprofit entity that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary, in the application described in subsection (e), the ability of the entity to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). ``(c) Education and Outreach.-- ``(1) In general.--Under the Plan, the Secretary may coordinate and carry out national education and outreach activities, directly or through the provision of grants to eligible entities, to support, develop, and implement education initiatives and outreach strategies appropriate for arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. ``(2) Initiatives and strategies.--Initiatives and strategies implemented under paragraph (1) may include public awareness campaigns, public service announcements, and community partnership workshops, as well as programs targeted to businesses and employers, managed care organizations, and health care providers. ``(3) Priority.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary-- ``(A) may emphasize prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate management of arthritis, and opportunities for effective patient self-management; and ``(B) may give priority to reaching high-risk or underserved populations. ``(4) Collaboration.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult and collaborate with stakeholders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors with expertise relating to arthritis control, prevention, and treatment. ``(5) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible entity' means a public or private nonprofit entity that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary, in the application described in subsection (e), the ability of the entity to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). ``(d) Comprehensive State Grants.-- ``(1) In general.--Under the Plan, the Secretary may award grants to eligible entities to provide support for comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and to enable such entities to provide public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities related to arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. ``(2) Application.--The Secretary may only award a grant under this subsection to an eligible entity that submits to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require, including a comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan that-- ``(A) is developed with the advice of stakeholders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors that have expertise relating to arthritis control, prevention, and treatment that increase the quality of life and decrease the level of disability; ``(B) is intended to reduce the morbidity of arthritis, with priority on preventing and controlling arthritis in at-risk populations and reducing disparities in arthritis prevention, diagnosis, management, and quality of care in underserved populations; ``(C) describes the arthritis-related services and activities to be undertaken or supported by the entity; and ``(D) demonstrates the relationship the entity has with the community and local entities and how the entity plans to involve such community and local entities in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1). ``(3) Use of funds.--An eligible entity may use amounts received under a grant awarded under this subsection to conduct, in a manner consistent with the comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan submitted by the entity in the application under paragraph (2)-- ``(A) public health surveillance and epidemiological activities relating to the prevalence of arthritis and assessment of disparities in arthritis prevention, diagnosis, management, and care; ``(B) public information and education programs; and ``(C) education, training, and clinical skills improvement activities for health professionals, including allied health personnel. ``(4) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible entity' means a State or an Indian tribe. ``(e) General Application.--The Secretary may only award a grant under subsection (b) or (c) to an entity that submits to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary may require, including a description of how funds received under a grant awarded under such subsection will supplement or fulfill unmet needs identified in a comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan of the entity. ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section: ``(1) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given such term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act. ``(2) State.--The term `State' means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-- ``(1) for fiscal year 2012, $14,600,000; ``(2) for fiscal year 2013, $16,000,000; ``(3) for fiscal year 2014, $17,700,000; ``(4) for fiscal year 2015, $19,400,000; and ``(5) for fiscal year 2016, $21,400,000.''. SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO JUVENILE ARTHRITIS AND RELATED CONDITIONS. Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 409K. JUVENILE ARTHRITIS AND RELATED CONDITIONS. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of NIH, may expand and intensify programs of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research and related activities designed to improve the outcomes and quality of life for children with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. ``(b) Coordination.--The Director of NIH may coordinate the programs referred to in subsection (a) and consult with additional Federal officials, voluntary health associations, medical professional societies, and private entities, as appropriate.''. SEC. 4. INVESTMENT IN TOMORROW'S PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGISTS. Subpart I of part C of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293k et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 749A-1. PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGISTS. ``In order to ensure an adequate future supply of pediatric rheumatologists, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may award institutional training grants to institutions to support pediatric rheumatology training.''. Passed the House of Representatives September 30 (legislative day September 29), 2010. Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, Clerk.

Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2010 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Plan. Authorizes the Secretary, directly or through competitive grants, to conduct, support, and promote the coordination of research, investigations, demonstrations, training, and studies relating to the control, prevention, and surveillance of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Permits the Secretary, upon request of a grantee, to provide training, technical assistance, supplies, equipment, or services or detail any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to aid the grantee in carrying out grant activities. Requires the Secretary to reduce the amount of payments under the grant by an amount equal to the costs of detailing personnel and the fair market value of any supplies, equipment, or services provided by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to provide additional grant support to encourage the expansion of research related to the prevention and management of arthritis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Authorizes the Secretary to coordinate and carry out national education and outreach activities for arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, which may include public awareness campaigns, public service announcements, and community partnership workshops. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) emphasize prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate management of arthritis and opportunities for effective patient self-management; and (2) give priority to reaching high-risk or underserved populations. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to a state or Indian tribe to provide support for comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and to enable such state or Indian tribe to provide public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities related to arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Authorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2016. (Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary to expand and intensify programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with respect to research and related activities designed to improve the outcomes and quality of life for children with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to award institutional training grants to institutions to support pediatric rheumatology training to ensure an adequate future supply of pediatric rheumatologists.

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Create a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Email Privacy Act''. SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE CORRECTIONS. (a) In General.--Section 2702 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) by striking ``divulge'' and inserting ``disclose''; and (ii) by striking ``while in electronic storage by that service'' and inserting ``that is in electronic storage with or otherwise stored, held, or maintained by that service''; (B) in paragraph (2)-- (i) by striking ``to the public''; (ii) by striking ``divulge'' and inserting ``disclose''; and (iii) by striking ``which is carried or maintained on that service'' and inserting ``that is stored, held, or maintained by that service''; and (C) in paragraph (3)-- (i) by striking ``divulge'' and inserting ``disclose''; and (ii) by striking ``a provider of'' and inserting ``a person or entity providing''; (2) in subsection (b)-- (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``wire or electronic'' before ``communication''; (B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: ``(1) to an originator, addressee, or intended recipient of such communication, to the subscriber or customer on whose behalf the provider stores, holds, or maintains such communication, or to an agent of such addressee, intended recipient, subscriber, or customer;''; and (C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: ``(3) with the lawful consent of the originator, addressee, or intended recipient of such communication, or of the subscriber or customer on whose behalf the provider stores, holds, or maintains such communication;''; (3) in subsection (c) by inserting ``wire or electronic'' before ``communications''; (4) in each of subsections (b) and (c), by striking ``divulge'' and inserting ``disclose''; and (5) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: ``(2) with the lawful consent of the subscriber or customer;''. SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO REQUIRED DISCLOSURE SECTION. Section 2703 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking subsections (a) through (c) and inserting the following: ``(a) Contents of Wire or Electronic Communications in Electronic Storage.--Except as provided in subsections (i) and (j), a governmental entity may require the disclosure by a provider of electronic communication service of the contents of a wire or electronic communication that is in electronic storage with or otherwise stored, held, or maintained by that service only if the governmental entity obtains a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures) that-- ``(1) is issued by a court of competent jurisdiction; and ``(2) may indicate the date by which the provider must make the disclosure to the governmental entity. In the absence of a date on the warrant indicating the date by which the provider must make disclosure to the governmental entity, the provider shall promptly respond to the warrant. ``(b) Contents of Wire or Electronic Communications in a Remote Computing Service.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsections (i) and (j), a governmental entity may require the disclosure by a provider of remote computing service of the contents of a wire or electronic communication that is stored, held, or maintained by that service only if the governmental entity obtains a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures) that-- ``(A) is issued by a court of competent jurisdiction; and ``(B) may indicate the date by which the provider must make the disclosure to the governmental entity. In the absence of a date on the warrant indicating the date by which the provider must make disclosure to the governmental entity, the provider shall promptly respond to the warrant. ``(2) Applicability.--Paragraph (1) is applicable with respect to any wire or electronic communication that is stored, held, or maintained by the provider-- ``(A) on behalf of, and received by means of electronic transmission from (or created by means of computer processing of communication received by means of electronic transmission from), a subscriber or customer of such remote computing service; and ``(B) solely for the purpose of providing storage or computer processing services to such subscriber or customer, if the provider is not authorized to access the contents of any such communications for purposes of providing any services other than storage or computer processing. ``(c) Records Concerning Electronic Communication Service or Remote Computing Service.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsections (i) and (j), a governmental entity may require the disclosure by a provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service of a record or other information pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of such service (not including the contents of wire or electronic communications), only-- ``(A) if a governmental entity obtains a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures) that-- ``(i) is issued by a court of competent jurisdiction directing the disclosure; and ``(ii) may indicate the date by which the provider must make the disclosure to the governmental entity; ``(B) if a governmental entity obtains a court order directing the disclosure under subsection (d); ``(C) with the lawful consent of the subscriber or customer; or ``(D) as otherwise authorized in paragraph (2). ``(2) Subscriber or customer information.--A provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service shall, in response to an administrative subpoena authorized by Federal or State statute, a grand jury, trial, or civil discovery subpoena, or any means available under paragraph (1), disclose to a governmental entity the-- ``(A) name; ``(B) address; ``(C) local and long distance telephone connection records, or records of session times and durations; ``(D) length of service (including start date) and types of service used; ``(E) telephone or instrument number or other subscriber or customer number or identity, including any temporarily assigned network address; and ``(F) means and source of payment for such service (including any credit card or bank account number), of a subscriber or customer of such service. ``(3) Notice not required.--A governmental entity that receives records or information under this subsection is not required to provide notice to a subscriber or customer.''; (2) in subsection (d)-- (A) by striking ``(b) or''; (B) by striking ``the contents of a wire or electronic communication, or''; (C) by striking ``sought,'' and inserting ``sought''; and (D) by striking ``section'' and inserting ``subsection''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(h) Notice.--Except as provided in section 2705, a provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service may notify a subscriber or customer of a receipt of a warrant, court order, subpoena, or request under subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section. ``(i) Rule of Construction Related to Legal Process.--Nothing in this section or in section 2702 shall limit the authority of a governmental entity to use an administrative subpoena authorized by Federal or State statute, a grand jury, trial, or civil discovery subpoena, or a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures) by a court of competent jurisdiction to-- ``(1) require an originator, addressee, or intended recipient of a wire or electronic communication to disclose a wire or electronic communication (including the contents of that communication) to the governmental entity; ``(2) require a person or entity that provides an electronic communication service to the officers, directors, employees, or agents of the person or entity (for the purpose of carrying out their duties) to disclose a wire or electronic communication (including the contents of that communication) to or from the person or entity itself or to or from an officer, director, employee, or agent of the entity to a governmental entity, if the wire or electronic communication is stored, held, or maintained on an electronic communications system owned, operated, or controlled by the person or entity; or ``(3) require a person or entity that provides a remote computing service or electronic communication service to disclose a wire or electronic communication (including the contents of that communication) that advertises or promotes a product or service and that has been made readily accessible to the general public. ``(j) Rule of Construction Related to Congressional Subpoenas.-- Nothing in this section or in section 2702 shall limit the power of inquiry vested in the Congress by article I of the Constitution of the United States, including the authority to compel the production of a wire or electronic communication (including the contents of a wire or electronic communication) that is stored, held, or maintained by a person or entity that provides remote computing service or electronic communication service.''. SEC. 4. DELAYED NOTICE. Section 2705 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Sec. 2705. Delayed notice ``(a) In General.--A governmental entity acting under section 2703 may apply to a court for an order directing a provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service to which a warrant, order, subpoena, or other directive under section 2703 is directed not to notify any other person of the existence of the warrant, order, subpoena, or other directive. ``(b) Determination.--A court shall grant a request for an order made under subsection (a) for delayed notification of up to 180 days if the court determines that there is reason to believe that notification of the existence of the warrant, order, subpoena, or other directive will likely result in-- ``(1) endangering the life or physical safety of an individual; ``(2) flight from prosecution; ``(3) destruction of or tampering with evidence; ``(4) intimidation of potential witnesses; or ``(5) otherwise seriously jeopardizing an investigation or unduly delaying a trial. ``(c) Extension.--Upon request by a governmental entity, a court may grant one or more extensions, for periods of up to 180 days each, of an order granted in accordance with subsection (b).''. SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act shall be construed to preclude the acquisition by the United States Government of-- (1) the contents of a wire or electronic communication pursuant to other lawful authorities, including the authorities under chapter 119 of title 18 (commonly known as the ``Wiretap Act''), the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or any other provision of Federal law not specifically amended by this Act; or (2) records or other information relating to a subscriber or customer of any electronic communication service or remote computing service (not including the content of such communications) pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), chapter 119 of title 18 (commonly known as the ``Wiretap Act''), or any other provision of Federal law not specifically amended by this Act.

Email Privacy Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise provisions that limit an electronic communication service (ECS) or remote communication service (RCS) provider from disclosing the contents of a wire or electronic communication that is in electronic storage. Additionally, it revises the standards for the government to compel an ECS or RCS provider to disclose contents of a wire or electronic communication or noncontent records or information pertaining to a subscriber or customer. An ECS or RCS provider may notify a subscriber or customer of the receipt of a warrant, court order, subpoena, or request, unless the government obtains an order for delayed notification. The bill revises the process for obtaining a delayed notification order and lengthens the maximum duration of a delayed notification order.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research and Treatment Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) Between 20,000 and 30,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and other acquired bone marrow failure diseases. (2) Acquired bone marrow failure diseases have a debilitating and often fatal impact on those diagnosed with these disease. (3) While some treatments for acquired bone marrow failure diseases can prolong and improve the quality of patients' lives, there is no single cure for these diseases. (4) The prevalence of acquired bone marrow failure diseases in the United States will continue to grow as the general public ages. (5) Evidence exists suggesting that acquired bone marrow failure diseases occur more often in minority populations, particularly in Asian American and Hispanic/Latino populations. (6) The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute have conducted important research into the causes of and treatments for acquired bone marrow failure diseases. (7) The National Marrow Donor Program Registry has made significant contributions to the fight against bone marrow failure diseases by connecting millions of potential marrow donors with individuals and families suffering from these conditions. (8) Despite these advances, a more comprehensive Federal strategic effort among numerous Federal agencies is needed to discover a cure for acquired bone marrow failure disorders. (9) Greater Federal surveillance of acquired bone marrow failure diseases is needed to gain a better understanding of the causes of acquired bone marrow failure diseases. (10) The Federal Government should increase its research support for and engage with public and private organizations in developing a comprehensive approach to combat and cure acquired bone marrow failure diseases. SEC. 3. NATIONAL ACQUIRED BONE MARROW FAILURE DISEASE REGISTRY. Part B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317S the following: ``SEC. 317T. NATIONAL ACQUIRED BONE MARROW FAILURE DISEASE REGISTRY. ``(a) Establishment of Registry.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall-- ``(A) develop a system to collect data on acquired bone marrow failure diseases; and ``(B) establish and maintain a national and publicly available registry, to be known as the National Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease Registry, in accordance with paragraph (3). ``(2) Recommendations of advisory committee.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Diseases established under subsection (b). ``(3) Purposes of registry.--The National Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease Registry-- ``(A) shall identify the incidence and prevalence of acquired bone marrow failure diseases in the United States; ``(B) shall be used to collect and store data on acquired bone marrow failure diseases, including data concerning-- ``(i) the age, race or ethnicity, general geographic location, sex, and family history of individuals who are diagnosed with acquired bone marrow failure diseases, and any other characteristics of such individuals determined appropriate by the Secretary; ``(ii) the genetic and environmental factors that may be associated with developing acquired bone marrow failure diseases; ``(iii) treatment approaches for dealing with acquired bone marrow failure diseases; ``(iv) outcomes for individuals treated for acquired bone marrow failure diseases, including outcomes for recipients of stem cell therapeutic products as contained in the database established pursuant to section 379A; and ``(v) any other factors pertaining to acquired bone marrow failure diseases determined appropriate by the Secretary; and ``(C) shall be made available-- ``(i) to the general public; and ``(ii) to researchers to facilitate further research into the causes of, and treatments for, acquired bone marrow failure diseases in accordance with standard practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions. ``(b) Advisory Committee.-- ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the Advisory Committee on Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Diseases. ``(2) Members.--The members of the Advisory Committee on Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Diseases shall be appointed by the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and shall include at least one representative from each of the following: ``(A) A national patient advocacy organization with experience advocating on behalf of patients suffering from acquired bone marrow failure diseases. ``(B) The National Institutes of Health, including at least one representative from each of-- ``(i) the National Cancer Institute; ``(ii) the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and ``(iii) the Office of Rare Diseases. ``(C) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ``(D) Clinicians with experience in-- ``(i) diagnosing or treating acquired bone marrow failure diseases; and ``(ii) medical data registries. ``(E) Epidemiologists who have experience with data registries. ``(F) Publicly or privately funded researchers who have experience researching acquired bone marrow failure diseases. ``(G) The entity operating the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program established pursuant to section 379 and the entity operating the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program Outcomes Database. ``(3) Responsibilities.--The Advisory Committee on Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Diseases shall provide recommendations to the Secretary on the establishment and maintenance of the National Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease Registry, including recommendations on the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of data. ``(4) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease publicly available. ``(c) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities for the management of, as well as the collection, analysis, and reporting of data to be included in, the National Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease Registry. ``(d) Definition.--In this section, the term `acquired bone marrow failure disease' means-- ``(1) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); ``(2) aplastic anemia; ``(3) paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH); ``(4) pure red cell aplasia; ``(5) acute myeloid leukemia that has progressed from myelodysplastic syndromes; or ``(6) large granular lymphocytic leukemia. ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.''. SEC. 4. PILOT STUDIES THROUGH THE AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY. (a) Pilot Studies.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, shall conduct pilot studies to determine which environmental factors, including exposure to toxins, may cause acquired bone marrow failure diseases. (b) Collaboration With the Radiation Injury Treatment Network.--In carrying out the directives of this section, the Secretary may collaborate with the Radiation Injury Treatment Network of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program established pursuant to section 379 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 274j) to-- (1) augment data for the pilot studies authorized by this section; (2) access technical assistance that may be provided by the Radiation Injury Treatment Network; or (3) perform joint research projects. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013. SEC. 5. MINORITY-FOCUSED PROGRAMS ON ACQUIRED BONE MARROW FAILURE DISEASES. Title XVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1707 the following: ``minority-focused programs on acquired bone marrow failure diseases ``Sec. 1707A. (a) Information and Referral Services.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall establish and coordinate outreach and informational programs targeted to minority populations affected by acquired bone marrow failure diseases. ``(2) Program requirements.--Minority-focused outreach and informational programs authorized by this section-- ``(A) shall make information about treatment options and clinical trials for acquired bone marrow failure diseases publicly available, and ``(B) shall provide referral services for treatment options and clinical trials, at the national minority health resource center supported under section 1707(b)(8) (including by means of the center's website, through appropriate locations such as the center's knowledge center, and through appropriate programs such as the center's resource persons network) and through minority health consultants located at each Department of Health and Human Services regional office. ``(b) Hispanic and Asian American and Pacific Islander Outreach.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall undertake a coordinated outreach effort to connect Hispanic, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities with comprehensive services focused on treatment of, and information about, acquired bone marrow failure diseases. ``(2) Collaboration.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may collaborate with public health agencies, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and online entities to disseminate information about treatment options and clinical trials for acquired bone marrow failure diseases. ``(c) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, shall award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, entities to perform research on acquired bone marrow failure diseases. ``(2) Requirement.--Grants and cooperative agreements authorized by this subsection shall be awarded or entered into on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis. ``(3) Scope of research.--Research funded under this section shall examine factors affecting the incidence of acquired bone marrow failure diseases in minority populations. ``(d) Definition.--In this section, the term `acquired bone marrow failure disease' has the meaning given to such term in section 317T(d). ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.''. SEC. 6. DIAGNOSIS AND QUALITY OF CARE FOR ACQUIRED BONE MARROW FAILURE DISEASES. (a) Grants.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall award grants to entities to improve diagnostic practices and quality of care with respect to patients with acquired bone marrow failure diseases. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013. SEC. 7. DEFINITION. In this Act, the term ``acquired bone marrow failure disease'' means-- (1) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); (2) aplastic anemia; (3) paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH); (4) pure red cell aplasia; (5) acute myeloid leukemia that progressed from myelodysplastic syndromes; or (6) large granular lymphocytic leukemia.

Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research and Treatment Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) develop a system to collect data on acquired bone marrow failure diseases; (2) establish the National Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease Registry; and (3) establish the Advisory Committee on Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Diseases to provide recommendations to the Secretary on the Registry. Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director, to award grants to, and enter to contracts and cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities for the management of the Registry. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, to conduct pilot studies to determine which environmental factors may cause acquired bone marrow failure diseases. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, to: (1) establish outreach and information programs targeted to minority populations affected by such diseases; (2) undertake a coordinated outreach effort to connect Hispanic, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities with comprehensive services focused on treatment of, and information about, such diseases; and (3) awards grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, entities to perform research on such diseases. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to award grants to entities to improve diagnostic practices and quality of care with respect to patients with such diseases.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) established the Veterans Choice Program under section 101 of such Act (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) as a temporary program to address a wait time backlog for the receipt of health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs and a shortage of health care professionals at medical facilities of the Department; (2) as of the date of the enactment of this Act, there are approximately 45,000 vacancies at the Veterans Health Administration; and (3) of those vacancies, approximately 36,000 are vacancies for positions relating to front line care for veterans. SEC. 3. APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNTS FOR HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated, and is appropriated, to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,000,000,000 to carry out subsection (c). (b) Availability of Amounts.--The amount appropriated under subsection (a) shall be available for obligation or expenditure without fiscal year limitation. (c) Use of Amounts.--The amount appropriated under subsection (a) shall be used by the Secretary as follows: (1) To increase the access of veterans to care as follows: (A) To hire primary care and specialty care physicians for employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs. (B) To hire other medical staff, including the following: (i) Physicians. (ii) Nurses. (iii) Social workers. (iv) Mental health professionals. (v) Dental professionals. (vi) Other health care professionals as the Secretary considers appropriate. (C) To carry out the following: (i) Section 7412 of title 38, United States Code. (ii) Section 7302(e) of such title. (iii) Section 301(b)(2) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 7302 note). (D) To pay for expenses, equipment, and other costs associated with the hiring of primary care physicians, specialty care physicians, and other medical staff under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C). (2) To improve the physical infrastructure of the Department as follows: (A) To maintain and operate hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, and other facilities of the Veterans Health Administration. (B) To enter into contracts or hire temporary employees to repair, alter, or improve facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department that are not otherwise provided for under this paragraph. (C) To carry out leases for facilities of the Department. (D) To carry out minor construction projects of the Department. (d) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on how the Secretary has obligated the amount appropriated under subsection (a) as of the date of the submittal of the report. (2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this subsection, the term `` appropriate committees of Congress'' means-- (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (e) Funding Plan.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a funding plan describing how the Secretary intends to use the amount appropriated under subsection (a). SEC. 4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS. (a) In General.--This Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)). (b) Designation in Senate.--In the Senate, this Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.

Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017 This bill authorizes and appropriates funds to increase veterans access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, including by: (1) hiring primary and specialty care physicians and other medical staff, (2) establishing medical residency programs and increasing residency positions, and (3) improving VA health facility infrastructure.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Timber Management Improvement Act of 1993''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. The Congress finds the following: (1) Under the timber management policy of nondeclining even flow, articulated in section 13(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, the allowable sale quantity for a national forest is a function of total timber growth, which depends on available timberland area and the rate of timber growth. (2) Protecting the northern spotted owl and other factors will lead to reductions in the Federal land available for timber harvesting, leading to declines in harvests and to undesirable declines in timber industry employment. (3) Increases in timber management investments on Federal and other lands not protected as spotted owl habitat could offset some of the declines in allowable sale quantities resulting from spotted owl protection. (4) No separate studies of timber management investment opportunities on Federal timberlands have been conducted for more than a decade. (5) The fund established by section 3 of the Act of June 9, 1930 (16 U.S.C. 576b; commonly referred to as the ``K-V fund''), was originally established to assure adequate funding for timber management investments for the national forests, but since 1976, substantial and increasing portions of this fund have been used for wildlife habitat improvement, watershed improvement, and other nontimber resource projects. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to-- (1) identify and examine timber management investment opportunities on Federal timberlands in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington; (2) expand financial assistance programs for timber investments on non-Federal timberlands in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington; and (3) assure that amounts from the fund established by section 3 of the Act of June 9, 1930, are available for timber management investments on Federal timberlands, consistent with the original intent of that Act. SEC. 3. TIMBER MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT STUDY. (a) Yields and Costs Report.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, shall each prepare a report displaying the yields and costs, both financial and environmental, of timber management investment opportunities for lands under their respective jurisdictions in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington. Timber management investment opportunities considered shall include-- (1) reforestation, including site preparation, direct seeding, planting, and interplanting; and (2) timber stand improvement, including release (manual, chemical, and mechanical), fertilization, pruning, precommercial thinning, and commercial thinning. (b) Land and Forest Class.--The report prepared under subsection (a) shall present the yield and cost information for each of the following: (1) Timber site productivity class. (2) Current forest condition class, including old-growth, second-growth, sawtimber, poletimber, saplings, seedlings, and nonstock. (3) Land suitability allocation for timber production under the appropriate forest plan. (c) Lands Classified As Unsuitable For Timber Production.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall include in the report required by this section-- (1) the reasons why lands in Forest Service Regions 5 and 6 are classified as not suitable for timber production pursuant to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning of 1974, distinguishing among timber site productivity classes and current forest conditions; and (2) the specific identity of those lands deemed to be unsuitable for timber production solely due to difficulties in meeting the reforestation requirements of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, and a description of those difficulties. (d) Exchange and Consolidation of Lands.--In addition to other matters required to be included in the study under this section, the study shall address opportunities for land exchanges with private landowners to consolidate Federal landholdings in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington to enhance reforestation and timber stand improvement. (e) Advisory Boards.--In order to assure a comprehensive and unbiased report on the costs and yields of timber management investment opportunities, the Secretary of Agriculture on a forest-by-forest basis in Forest Service Regions 5 and 6, and the Secretary of the Interior on a district-by-district basis for the Bureau of Land Management districts subject to this Act, shall establish and consult with advisory boards before releasing a draft of the report required by subsection (a) to the public. The advisory boards shall be comprised of individuals who, in the appropriate Secretary's judgment, represent a diversity of views. The appropriate Secretaries shall provide the advisory boards with the opportunity to review and comment on the practices and investments being examined under subsection (a) and on the draft of the report before its release to the public. The Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to advisory boards established under this subsection. (f) Consultation With Private and Other Public Timberland Owners.-- (1) In preparing the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with private and other public timberland owners in the general vicinity of the forest or district, as appropriate, to-- (A) identify possible timber management investments and practices, and (B) identify potential costs and yields of those investments and practices. (2) The report shall include information gathered under this subsection in a manner which protects the proprietary nature of corporate cost information and the cost and yield estimates of the Secretaries. (g) Date of Submission.--The report required by this section shall be submitted to the Congress within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. PRIVATE FOREST LANDS. Section 4 of the Cooperative Forest Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(l) Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this section, not less than $1,500,000 shall be made available for assistance under this section in each of the States of California, Oregon, and Washington for planning, reforestation, and timber stand improvement practices to further second growth management of timber resources to offset the expected decline in timber harvests from Federal lands as a result of listing the northern spotted owl as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Such assistance shall be concentrated in those counties containing Federal lands designated as habitat conservation areas for the purposes of the protection and recovery of the northern spotted owl.''. SEC. 5. KNUTSON-VANDENBERG ACT. (a) Reforestation of BLM Lands.--Section 3 of the Act of June 9, 1930 (16 U.S.C. 576b) is amended-- (1) by inserting ``(a)'' after ``Sec. 3.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(b) Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to the lands administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management in the same manner as such subsection applies with respect to national forest lands.''. (b) Reforestation Under the K-V Act.--Section 3(a) of the Act of June 9, 1930 (16 U.S.C. 576b), as amended by subsection (a) of this Act, is amended-- (1) by inserting ``or'' before ``(3)''; and (2) by striking ``timber, or (4)'' and all that follows through ``Provided,'' and inserting ``timber: Provided,''.

Timber Management Improvement Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and of the Interior, acting through the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, respectively, to prepare a report displaying the yields and costs (financial and environmental) of timber management investment opportunities for Federal lands in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington. Requires both Secretaries to establish advisory boards to review and comment on the investments examined. Amends the Cooperative Forest Assistance Act of 1978 to allocate appropriations for private forest lands in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington to further second growth management of timber resources to offset the expected decline in timber harvests from Federal lands as a result of listing the northern spotted owl as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Requires financial assistance to be concentrated in those counties containing Federal lands designated as habitat conservation areas for the purposes of the protection and recovery of the northern spotted owl. Amends specified Federal law (the Knutson-Vandenberg Act) to assure that amounts from the fund established by such Act are available for timber management investments on Federal lands consistent with the Act's original intent.

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Create a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Winning the Peace Act of 2003''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) President George W. Bush has stated that the United States security strategy takes into account the fact that ``America is now threatened less by conquering states than we are by failing ones''. (2) Failed states can provide safe haven for a diverse array of transnational threats, including terrorist networks, militia and warlords, global organized crime, and narcotics traffickers who threaten the security of the United States and the allies of the United States. (3) The inability of the authorities in a failed state to provide basic services can create or contribute to humanitarian emergencies. (4) It is in the interest of the United States and the international community to bring conflict and humanitarian emergencies stemming from failed states to a lasting and sustainable close. (5) Since the end of the cold war, United States military, diplomatic, and humanitarian personnel have been engaged in major post-conflict reconstruction efforts in such places as Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, and Afghanistan. (6) Assisting failed states in emerging from violent conflict is a complex and long-term task, as demonstrated by the experience that 50 percent of such states emerging from conditions of violent conflict slip back into violence within 5 years. (7) In 2003, the bipartisan Commission on Post-Conflict Reconstruction created by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Association of the United States Army, released a report explaining that ``United States security and development agencies still reflect their Cold War heritage. The kinds of complex crises and the challenge of failed states encountered in recent years do not line up with these outdated governmental mechanisms. If regional stability is to be maintained, economic development advanced, lives saved, and transnational threats reduced, the United States and the international community must develop a strategy and enhance capacity for pursuing post-conflict reconstruction.''. (8) Preventing failed states from slipping into violence and chaos requires an intensive engagement by individuals with sensitivity to the relevant historical, social, political, and economic context of, and a thorough understanding of the language of, the region. Any person involved in reconstruction efforts if such a state must have extensive cross-cultural training and the ability to communicate effectively in the language of that state. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means a Director of Reconstruction for a country or region designated by the President under section 4. (3) Reconstruction services.--The term ``reconstruction services'' means activities related to rebuilding, reforming, or establishing the infrastructure processes or institutions of a country that has been affected by an armed conflict, including services related to-- (A) security and public safety, including-- (i) disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of combatants; (ii) training and equipping of national armed forces; (iii) training and equipping civilian police forces; and (iv) providing security as interim civilian police forces; (B) justice, including-- (i) developing rule of law and legal, judicial, and correctional institutions; (ii) preventing human rights violations; (iii) bringing war criminals to justice; (iv) supporting national reconciliation processes; and (v) clarifying property rights; (C) governance, including-- (i) reforming or developing civil administration and other government institutions; (ii) restoring performance of basic civil functions, such as schools, health clinics, and hospitals; and (iii) establishing processes of governance and participation; and (D) economic and social well-being, including-- (i) providing humanitarian assistance; (ii) constructing or repairing infrastructure; (iii) developing national economic institutions and activities, such as a banking system; and (iv) encouraging wise stewardship of natural resources for the benefit of the citizens of such country. SEC. 4. DIRECTOR OF RECONSTRUCTION POSITIONS. (a) Authorization of Positions.--The President is authorized to designate a Director of Reconstruction for each country or region in which-- (1) units of the United States Armed Forces have engaged in armed conflict; or (2) as a result of armed conflict the country or region will receive reconstruction services from the United States Government. (b) Authority to Provide Assistance.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President is authorized to provide assistance for reconstruction services for any country or region for which a Director has been designated under subsection (a). (c) Duties.--A Director shall provide oversight and coordination of, and have decision making authority for, all activities of the United States Government, within the country or region for which designated, that are related to providing reconstruction services to such country or region, including implementing complex, multidisciplinary post-conflict reconstruction programs in such country or region. (d) Coordination.--A Director shall coordinate with the representatives of the country or region where the Director is overseeing and coordinating the provision of reconstruction services, and any foreign government, multilateral organization, or nongovernmental organization that is providing services to such country or region-- (1) to avoid providing reconstruction services that duplicate any such services that are being provided by a person or government other than the United States Government; (2) to capitalize on civil administration systems and capabilities available from such person or government; and (3) to utilize individuals or entities with expertise in providing reconstruction services that are available through such other person or government. (e) Support Services.--The Secretary of State is authorized to establish within the Department of State a permanent office to provide support, including administrative services, to each Director designated under subsection (a). SEC. 5. INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. (a) Authorization.--The Administrator is authorized to establish within the United States Agency for International Development an Office of International Emergency Management for the purposes described in subsection (b). (b) Purposes.-- (1) In general.--The purposes of the Office authorized by subsection (a) shall be-- (A) to develop and maintain a database of individuals or entities that possess expertise in providing reconstruction services, including appropriate language, interpretation, and communication capabilities; and (B) to provide support for mobilizing such individuals and entities to provide a country or region with services applying such expertise when requested by the Director for such country or region. (2) Experts.--The individuals or entities referred to in paragraph (1) may include employees or agencies of the Federal Government, any other government, or any other person, including former Peace Corps volunteers or civilians located in the affected country or region in critical response areas. SEC. 6. INTEGRATED SECURITY SUPPORT COMPONENT. (a) Sense of Congress Regarding the Creation of an Integrated Security Support Component of NATO.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense should present to the North Atlantic Council a proposal to establish within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization an Integrated Security Support Component to train and equip selected units within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to execute security tasks in countries or regions that require reconstruction services; and (2) if such a Component is established, the President should commit United States personnel to participate in such Component, after appropriate consultation with Congress. (b) Authority to Participate in an Integrated Support Component.-- (1) In general.--If the North Atlantic Council establishes an Integrated Security Support Component, as described in subsection (a), the President is authorized to commit United States personnel to participate in such Component, after appropriate consultation with Congress. (2) Capabilities.--The units composed of United States personnel participating in such Component pursuant to the authority in paragraph (1) should be capable of-- (A) providing for security of a civilian population, including serving as a police force; and (B) providing for the performance of public functions and the execution of security tasks such as control of belligerent groups and crowds, apprehending targeted persons or groups, performing anti-corruption tasks, and supporting police investigations. SEC. 7. TRAINING CENTER FOR POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall establish within the Department of State an interagency Training Center for Post- Conflict Reconstruction Operations for the purposes described in subsection (b). (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Training Center authorized by subsection (a) shall be to-- (1) train interagency personnel in assessment, strategy development, planning, and coordination related to providing reconstruction services; (2) develop and certify experts in fields related to reconstruction services who could be called to participate in operations in countries or regions that require such services; (3) provide training to individuals who will provide reconstruction services in a country or region, including language, interpretation, communication, and cross-cultural training; (4) develop rapidly deployable training packages for use in countries or regions in need of reconstruction services; and (5) conduct reviews of operations that provide reconstruction services for the purpose of-- (A) improving subsequent operations to provide such services; and (B) developing appropriate training and education programs for individuals who will provide such services. SEC. 8. CIVILIAN POLICE RESERVE. It is the sense of Congress that the President should establish a task force of Federal, State, and local law enforcement representatives to implement a reserve force of law enforcement officers willing to serve overseas to provide reconstruction services described in clauses (iii) and (iv) of section 3(3)(A). SEC. 9. RETURN OF TALENT PROGRAMS. It is the sense of Congress that the President should direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to review immigration rules for aliens admitted for permanent residence to the United States who wish to return temporarily to their countries of origin to participate in ``return of talent'' programs, to the extent those countries are receiving reconstruction services from the United States. SEC. 10. SECURITY DEVELOPMENT FUND. There is established a United States Security Development Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act. There is authorized to be appropriated to the President from time to time such amounts as may be necessary for the fund to carry out the purposes of this Act, except that no amount of funds may be appropriated which, when added to amounts previously appropriated but not yet obligated, would cause such amounts to exceed $300,000,000. Amounts appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended.

Winning the Peace Act of 2003 - Authorizes the President to designate a Director of Reconstruction for, and to provide assistance for reconstruction services for, each country or region in which the U.S. armed forces have engaged in armed conflict or which will receive reconstruction services from the U.S. Government due to armed conflict. Gives the Director authority over all reconstruction activities of the U.S. Government within the country or region of operation. Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish a permanent office to provide support to each Director. Authorizes the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish an Office of International Emergency Management to: (1) maintain a database of entities with expertise in providing reconstruction services; and (2) provide support for mobilizing such entities to provide services requested by a country or region Director. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretaries of State and Defense should propose to establish within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) an Integrated Security Support Component to prepare NATO units for reconstruction-related security tasks. Authorizes the President to commit U.S. personnel to such a Component. Requires the Secretary of State to establish an interagency Training Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction Operations. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) establish a task force to implement a reserve force of law enforcement officers willing to provide reconstruction services overseas; and (2) direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to review immigration rules for aliens admitted for permanent residence who wish to participate in return of talent programs in their country of origin. Establishes a U.S. Security Development Fund.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. NEEDS-BASED BANKRUPTCY. Title 11 of the United States Code is amended-- (1) in section 101-- (A) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following: ``(10A) `current monthly total income' means the average monthly income derived from all sources that the debtor, or in a joint case the debtor and the debtor's spouse, receive without regard to whether such income is taxable income, in the 180-day period ending on the date the case is commenced, and includes any amount paid by anyone other than the debtor, or in a joint case the debtor and the debtor's spouse, on a regular basis for the household expenses of the debtor or the debtor's dependents, and in a joint case the dependents of the debtor's spouse;''; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (52) the following: ``(52A) `State median family income' means the State median family income reported by the Bureau of the Census as of January 1 following the then most recently concluded calendar year for the State in which the debtor's domicile has been located for the 180 days immediately preceding the date of the filing of the petition, or for a longer portion of such 180-day period than in any other place. ``(52B) `State median household income for 1 earner' means the State median household for 1 earner income reported by the Bureau of the Census as of January 1 following the then most recently concluded calendar year for the State in which the debtor's domicile has been located for the 180 days immediately preceding the date of the filing of the petition, or for a longer portion of such 180-day period than in any other place.''; (2) in section 104(b)(1) by striking ``109(e)'' and inserting ``subsections (b), (e), and (h) of section 109''; (3) in section 109(b)-- (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ``or'' at the end; (B) in paragraph (3) by striking the period and inserting ``; or''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(4) an individual, or in a joint case an individual and such individual's spouse, who have income available to pay creditors as determined under subsection (h) and whose additional expenses established under subsection (h)(4) are less than 10 percent of current monthly total income.''; (4) by adding at the end of section 109 the following: ``(h)(1) An individual, or in a joint case an individual and such individual's spouse, have income available to pay creditors if the individual, or in a joint case the individual and the individual's spouse combined, as of the date of the order for relief, have-- ``(A) current monthly total income exceeding 75 percent of the State median family income for a family of equal size or, in the case of a household of 1 individual, or exceeding 75 percent of the State median household income for 1 earner, as of the date of the order for relief; ``(B) projected monthly net income exceeding $50; and ``(C) projected monthly net income sufficient to repay 20 percent or more of unsecured nonpriority claims during a 5-year repayment plan. ``(2) Projected monthly net income shall be sufficient under paragraph (1)(C) if, when multiplied by 60 months, such income is not less than 20 percent of the total amount scheduled as payable to unsecured nonpriority creditors. ``(3) For purposes of this subsection, `projected monthly net income' means current monthly total income less the sum of-- ``(A) the expense allowances under the applicable National Standards, Local Standards and Other Necessary Expenses allowance (excluding payments for debts) for the debtor, the debtor's dependents, and in a joint case the debtor's spouse the dependents of the debtor's spouse, in the area in which the debtor resides as determined under the Internal Revenue Service financial analysis for expenses, as in effect on the date of the order for relief; ``(B) the average monthly payment on account of secured creditors, which shall be calculated as the total of all amounts scheduled as contractually payable to secured creditors in each month of the 60 months following the date of the petition by the debtor, or in a joint case by the debtor and the debtor's spouse combined, and dividing that total by 60 months; and ``(C) the average monthly payment on account of priority creditors, which shall be calculated as the total amount of debts entitled to priority, reasonably estimated by the debtor as of the date of the petition, and dividing that total by 60 months. ``(4) If the debtor establishes extraordinary circumstances that require allowance for additional expenses, projected monthly net income for purposes of this subsection shall be the amount calculated under paragraph (3) less such additional expenses as such extraordinary circumstances require. ``(A) This paragraph shall not apply unless the debtor files with the petition-- ``(i) a written statement that this paragraph applies in determining the debtor's eligibility for relief under chapter 7 of this title; ``(ii) a list itemizing each additional expense which exceeds the expenses allowances provided under paragraph (3)(A); ``(iii) a detailed description of the extraordinary circumstances that explains why each of the additional expenses itemized under subparagraph (II) requires allowance; and ``(iv) a sworn statement signed by the debtor and, if the debtor is represented by counsel, by the debtor's attorney, that the information required under this paragraph is true and correct. ``(B)(i) Until the trustee or any party in interest objects to the debtor's statement that this paragraph applies and the court rejects or modifies the debtor's statement, the projected monthly net income in the debtor's statement shall be the projected monthly net income for the purposes of this subsection. ``(ii) If an objection is filed with the court not later than 60 days after the debtor has provided all the information required under subsections (a)(1) and (c)(1)(A) of section 521 of this title, the court, after notice and hearing, shall determine whether such extraordinary circumstances exist and shall establish the amount of the additional expense allowance, if any. The burden of disproving such extraordinary circumstances shall be on the objector. ``(5) If a party in interest files a motion, or makes an objection, to cause the dismissal or conversion of a case under chapter 7 on the ground that an individual may not be a debtor, or in a joint case that an individual and such individual's spouse may not be debtors, under such chapter and fails to prevail on the motion or the objection, such party shall pay to the debtor or debtors, a reasonable attorney's fee and costs incurred by the debtor or debtors in opposing the motion or the objection.''; (5) in section 704-- (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (8); (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9) and inserting ``; and''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(10) with respect to an individual debtor, review all materials provided by the debtor under subsections (a)(1) and (c)(1) of section 521, investigate and verify the debtor's projected monthly net income and not later than 30 days after the order for relief under this chapter, file a report with the court as to whether the debtor may be a debtor under this chapter.''; (6) in section 1302(b)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) by striking ``704(7) and'' and inserting ``704(7),''; and (ii) by inserting ``and 704(10)'' after ``704(9)''; and (B) in paragraph (4) by striking ``and'' at the end; (C) in paragraph (5) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: ``(6) investigate and verify the debtor's monthly net income and other information provided by the debtor pursuant to sections 521 and 1322, and pursuant to section 111 if applicable; and ``(7) file annual reports with the court, with copies to holders of claims under the plan, as to whether a modification of the amount paid creditors under the plan is appropriate because of changes in the debtor's monthly net income.''. SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS. (a) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Application of Amendments.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply only with respect to cases commenced under title 11 of the United States Code on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Amends Federal bankruptcy law to prescribe guidelines for a needs-based bankruptcy system which precludes individuals from filing for complete relief in bankruptcy under chapter 7 (Liquidation) if certain current monthly income is available to pay creditors. Sets forth formulae for income levels determinative of debtor eligibility for bankruptcy relief. Treats as having income available to pay creditors (and thus eligible for chapter 13 Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income) any individual (or in a joint case, an individual and spouse combined) with: (1) a current monthly total income exceeding 75 percent of the State median family income for a family of equal size (or for one earner, 75 percent of the State median household income); (2) projected monthly net income exceeding $50; and (3) projected monthly net income sufficient to repay 20 percent or more of unsecured non-priority claims during a five-year repayment plan. Requires a party in interest to pay debtor's legal costs if such party fails to prevail on a procedural action to cause the dismissal or conversion of a chapter 7 case on the basis that the individual may not be a chapter 7 debtor. Requires a trustee to: (1) investigate and verify the debtor's monthly net income and other specified information the debtor provides; and (2) report annually to the court, with copies to claimholders, on any appropriate modification of the amount paid creditors under the plan because of changes in the debtor's monthly net income.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act''. SEC. 2. TAX INCENTIVES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPERMARKETS IN CERTAIN UNDERSERVED AREAS. (a) In General.--Subchapter Y of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part: ``PART IV--TAX INCENTIVES FOR SUPERMARKETS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS ``Sec. 1400V-1. Increased rehabilitation credit. ``Sec. 1400V-2. Increased work opportunity tax credit. ``Sec. 1400V-3. Credit for sales of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. ``Sec. 1400V-4. Definitions. ``SEC. 1400V-1. INCREASED REHABILITATION CREDIT. ``(a) In General.--In the case of a qualified rehabilitated building (as defined in section 47) which is an underserved area supermarket, subsection (a) of section 47 shall be applied-- ``(1) by substituting `12 percent' for `10 percent' in paragraph (1), and ``(2) by substituting `24 percent' for `20 percent' in paragraph (2). ``(b) Underserved Area Supermarket.--For purposes of subsection (a), a qualified rehabilitated building shall be treated as meeting the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of section 1400V- 4(a)(2) if it is reasonable to believe that such building will meet such requirements as of the close of the taxable year in which such building is placed in service. ``(c) Termination.--Subsection (a) shall only apply to buildings placed in service after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2014. ``SEC. 1400V-2. INCREASED WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT. ``(a) In General.--In the case of an individual employed in the trade or business of operating a new underserved area supermarket, the limitation otherwise in effect under paragraph (3) of section 51(b) with respect to such individual shall be increased by $1,000. ``(b) Termination.--Subsection (a) shall only apply to wages paid in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2017. ``SEC. 1400V-3. CREDIT FOR SALES OF LOCALLY GROWN FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. ``(a) In General.--For purposes of section 38, the underserved area supermarket fruit and vegetable credit determined under this section for the taxable year is 15 percent of the gross receipts from the retail sale of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in the trade or business of operating a new underserved area supermarket. ``(b) Termination.--Subsection (a) shall only apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, and before January 1, 2017. ``SEC. 1400V-4. DEFINITIONS. ``For purposes of this part-- ``(1) Underserved area supermarket.--The term `underserved area supermarket' means any supermarket located in an underserved area. ``(2) New underserved area supermarket.--The term `new underserved area supermarket' means any underserved area supermarket which-- ``(A) is placed in service after December 31, 2011, and ``(B) was not a supermarket at any time during the 3-year period ending on the date such underserved area supermarket is placed in service. ``(3) Supermarket.--The term `supermarket' means any building if-- ``(A) not less than 12,000 square feet and not more than 80,000 square feet of such building is used for selling items at retail, ``(B) at least 7 percent of the square feet of such building which is used for selling items at retail is used for selling produce, meat, fish, deli, and dairy items, ``(C) gross sales of items sold at retail from such building exceed $2,000,000 annually, and ``(D) at least 7 percent of such gross sales are attributable to sales of produce, meat, fish, deli, and dairy items. ``(4) Underserved area.--The term `underserved area' means-- ``(A) any enterprise community or empowerment zone with a designation in effect under section 1391, and ``(B) any renewal community with respect to which a designation was in effect under section 1400E on December 31, 2009.''. (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b) of section 38 of such Code (relating to general business credit) is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (35), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (36) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(37) the underserved area supermarket fruit and vegetable credit determined under section 1400V-3.''. (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of parts for subchapter Y of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: ``Part IV. Tax Incentives for Supermarkets in Underserved Areas''.

Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the rate of the rehabilitation tax credit for a supermarket building placed in service after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2014, in an underserved area (i.e., any enterprise community or empowerment zone and any renewal community); (2) increase by $1,000 the the limit on wages eligible for the work opportunity tax credit for employees of a supermarket located in an underserved area; and (3) allow a business-related tax credit for 15% of the gross receipts from the retail sale of locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables in a supermarket in an underserved area.

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Give a brief overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring the Integrity of the Medicare Program Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. USE OF RECOVERY AUDIT CONTRACTORS UNDER THE MEDICARE INTEGRITY PROGRAM FOR AUDITS OF MEDICARE SECONDARY PAYER CLAIMS AND ACTIVITIES. (a) In General.--Section 1893 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ddd), as amended by section 6034(d) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-171), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(h) Use of Recovery Audit Contractors for Audits of Medicare Secondary Payer Claims and Activities.-- ``(1) In general.--Under the Program, the Secretary, using a competitive procurement process, shall enter into contracts with recovery audit contractors in accordance with this subsection for the purpose of identifying underpayments and overpayments and recouping overpayments with respect to Medicare Secondary Payer claims and activities for which payment is made under part A or B. Under the contracts-- ``(A) payment shall be made to such a contractor on a contingent basis at a rate determined by the Secretary; and ``(B) such percentage as the Secretary may specify of the amount recovered shall be retained by the Secretary and shall be available to the program management account of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ``(2) Use on a national basis.--The Secretary shall designate audit and recovery regions for the use of recovery audit contractors on a national basis. Each such region shall be covered under a contract with a recovery audit contractor (or contractors, if the Secretary determines appropriate). ``(3) Audit and recovery periods.--Each contract with a recovery audit contractor shall provide that audit and recovery activities may be conducted with respect to payments made under part A or B with respect to Medicare Secondary Payer claims and activities-- ``(A) during the current fiscal year; ``(B) retrospectively (for a period of not more than 4 fiscal years prior to the current fiscal year); and ``(C) with respect to continuing fiscal years. ``(4) Qualifications of contractors.--A recovery audit contractor is eligible to enter into a contract under this subsection to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1) if the contractor-- ``(A) has staff that has the appropriate clinical knowledge of, and experience with, the payment rules and regulations under the program under this title or the contractor has, or will contract with, another entity that has such knowledgeable and experienced staff; and ``(B) is not a fiscal intermediary under section 1816, a carrier under section 1842, a Medicare Administrative Contractor under section 1874A, or a Coordination of Benefits Contractor of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ``(5) Preference for entities with demonstrated proficiency.--In awarding contracts to recovery audit contractors under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to those risk entities that the Secretary determines have demonstrated more than 3 years direct management experience and a proficiency for cost control or recovery audits with private insurers, health care providers, health plans, or under the medicaid program under title XIX. ``(6) Construction relating to conduct of investigation of fraud.--A recovery of an overpayment to a provider by a recovery audit contractor shall not be construed to prohibit the Secretary or the Attorney General from investigating and prosecuting, if appropriate, allegations of fraud or abuse arising from such overpayment. ``(7) Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit to Congress a report on the use of recovery audit contractors under the Program. Such report shall include information on the performance of recovery audit contractors in identifying underpayments and overpayments and recouping overpayments, including an evaluation of the comparative performance of audit recovery contractors with respect to each audit recovery region designated under paragraph (2). ``(8) Waiver.--The Secretary shall waive such provisions of this title as may be necessary to provide for payment of recovery audit contractors under this subsection in accordance with paragraph (1).''. (b) Access to National Directory of New Hires Database.--The Secretary of Labor shall provide for access by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and recovery audit contractors conducting audit and recovery activities under section 1893(h) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a), to the National Directory of New Hires database. (c) Access to Coordination of Benefits Contractor Database.--The Secretary of Labor shall provide for access by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and recovery audit contractors conducting audit and recovery activities under section 1893(h) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a), to the database of the Coordination of Benefits Contractor of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services with respect to the audit and recovery periods described in paragraph (3) such section 1893(h). (d) Sunset of Demonstration Project for Use of Recovery Audit Contractors With Respect to Medicare Secondary Payer Claims and Activities.--Section 306(b)(2) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173; 117 Stat. 2256) is amended-- (1) by striking ``Duration.--The project'' and inserting ``Duration.-- (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the project''; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A), as inserted by paragraph (1), the following new subparagraph: ``(B) Sunset of project with respect to medicare secondary payer claims and activities.--The project shall not be conducted with respect to Medicare Secondary Payer claims and activities on or after the date of enactment of the Ensuring the Integrity of the Medicare Program Act of 2006, except that recovery audit contracts entered into prior to such date with respect to such claims and activities may be completed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the contract.''.

Ensuring the Integrity of the Medicare Program Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the use of recovery audit contractors under the Medicare Integrity Program for audits of Medicare secondary payer claims and activities. Requires the Secretary of Labor to provide for access by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS) and recovery audit contractors conducting audit and recovery activities under this Act to: (1) the National Directory of New Hires database; and (2) the database of the CMMS Coordination of Benefits Contractor with respect to specified audit and recovery periods.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Job Preparation and Retention Training Act of 1998''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) training programs carried out under the Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) that include a pre- vocational component have had placement success rates that are better than the success rates of programs under that Act that lack that component; (2) a need exists for skills training to enable individuals who are welfare recipients to make transitions into unsubsidized employment that provides career potential and enables the individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency; (3) current Federal law does not adequately address the tremendously deleterious effect of unfavorable environmental and cultural factors on the ability of such individuals to obtain and retain gainful employment; (4) a need exists for a Federal commitment to the development of pre-vocational training programs that focus on-- (A) improving the job readiness of individuals who are welfare recipients; (B) preparing the individuals psychologically and attitudinally for employment; (C) teaching the individuals learning and other appropriate skills; and (D) placing the individuals-- (i) in permanent unsubsidized employment; or (ii) in skill training centers and, on completion of the skill training, in permanent unsubsidized employment; and (5) community-based organizations-- (A) have provided such pre-vocational training programs to disadvantaged populations, with demonstrable success; and (B) should receive additional Federal assistance to enable the organizations to enhance the ability of the organizations to provide the training programs in communities with large populations of welfare recipients and enable the organizations to provide the training programs to additional welfare recipients. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor. (2) Welfare recipient.--The term ``welfare recipient'' means an individual receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). (3) Welfare transition program.--The term ``welfare transition program'' means a vocational training program conducted by or at the direction of a State as part of a State program described in paragraph (2). SEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES. (a) Grants.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants to States to enable the States to assist community-based organizations in implementing enhanced pre-vocational training programs for eligible individuals. (2) Grant period.--The Secretary shall make the grants for periods of 1 year. (b) State Plans.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, the State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. At a minimum, the application shall contain-- (1) a State plan describing the pre-vocational training programs to be carried out in the State with funds made available through the grant; and (2) in particular, information describing the manner in which the State will ensure that an appropriate community-based organization in the State will carry out a pre-vocational training program for incarcerated persons described in section 5(b)(2)(B), in accordance with section 5(b)(3)(B). (c) Award of Grants.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the needs of economically distressed urban and rural areas in the States, as determined by the Secretary. SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. (a) Assistance.-- (1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under section 4 shall use the funds made available through the grant to provide financial assistance to community-based organizations, to enable the organizations to implement the pre-vocational training programs referred to in section 4. (2) Assistance period.--The State shall make the assistance for periods of 1 year. (b) Use of Funds.-- (1) In general.--A community-based organization that receives financial assistance under this section shall use the assistance to implement a pre-vocational training program, through which the organization shall provide pre-vocational training and placement services to eligible individuals. (2) Eligible individuals.--To be eligible to receive services through a pre-vocational training program under this Act, an individual shall (A) be a welfare recipient who-- (i) is enrolled in a welfare transition program; or (ii) is eligible to be enrolled in, but has not participated in, a welfare transition program; or (B) be a person who is incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local prison, and will be released from the prison within a reasonable period, as defined in regulation by the Secretary. (3) Pre-vocational training.-- (A) Welfare recipients.--An organization selected by a State to implement a pre-vocational training program for eligible individuals described in paragraph (2)(A) shall-- (i) provide pre-vocational training, through job training centers, designed to-- (I) as quickly as practicable, enable the individuals to overcome the effects of inadequate educational preparation and unfavorable environmental and cultural factors, in order to prepare the individuals for employment; (II) improve the job readiness of the individuals; (III) prepare the individuals psychologically and attitudinally for employment; and (IV) enable the individuals to develop learning skills, communication and computational skills, punctuality, health and personal maintenance skills, job seeking skills (including interviewing skills), basic literacy, skills required for receipt of a secondary school diploma or its equivalent, professionalism, and responsiveness for authority; and (ii) on completion of the pre-vocational training, place the individuals-- (I) in permanent unsubsidized employment; or (II) in skill training centers that provide superior skill training for positions that are quickly obtainable and, on completion of the skill training, in permanent unsubsidized employment. (B) Incarcerated persons.--An organization selected by a State to implement a pre-vocational training program for eligible individuals described in paragraph (2)(B) shall provide the pre-vocational training described in subparagraph (A)(i) in the Federal, State, or local prison involved and provide the placement services described in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II). (4) Limits.--The organization shall provide not less than 2 weeks and not more than 3 months of pre-vocational training to an eligible individual through the program. The organization shall not provide more than $1200 in services under the program to an eligible individual. (5) Special rule.--No organization may charge a fee to an eligible individual for services under the program, if the individual is a citizen or resident alien. (6) Coordination.--A community-based organization providing placement services under this subsection shall coordinate the services with the efforts of local private sector businesses to create jobs and employment opportunities. (c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive financial assistance under this section, a community-based organization shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. SEC. 6. MONITORING. The Secretary shall monitor the effectiveness of programs carried out under this Act by collecting information on-- (1) the percentage of program participants who are placed in employment after that participation; (2) the percentage of the participants who are retained in employment after that participation; and (3) the economic impact of the employment of the participants. SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $50,000,000 for fiscal years 1999 and 2000.

Job Preparation and Retention Training Act of 1998 - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants to States to assist community-based organizations in implementing enhanced pre-vocational training programs for eligible individuals. Makes individuals eligible for such training programs if they are: (1) welfare recipients who are enrolled in welfare transition programs, or who are eligible to be so enrolled but have not participated in such programs; or (2) Federal, State, or local prisoners who will be released within a reasonable period. Limits the duration of an individual's pre-vocational training to between two weeks and three months. Limits the maximum monetary value of such services provided to any eligible individual. Sets forth program requirements relating to State plans, grant award considerations, assistance to and use of funds by community organizations, and monitoring. Authorizes appropriations.

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Provide a summary of the following text: . The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.; Public Law 93- 148), relating to the exercise of war powers by the President under the Constitution, is hereby repealed. TITLE II--EXPEDITED PROCEDURES SEC. 201. CONGRESSIONAL PRIORITY PROCEDURES. (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section-- (1) the term ``resolution'' means any resolution described in subsection (a) or (b) of section 105; and (2) the term ``session days'' means days on which the respective House of Congress is in session. (b) Referral of Resolutions.--A resolution introduced in the House of Representatives shall be referred to the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives. A resolution introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. (c) Discharge of Committee.--(1) If the committee to which is referred a resolution has not reported such a resolution (or an identical resolution) at the end of 7 calendar days after its introduction, such committee shall be discharged from further consideration of such resolution, and such resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of the House of Congress involved. (2) After a committee reports or is discharged from a resolution, no other resolution with respect to the same use of force may be reported by or be discharged from such committee while the first resolution is before the respective House of Congress (including remaining on the calendar), a committee of conference, or the President. This paragraph may not be construed to prohibit concurrent consideration of a joint resolution described in section 105(a) and a concurrent resolution described in section 105(b). (d) Consideration of Resolutions.--(1)(A) Whenever the committee to which a resolution is referred has reported, or has been discharged under subsection (c) from further consideration of such resolution, notwithstanding any rule or precedent of the Senate, including Rule 22, it is at any time thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) for any Member of the respective House of Congress to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution and, except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph or paragraph (2) of this subsection (insofar as it relates to germaneness and relevancy of amendments), all points of order against the resolution and consideration of the resolution are waived. The motion is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall be in order, except that such motion may not be entered for future disposition. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the respective House of Congress, to the exclusion of all other business, until disposed of, except as otherwise provided in subsection (e)(1). (B) Whenever a point of order is raised in the Senate against the privileged status of a resolution that has been laid before the Senate and been initially identified as privileged for consideration under this section upon its introduction pursuant to section 105, such point of order shall be submitted directly to the Senate. The point of order, ``The resolution is not privileged under the Use of Force Act'', shall be decided by the yeas and the nays after four hours of debate, equally divided between, and controlled by, the Member raising the point of order and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of such point of order, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. Such point of order shall not be considered to establish precedent for determination of future cases. (2)(A)(i) Consideration in a House of Congress of the resolution, and all amendments and debatable motions in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 12 hours, which, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, or by their designees. (ii) The Majority Leader or the Minority Leader or their designees may, from the time under their control on the resolution, allot additional time to any Senator during the consideration of any amendment, debatable motion, or appeal. (B) Only amendments which are germane and relevant to the resolution are in order. Debate on any amendment to the resolution shall be limited to 2 hours, except that debate on any amendment to an amendment shall be limited to 1 hour. The time of debate for each amendment shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover of the amendment and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such amendment, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. (C) One amendment by the Minority Leader is in order to be offered under a one-hour time limitation immediately following the expiration of the 12-hour time limitation if the Minority Leader has had no opportunity to offer an amendment to the resolution thereto. One amendment may be offered to the amendment by the Minority Leader under the preceding sentence, and debate shall be limited on such amendment to one-half hour which shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover of the amendment and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such amendment, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. (D) A motion to postpone or a motion to recommit the resolution is not in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed to is in order, except that such motion may not be entered for future disposition, and debate on such motion shall be limited to 1 hour. (3) Whenever all the time for debate on a resolution has been used or yielded back, no further amendments may be proposed, except as provided in paragraph (2)(C), and the vote on the adoption of the resolution shall occur without any intervening motion or amendment, except that a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the appropriate House of Congress may occur immediately before such vote. (4) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the Rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a resolution shall be limited to one-half hour of debate, equally divided between, and controlled by, the Member making the appeal and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such appeal, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. (e) Treatment of Other House's Resolution.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if, before the passage by one House of a resolution of that House, that House receives from the other House a resolution, then the following procedures shall apply: (A) The resolution of the sending House shall not be referred to a committee in the receiving House. (B) With respect to a resolution of the House receiving the resolution, the procedure in that House shall be the same as if no resolution had been received from the sending House, except that the resolution of the sending House shall be considered to have been read for the third time. (C) If the resolutions of the sending and receiving Houses are identical, the vote on final passage shall be on the resolution of the sending House. (D) If such resolutions are not identical-- (i) the vote on final passage shall be on the resolution of the sending House, with the text of the resolution of the receiving House inserted in lieu of the text of the resolution of the sending House; (ii) such vote on final passage shall occur without debate or any intervening action; and (iii) the resolution shall be returned to the sending House for proceedings under subsection (g). (E) Upon disposition of the resolution received from the other House, it shall no longer be in order to consider the resolution originated in the receiving House. (2) If one House receives from the other House a resolution before any such resolution is introduced in the first House, then the resolution received shall be referred, in the case of the House of Representatives, to the Committee on International Relations and, in the case of the Senate, to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the procedures in that House with respect to that resolution shall be the same under this section as if the resolution received had been introduced in that House. (f) Treatment of Identical Resolutions.--If one House receives from the other House a resolution after the first House has disposed of an identical resolution, it shall be in order to proceed by nondebatable motion to consideration of the resolution received by the first House, and that received resolution shall be disposed of without debate and without amendment. (g) Procedures Applicable to Amendments Between the Houses of Congress.--The following procedures shall apply to dispose of amendments between the Houses of Congress: (1) Upon receipt by a House of Congress of a message from the other House with respect to a resolution, it is in order for any Member of the House receiving the message to move to proceed to the consideration of the respective resolution. Such motion shall be disposed of in the same manner as a motion under subsection (d)(1)(A). Such a motion is not in order after conferees have been appointed. (2)(A) The time for debate in a House of Congress on any motion required for the disposition of an amendment by the other House to the resolution shall not exceed 2 hours, equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover of the motion and manager of the resolution at each stage of the proceedings between the two Houses, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such motion, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. (B) The time for debate for each amendment to a motion shall be limited to one-half hour. (C) Only motions proposing amendments which are germane and relevant are in order. (h) Procedures Applicable to Conference Reports and Presidential Action.--(1) Either House of Congress may disagree to an amendment or amendments made by the other House to a resolution or may insist upon its amendment or amendments to a resolution, and request a conference with the other House at anytime. In the case of any disagreement between the two Houses of Congress with respect to an amendment or amendments to a resolution which is not resolved within 2 session days after a House of Congress first amends the resolution originated by the other House, each House shall be deemed to have requested and accepted a conference with the other House. Upon the request or acceptance of a conference, in the case of the Senate, the President pro tempore shall appoint conferees and, in the case of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House shall appoint conferees. (2) In the event the conferees are unable to agree within 72 hours after the second House is notified that the first House has agreed to conference, or after each House is deemed to have agreed to conference, they shall report back to their respective House in disagreement. (3) Notwithstanding any rule in either House of Congress concerning the printing of conference reports in the Congressional Record or concerning any delay in the consideration of such reports, such report, including a report filed or returned in disagreement, shall be acted on in the House of Representatives or the Senate not later than 2 session days after the first House files the report or, in the case of the Senate acting first, the report is first made available on the desks of the Senators. (4) Debate in a House of Congress on a conference report or a report filed or returned in disagreement in any such resolution shall be limited to 3 hours, equally divided between the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, and their designees. (5) In the case of a conference report returned to a House of Congress in disagreement, an amendment to the amendment in disagreement is only in order if it is germane and relevant. The time for debate for such an amendment shall be limited to one-half hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover of the amendment and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such amendment, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. (6) If a resolution is vetoed by the President, the time for debate in consideration of the veto message on such measure shall be limited to 20 hours in each House of Congress, equally divided between, and controlled by, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, and their designees. (i) Rules of the Senate and the House.--This section is enacted by the Congress-- (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a resolution, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. SEC. 202. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE EXPEDITED PROCEDURES. Section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), relating to expedited procedures for certain joint resolutions and bills, is repealed. S 564 IS----2 S 564 IS----3

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Expedited Procedures Use of Force Act - Title I: General Provisions - Authorizes the President, in the absence of a declaration of war or statutory authorization for a specific use of force, to use force abroad to: (1) repel an armed attack upon the United States or its armed forces; (2) respond to a foreign military threat that jeopardizes U.S. national interests under emergency conditions that do not permit sufficient time for the Congress to consider such authorization or a declaration of war; (3) extricate U.S. citizens and nationals located abroad from a direct and imminent threat to their lives; (4) forestall an imminent act of international terrorism directed at U.S. citizens or nationals or to retaliate against the perpetrators of such an act; and (5) protect internationally recognized rights of innocent and free passage in the air and on the seas in circumstances where the threat of violation of such rights poses a danger to the safety of American citizens or U.S. national security. Requires the President to adhere to principles of necessity and proportionality such that: (1) force may not be used for purposes of aggression; (2) the President shall have determined, before the use of force, that the objective could not have been achieved satisfactorily by means other than the use of force; (3) the use of force shall be exercised with levels of force, in a manner, and for a duration essential to and directly connected with the achievement of the objective; and (4) the diplomatic, military, economic, and humanitarian consequences of the action shall be in reasonable proportion to the benefits of the objective. (Sec. 102) Directs the President, except where an emergency exists that does not permit sufficient time, to seek the advice of the Congress before any use of force abroad. Establishes the Congressional Leadership Group on the Use of Force Abroad to facilitate regular consultation between the President and the Congress on foreign and national security policy. (Sec. 103) Requires the President, within 48 hours of commencing a use of force abroad, to submit a Use of Force report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate. Provides for periodic reporting on the status, scope, and expected duration of the use of force. (Sec. 104) Authorizes the President to continue a use of force abroad for longer than 60 days after the date by which the Use of Force report is required only if: (1) the Congress has declared war or provided specific statutory authorization for the extended period; (2) the President has requested the Congress to enact a joint resolution constituting such a declaration or authorization but the resolution has not been subject to a vote in each House; or (3) the President has certified to the Speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate that an emergency exists that threatens the U.S. national interests and requires the period of limitation to be exceeded. (Sec. 105) Sets forth conditions under which joint or concurrent resolutions involving declarations of war and the use of force abroad shall receive expedited consideration in the Congress. (Sec. 106) Prohibits funding for any use of force abroad that is inconsistent with this Act. (Sec. 107) Authorizes Members of Congress to bring actions alleging violations of this Act. Sets forth provisions regarding judicial review and remedies. (Sec. 110) Repeals the War Powers Resolution. Title II: Expedited Procedures - Sets forth congressional procedures for the consideration of resolutions regarding the use of force abroad.

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Create a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES IN ACT. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pipeline Safety Act of 2000''. (b) References in Act.--Except as specifically provided in this Act, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed as an amendment or repeal of a provision, the reference shall be deemed to be made to title 49, United States Code. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. Section 60101 is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (24); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (25) and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(26) `release of a hazardous liquid or gas' means any spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, dumping, disposing, or any other uncontrolled escape of a hazardous liquid or gas from a pipeline.''. SEC. 3. EXPANDED STATE AUTHORITY. (a) Additional Training and Education.--Section 60102(a) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3)(A) A State may, by regulation, require individuals described in paragraph (1)(C) who operate a pipeline facility in such State to satisfy training and education requirements that are in addition to any qualifications required under that paragraph. ``(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary may determine that a regulation under subparagraph (A) unduly burdens interstate commerce or that a State lacks the resources or expertise necessary to carry out a regulation under that subparagraph. A State may not enforce a regulation covered by a determination under the preceding sentence. ``(C) The Secretary may make a determination under subparagraph (B) only-- ``(i) after notifying the State concerned in writing of the Secretary's objections to the regulation; ``(ii) after affording the State an opportunity to take action within a period of time (not to exceed 90 days) specified by the Secretary to modify the regulation to take into account the objections specified under clause (i); and ``(iii) after a public hearing.''. (b) Use of Leak Detection Devices.--Section 60102(j) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(4)(A)(i) A State may, by regulation, require the use of equipment in such State to detect and locate pipeline releases of hazardous liquids or gases. ``(ii) A State may require equipment under clause (i) only if-- ``(I) the Secretary has determined the equipment to be effective and useful for detecting releases of hazardous liquids or gases; or ``(II) the equipment is commonly used in the pipeline industry for detecting such releases. ``(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary may determine that a regulation under subparagraph (A) unduly burdens interstate commerce or that a State lacks the resources or expertise necessary to carry out a regulation under that subparagraph. A State may not enforce a regulation covered by a determination under the preceding sentence. ``(C) The Secretary may make a determination under subparagraph (B) only-- ``(i) after notifying the State concerned in writing of the Secretary's objections to the regulation; ``(ii) after affording the State an opportunity to take action within a period of time (not to exceed 90 days) specified by the Secretary to modify the regulation to take into account the objections specified under clause (i); and ``(iii) after a public hearing.''. (c) Relation to Federal Preemption.--The second sentence of section 60104(c) is amended by striking ``A State'' and inserting ``Except as otherwise provided in sections 60102 and 60106, a State''. (d) State Pipeline Safety Agreements.-- (1) In general.--Section 60106 is amended-- (A) in subsection (a)-- (i) in the second sentence, by striking ``agreement shall--'' and inserting ``agreement--''; (ii) in paragraph (1)-- (I) by inserting ``shall'' before ``establish''; and (II) by striking ``and'' at the end; (iii) in paragraph (2)-- (I) by inserting ``shall'' before ``prescribe''; and (II) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (iv) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) may permit the State authority to-- ``(i) require inspections and tests of pipeline facilities that are in addition to Federal requirements under this chapter; ``(ii) enforce Federal minimum safety standards under this chapter; ``(iii) require, by regulation, the owner or operator of a pipeline facility in the State to certify to the State that its safety procedure and accident response plans comply with the safety requirements prescribed under this chapter; and ``(iv) regulate activities related to the safety of pipeline facilities if such regulation-- ``(I) would enhance the safety of those facilities; and ``(II) would not include safety standards less stringent than are otherwise imposed under this chapter.''; (B) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as subsections (c) through (e), respectively; (C) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b): ``(b) Approval of Agreements.--(1) The Secretary shall approve an agreement submitted by a State authority under subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the date of its submittal under that subsection. ``(2) The Secretary may not approve an agreement submitted under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that the agreement would unduly burden interstate commerce or that the State authority lacks the resources or expertise necessary to carry out the agreement.''; and (D) by amending subsection (e), as so redesignated, to read as follows: ``(e) Ending Agreements.--(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary may end an agreement under this section if the Secretary finds that the State authority concerned has not complied with the agreement. ``(2) The Secretary may end an agreement under paragraph (1) only-- ``(A) after notifying the State authority in writing of the finding of the Secretary under that paragraph; ``(B) after affording the State authority an opportunity to take action with a period of time (not to exceed 90 days) specified by the Secretary to comply with the agreement; and ``(C) after a public hearing. ``(3) The Secretary shall, after complying with paragraph (2), publish in the Federal Register a notice of a finding and decision under this subsection. The finding and decision shall not take effect until at least 15 days after the date of its publication under the preceding sentence.''. (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Transportation should aggressively pursue entry into pipeline safety agreements with States under section 60106 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1). (e) State Pipeline Safety Grants.--Paragraph (1) of section 60107(a) is amended to read as follows: ``(1) to carry out a safety program under a certification under section 60105 or an agreement under section 60106, and to carry out any other any other authority permitted a State under this chapter; or''. (f) State Role in Accident Response and Prevention.--Congress recognizes that each State has a role in-- (1) the determination of equipment needs for responses to accidents involving a pipeline facility; (2) the development of training curriculum for police, fire, and emergency medical personnel within the State; (3) the development of prevention planning and preparedness for spills within the State; and (4) in areas where their partnership and their understanding of local conditions and circumstances would enhance safety. SEC. 4. PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW. Section 60102(c) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(5) Public right to know.-- ``(A) The Secretary shall include in the standards prescribed under subsection (a) a requirement that the owner or operator of each interstate pipeline facility notify the entities and individuals described in subparagraph (B) of any inspection or testing of a pipeline facility, any rupture in the pipeline facility, and any release of a hazardous liquid or gas described in subparagraph (C) from such facility and provide a summary of any data obtained from such inspection, testing, rupture, or release to those entities and individuals. ``(B) The entities and individuals referred to in subparagraph (A) are-- ``(i) appropriate Federal and State regulatory authorities; and ``(ii) municipalities, school districts, businesses, and residents likely to be impacted by an accident involving the pipeline facility that was inspected or tested or with respect to which a rupture of a pipeline facility or release of a hazardous liquid or gas was found. ``(C) A release of a hazardous liquid or gas described in subparagraph (A) is a release involving-- ``(i) any spill in excess of 40 liquid gallons; or ``(ii) any spill of more than 30 days duration.''. SEC. 5. NEW FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. Section 60108(b) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1), by striking the second sentence; and (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: ``(2)(A) Not later than December 1, 2000, the Secretary shall require that-- ``(i) inspections under paragraph (1) of the internal condition of a pipeline facility where the pipe is capable of accommodating internal inspection devices, shall occur at least once every 5 years; and ``(ii) effective with a determination by the Secretary that the appropriate technology for inspections is sufficiently reliable, inspections under paragraph (1) of the external condition of a pipeline facility shall occur at least once every 5 years. ``(B) The Secretary shall-- ``(i) notify the Federal and State authorities having responsibility for the regulation of the inspected pipeline facility and those municipalities, school districts, businesses, and residents reasonably likely to be impacted by an accident involving the inspected pipeline facility of the results of the inspections conducted under subparagraph (A); and ``(ii) make available to the public the information notified under clause (i). ``(C) The Secretary shall take steps to remedy any problem in a pipeline facility and may require additional testing of the pipeline facility.''. SEC. 6. ENHANCED QUALIFICATIONS OF PIPELINE OPERATORS. Section 60102(a)(1)(C) is amended to read as follows: ``(C) shall include a requirement that all individuals responsible for the operation and maintenance of pipeline facilities be tested for qualification to perform such functions and certified as qualified by the Secretary to perform such functions, and may include a requirement that those individuals obtain additional education and training to qualify to perform such functions.''. SEC. 7. STUDY AND REPORT. (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study on-- (1) the status of the reliability and accuracy of internal and external inspection devices for pipeline facilities; (2) a determination of the optimal minimum burial depth of such pipeline facilities; (3) the feasibility of requiring failsafe mechanisms that are nonelectronic and that do not rely on any human or administrative process; (4) the effectiveness of current failsafe mechanisms; and (5) the practicality of removing distinctions between natural gas and liquid pipelines and equalizing priorities between natural gas and liquid pipelines. (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a report to Congress setting forth the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). (c) Failsafe Mechanism Defined.--For purposes of subsection (a), the term ``failsafe mechanism'', in the case of a pipeline, means a nonelectronic or mechanically based system that prevents the pipeline from exceeding its maximum operating pressure in the event of a failure of the primary or electronic system designed for such purpose. SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) Gas and Hazardous Liquids.--Section 60125(a) is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: ``(6) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which at least $4,000,000 should be available only for research and development of inspection devices and leak detection; ``(7) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, of which at least $5,000,000 should be available only for research and development of inspection devices and leak detection; ``(8) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, of which at least $5,000,000 should be available only for research and development of inspection devices and leak detection; ``(9) $66,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, of which at least $6,000,000 should be available only for research and development of inspection devices and leak detection; and ``(10) $68,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which at least $6,000,000 should be available only for research and development of inspection devices and leak detection.''. (b) State Grants.--Section 60125(c)(1) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: ``(I) $31,000,000 for the fiscal year 2001; ``(J) $37,000,000 for the fiscal year 2002; ``(K) $38,000,000 for the fiscal year 2003; ``(L) $39,000,000 for the fiscal year 2004; and ``(M) $40,000,000 for the fiscal year 2005.''.

(Sec. 3) Provides that State pipeline safety agreements may permit the State authority to: (1) require inspections and tests of pipeline facilities in addition to Federal pipeline safety requirements; (2) enforce those Federal requirements; (3) require, by regulation, the owner or operator of a pipeline facility to certify to the State that its safety procedure and accident response plans comply with such Federal requirements; and (4) regulate activities related to the safety of pipeline facilities provided certain conditions are met. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to approve an agreement submitted by a State authority not later than 90 days after its submission. Prohibits the Secretary from approving an agreement that would unduly burden interstate commerce or if the State authority lacks the resources or expertise necessary to carry out the agreement. Authorizes the Secretary, subject to specified conditions, to end an agreement if it is found that the State authority has not complied with the agreement. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should aggressively pursue entry into pipeline safety agreements with States. Recognizes the State role in specified activities related to accident response and prevention. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to include in Federal minimum safety standards for pipeline facilities a requirement that owners or operators of interstate pipeline facilities notify appropriate Federal, State, and local entities and individuals likely to be impacted by an accident of any inspection, testing, or rupture of a pipeline facility, or any release of a hazardous liquid or gas from such facility, including any related information. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary, not later than December 1, 2000, to set forth new Federal standards requiring the inspection of the internal and external condition of a pipeline facility at least once every five years. Requires the Secretary to notify those entities and individuals likely to be impacted by an accident involving an inspected pipeline facility of the results of such inspection. (Sec. 6) Revises Federal minimum safety standards for pipeline facilities to require pipeline operators to be: (1) tested for qualification to perform enumerated functions related to the installation, testing, and maintenance of a pipeline; and (2) certified as qualified by the Secretary of Transportation to perform such functions. Allows such standards to include a requirement that such individuals obtain additional education and training to qualify to perform such functions. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the inspection and placement of pipeline facilities. (Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) research and development of inspection devices and leak detection for pipeline facilities; and (2) State pipeline safety grants.

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Provide a summary of the following text: of Approval.-- (1) Introduction and placement on calendar.--If the President submits a formal request under subsection (a)(1) for authorization to use members of the Armed Forces for a military humanitarian operation, then within 1 calendar day of such request, the majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall introduce an identical joint resolution in the Senate and the House of Representatives calling for consideration of the military humanitarian operation and shall place such resolution directly on the calendar of the respective House. (2) Floor consideration.-- (A) In general.--It shall be in order for any Member of the respective House to move to proceed to the consideration of a resolution introduced under paragraph (1), and all points of order against the resolution (and against consideration of the resolution) are waived. The motion is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and is privileged in the Senate and is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment, to a motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the respective House until disposed of. (B) Debate.--Debate on the resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 4 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the resolution is not in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. (C) Vote on final passage.--Immediately following the conclusion of the debate on the resolution, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the appropriate House, the vote on final passage of the resolution shall occur. The vote shall occur not later than 48 hours after submission of a formal request under subsection (a)(1), unless the President waives such deadline, in which case the vote in each House shall occur on the next calendar day each respective House is in session. (D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a resolution described in paragraph (1) shall be decided without debate. (3) Coordination with action by other house.--If, before the passage by one House of a resolution of that House described in paragraph (1), that House receives from the other House a resolution described in paragraph (1)-- (A) the resolution of the other House shall not be referred to a committee; and (B) with respect to the resolution of the House receiving the resolution, the procedure in the receiving House shall be the same as if no joint resolution had been received from the other House until the vote on final passage, when the joint resolution received from the other House shall supplant the joint resolution of the receiving House. (4) Rules of house of representatives and senate.--This subsection is enacted by Congress-- (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a resolution described in paragraph (1), and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and (B) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. SEC. 4. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Act is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected.

Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2012 - Prohibits the President from deploying members of the Armed Forces into the territory, airspace, or waters of a foreign country for a military humanitarian operation unless: (1) the President submits to Congress a formal authorization request, and (2) Congress enacts a specific authorization. Defines a "military humanitarian operation" as a military operation involving the deployment of members or weapons systems of the Armed Forces where hostile activities are reasonably anticipated and with the aim of preventing or responding to a humanitarian catastrophe, including its regional consequences, or addressing a threat posed to international peace and security. Provides for the consideration of a joint resolution of approval of such use.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Cache la Poudre River Corridor Technical Amendments Act of 2001''. SEC. 2. CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER CORRIDOR. Section 103(b) of the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 104-323) is amended in paragraphs (12) through (19) by striking ``larimer county'' each place it appears and inserting ``weld county''. SEC. 3. CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER CORRIDOR COMMISSION. Section 104 of the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 104-323) is amended-- (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: ``(a) In General.--There is established a commission to be known as the `Cache La Poudre Corridor Commission'.''; and (2) in subsection (b)-- (A) by striking ``The Secretary may provide recognition under subsection (a) only if the Commission reflects the following:''; (B) in paragraph (1)(A)-- (i) by striking ``6 months after the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting the following: ``180 days after the date of enactment of the Cache la Poudre River Corridor Technical Amendments Act of 2001''; (ii) by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following: ``(iii) 3 members who reside in Larimer County or Weld County, and who are knowledgeable in the interests of the Corridor, shall be appointed by the Secretary from a list of candidates recommended by the Governor, of whom-- ``(I) 1 member shall represent the State; ``(II) 1 member shall represent Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado; and ``(III) 1 member shall represent the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District;''; (iii) in clause (iv)-- (I) by striking ``who are recommended by the Governor and appointed by the Secretary,'' and inserting ``who shall be appointed by the Secretary from a list of candidates recommended by the Governor,''; (II) by striking subclause (II) and inserting the following: ``(II) 2 members, who shall reside in Larimer County and shall be knowledgeable in the interests of Larimer County, and of whom 1 shall be knowledgeable in agriculture or irrigated water interests, shall represent Larimer County;''; (III) by striking subclause (IV) and inserting the following: ``(IV) 2 members, who shall reside in Weld County and shall be knowledgeable in the interests of Weld County, and of whom 1 shall be knowledgeable in agriculture or irrigated water interests, shall represent Weld County;''; and (IV) in clause (V), by striking ``and'' at the end; (iv) in clause (v)-- (I) by striking ``shall be recommended by the Governor and appointed by the Secretary,'' and inserting ``shall be appointed by the Secretary from a list of candidates recommended by the Governor,''; and (II) in subclause (III)-- (aa) by striking ``within'' and inserting ``in the vicinity of''; and (bb) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (v) by inserting after clause (v) the following: ``(vi) the members appointed under clauses (iii) through (v) of paragraph (1)(A) shall be considered to be government employees subject to the Ethics in Government Act (5 U.S.C. App.).''; and (C) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: ``(B) Initial members.-- ``(i) In general.--The initial members of the Commission appointed under paragraph (1)(A) shall be appointed in accordance with clauses (ii) through (iv). ``(ii) 3-year terms.--The following initial members shall serve for a 3-year term: ``(I) The member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(i). ``(II) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iv)(II). ``(III) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iv)(IV). ``(IV) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iv)(V). ``(V) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(v). ``(iii) 2-year terms.--The following initial members shall serve for a 2-year term: ``(I) The member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(ii). ``(II) The member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iii)(I). ``(III) The member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iii)(II). ``(IV) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iii)(III). ``(iv) 1-year terms.--The following initial members shall serve for a 1-year term: ``(I) The member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iv)(I). ``(II) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iv)(II). ``(III) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iv)(III). ``(IV) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(iv)(IV). ``(V) 1 member appointed under paragraph (1)(A)(v).''. SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. Section 107 of the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 104-323) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: ``(a) In General.--The Commission shall-- ``(1) prepare, obtain approval for, implement, and support the Plan in accordance with section 108; ``(2) administer the Corridor; and ``(3) carry out all other duties of the Commission under this Act.''; SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Section 113(a) of the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 104-323) is amended by striking ``date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting the following: ``date of enactment of the Cache la Poudre River Corridor Technical Amendments Act of 2001''.

Cache La Poudre River Corridor Technical Amendments Act of 2001 - Amends the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act with respect to the boundaries of the Cache La Poudre River Corridor in Colorado.Modifies requirements for the membership and terms of service of the Cache La Poudre Corridor Commission. Directs the Commission to administer the Corridor. (Currently, the Commission has only planning authority.)Extends the authorization of appropriations.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Core Opportunity Resources for Equity and Excellence Act of 2014''. SEC. 2. STATE AND SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY. (a) In General.--Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended-- (1) in section 1111-- (A) in subsection (b)-- (i) in paragraph (1)-- (I) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``that lead to college and career readiness by high school graduation and'' after ``challenging student academic achievement standards''; and (II) in subparagraph (D)(i)-- (aa) in subclause (II), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; and (bb) by adding at the end the following: ``(IV) lead to college and career readiness by high school graduation; and''; and (ii) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following: ``(L) State accountability in the provision of access to the core resources for learning.-- ``(i) In general.--Each State plan shall demonstrate that the State has developed an accountability system that ensures that the State's public school system provides all students within the State an education that enables the students to succeed from the earliest grades, and graduate from high school ready for college, career, and citizenship, through-- ``(I) the provision of fair and equitable access to the core resources for learning; ``(II) the provision of educational services in local educational agencies that receive funds under this part; and ``(III) compliance with any final Federal or State court order in any matter concerning the adequacy or equitableness of the State's public school system. ``(ii) Core resources for learning.--The core resources for learning are the resources and student supports necessary to provide all students the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills that lead to college and career readiness by high school graduation. Such resources shall include the following: ``(I) High-quality instructional teams, including licensed, credentialed, and profession-ready teachers, principals, school librarians, counselors, and education support personnel. ``(II) Rigorous academic standards and curricula that lead to college and career readiness by high school graduation, including the extent to which each local educational agency provides access to such standards and curricula in a manner that is accessible to all students, including students with disabilities and English learners. ``(III) Equitable and instructionally appropriate class sizes. ``(IV) Up-to-date instructional materials, technology, and supplies, including textbooks, computers, mobile devices, and access to broadband. ``(V) Effective school library programs. ``(VI) School facilities and technology, including physically and environmentally sound school buildings and well-equipped instructional spaces, including laboratories and libraries. ``(VII) Specialized instruction support teams, including school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, and other qualified professionals involved in providing assessment, diagnosis, counseling, educational, therapeutic, and other necessary services (including related services as that term is defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) as part of a comprehensive program to meet student needs. ``(VIII) Effective programs for family and community engagement in education. ``(iii) Reporting.--Each State desiring to receive a grant under this part shall annually report to the Secretary how the State is meeting the requirements for providing equitable access to the core resources for learning as required in clause (i) and any areas of inequitable access, plans to address such inequities, and progress toward eliminating such inequities. ``(iv) Accountability and remediation.--A State that fails to make progress toward eliminating inequities in access to the core resources for learning as required in clause (i) identified for 2 or more consecutive years shall not be eligible to receive funds under any competitive grant program authorized under this Act.''; and (B) in subsection (h)-- (i) in paragraph (1)(C)(vii), by striking ``information on the performance of local educational agencies in the State regarding making adequate yearly progress, including the number and names of each school identified for school improvement under section 1116'' and inserting ``information on the performance of local educational agencies in the State in providing fair and equitable access to the core resources for learning and the number and names of each school and each agency identified for improvement under section 1116 or under the terms of any waiver granted under section 9401''; (ii) in paragraph (2)(B)-- (I) in clause (i)-- (aa) in subclause (I), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; and (bb) by adding at the end the following: ``(III) information that shows how students served by the local educational agency are provided access to the core resources for learning compared to students in the State as a whole; and''; (II) in clause (ii)-- (aa) in subclause (I), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (bb) in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (cc) by adding at the end the following: ``(III) information that shows how the school's students are provided access to the core resources for learning compared to students in the local educational agency and the State as a whole.''; (iii) in paragraph (4)-- (I) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (II) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (III) by adding at the end the following: ``(H) the number and names of each local educational agency identified for improvement under section 1116 or under the terms of any waiver granted under section 9401, the reason each such agency was so identified, and the measures taken to address the achievement problems of each such agency.''; (2) in section 1116(c), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: ``(3) Identification of local educational agency for improvement.-- ``(A) In general.--A State shall identify for improvement-- ``(i) any local educational agency that, for 2 consecutive years, including the period immediately prior to the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, failed to make adequate yearly progress as defined in the State's plan under section 1111(b)(2); or ``(ii) any local educational identified under the terms of a waiver granted under section 9401. ``(B) Intervention in local educational agencies identified for improvement.--With respect to each local educational agency identified for improvement by a State under this section or under the terms of any waiver granted under section 9401, the State-- ``(i) shall identify any inequities in access to the core resources for learning in the schools served by the agency; and ``(ii) in partnership with such agency, shall develop and implement a plan to address identified inequities in access to the core resources for learning.''. (b) Restrictions on Waivers.--Section 9401(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7861(c)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (9)(C), by striking ``or'' after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(11) accountability for the provision of the core resources for learning.''.

Core Opportunity Resources for Equity and Excellence Act of 2014 - Amends the school improvement program under part A of title I of the the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require states to adopt student achievement standards that lead to college and career readiness by high school graduation. Requires each state school improvement plan to ensure that the state's public school system enables students to meet those standards by providing them with fair and equitable access to the core resources for learning. Includes among the core resources for learning: high-quality instructional teams; rigorous academic standards and curricula that lead to college and career readiness by high school graduation; equitable and instructionally appropriate class sizes; up-to-date instructional materials, technology, and supplies; effective school library programs; school facilities and technology, including physically and environmentally sound school buildings and well-equipped instructional spaces; specialized instruction support teams providing assessment, diagnosis, counseling, educational, therapeutic, and other necessary services as part of a comprehensive program to meet student needs; and effective programs to engage families and the community in education. Prohibits states that fail to make progress toward eliminating inequities in access to the core resources for learning for two or more consecutive years from receiving funds under any competitive grant program authorized by the ESEA. Requires the annual report cards publicly disseminated by states and their local educational agencies (LEAs) to include information on the performance of LEAs and schools in providing students with fair and equitable access to the core resources for learning. Requires states to identify any of their LEAs as needing improvement if they: (1) fail for two consecutive years to make adequate yearly progress toward state academic content and achievement standards, or (2) have received a waiver of the ESEA's statutory or regulatory requirements from the Secretary of Education. Requires states to: (1) identify any inequities in access to the core resources of learning in schools served by an LEA that has been identified as needing improvement, and (2) work with the LEA to address those inequities. Prohibits the Secretary from waiving this Act's requirements for accountability in providing students with access to the core resources for learning.

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Provide a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Hunger Fellows Act of 1997''. (b) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows: (1) There is a critical need for compassionate individuals who are committed to assisting people who suffer from hunger as well as a need for such individuals to initiate and administer solutions to the hunger problem. (2) Bill Emerson, the distinguished late Representative from the 8th District of Missouri, demonstrated his commitment to solving the problem of hunger in a bipartisan manner, his commitment to public service, and his great affection for the institution and the ideals of the United States Congress. (3) George T. (Mickey) Leland, the distinguished late Representative from the 18th District of Texas, demonstrated his compassion for those in need, his high regard for public service, and his lively exercise of political talents. (4) The special concern that Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland demonstrated during their lives for the hungry and poor was an inspiration for others to work toward the goals of equality and justice for all. (5) These two outstanding leaders maintained a special bond of friendship regardless of political affiliation and worked together to encourage future leaders to recognize and provide service to others, and therefore it is especially appropriate to honor the memory of Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland by creating a fellowship program to develop and train the future leaders of the United States to pursue careers in humanitarian service. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT; BOARD OF TRUSTEES. (a) In General.--There is established as an independent entity of the executive branch of the United States Government, the Congressional Hunger Fellows Program (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Program''). (b) Board of Trustees.--The Program shall be subject to the supervision and direction of a Board of Trustees. (1) Appointment.--The Board shall be composed of 7 voting members appointed under subparagraph (A) and 1 nonvoting ex officio member designated in subparagraph (B) as follows: (A) Voting members.--(i) The President in consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the minority leader, shall appoint 4 members. (ii) The President in consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 2 members. (iii) The President in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture shall appoint 1 member. (B) Nonvoting member.--The Executive Director of the Program shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member. (2) Terms.--Members of the Board shall serve a term of 4 years. (3) Vacancy.-- (A) Authority of board.--A vacancy in the membership of the Board does not affect the power of the remaining members to carry out this Act. (B) Appointment of successors.--A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (C) Incomplete term.--If a member of the Board does not serve the full term applicable to the member, the individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the predecessor of the individual. (4) Chairperson.--As the first order of business of the first meeting of the Board, the members shall elect a Chairperson. (5) Compensation.-- (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), members of the Board may not receive compensation for service on the Board. (B) Travel.--Members of the Board may be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the Program. SEC. 3. PURPOSES; AUTHORITY OF PROGRAM. (a) Purposes.--The purposes of the Program are-- (1) to encourage future leaders of the United States-- (A) to pursue careers in humanitarian service; (B) to recognize the needs of people who are hungry and poor; and (C) to provide assistance and compassion for those in need; (2) to increase awareness of the importance of public service; and (3) to provide training and development opportunities for such leaders. (b) Authority.--The Program is authorized to develop such fellowships, activities, and services to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the fellowships described in subsection (c). (c) Fellowships.-- (1) In general.--The Program shall establish and develop the following fellowships: (A) The Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall address domestic hunger and other humanitarian needs. (B) The Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship shall address international hunger and other humanitarian needs. (2) Curriculum.--The fellowships established under paragraph (1) shall provide education and training to develop the skills and understanding of the fellows necessary to improve the humanitarian conditions and the lives of individuals who suffer from hunger, including-- (A) training in direct service to the hungry in conjunction with community based organizations through a program of field placement; and (B) experience in policy development through placement in a governmental entity or nonprofit organization. (3) Evaluation.--The Program shall from time to time conduct an evaluation of the fellowships under this Act. SEC. 4. TERMS OF FELLOWSHIPS. (a) Period of Fellowship.--An applicant selected under subsection (b) shall be awarded a fellowship for a period not to exceed 24 months. (b) Selection of Fellows.-- (1) In general.--A fellowship shall be awarded pursuant to a nationwide competition established by the Executive Director with the approval of a majority of the Board. The Executive Director shall establish the procedure for the competition process. (2) Qualification.--A successful applicant shall be an individual who has demonstrated-- (A) a desire to pursue a career in humanitarian service; and (B) outstanding potential for such a career. (3) Amount of award.--The Board shall determine the amount of an educational award and living allowance that a successful applicant will receive under a fellowship. (4) Recognition of fellowship receipt.-- (A) A recipient of a fellowship from the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall be known as an ``Emerson Fellow''. (B) A recipient of a fellowship from the Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship shall be known as a ``Leland Fellow''. SEC. 5. TRUST FUND. (a) Establishment.--There is established the Congressional Hunger Fellows Trust Fund (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Fund'') in the Treasury of the United States, consisting of amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 9, amounts credited to it under subsection (c), and amounts received under section 7(c)(2). (b) Investment of Funds.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest the full amount of the Fund. Each investment shall be made in an interest bearing obligation of the United States or an obligation guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States that, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Board, has a maturity suitable for the Fund. (c) Return on Investment.--Except as provided in section 6(a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall credit to the Fund the interest on, and the proceeds from sale or redemption of, obligations held in the Fund. SEC. 6. EXPENDITURES; AUDIT. (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Program from the amounts described in section 5(c) and section 7(c)(2) such sums as the Board determines are necessary to enable the Program to carry out the provisions of this Act. (b) Limitation.--The Secretary of the Treasury may not transfer to the Program the amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 9. (c) Audit by GAO.-- (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an annual audit of the accounts of the Program. (2) Books.--The Program shall make available to the Comptroller General all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the Program and necessary to facilitate such audit. (3) Report to congress.--The Comptroller General shall submit a copy of the results of each such audit to the Congress. SEC. 7. STAFF; POWERS OF PROGRAM. (a) Executive Director.-- (1) In general.--The Board shall appoint an Executive Director of the Program who shall be a nonvoting member of the Board and who shall administer the Program. The Executive Director shall carry out such other functions consistent with the provisions of this Act as the Board shall prescribe. (2) Restriction.--The Executive Director may not serve as Chairperson of the Board. (3) Compensation.--The Executive Director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level GS-15 of the General Schedule. (b) Staff.-- (1) In general.--With the approval of a majority of the Board, the Executive Director may appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel as the Executive Director considers necessary and appropriate to carry out the functions of the provisions of this Act. (2) Compensation.--An individual appointed under paragraph (1) shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level GS-15 of the General Schedule. (c) Powers.--In order to carry out the provisions of this Act, the Program may perform the following functions: (1) Gifts.--The Program may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Program. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Fund and shall be available for disbursement upon order of the Board. (2) Experts and consultants.--The Program may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-15 of the General Schedule. (3) Contract authority.--The Program may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5). (4) Other necessary expenditures.--The Program shall make such other expenditures which the Program considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. SEC. 8. REPORT. Not later than December 31 of each year, the Board shall submit to Secretary of Agriculture and to Congress a report on the activities of the Program carried out during the previous fiscal year. SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000.

Congressional Hunger Fellows Act of 1997 - Establishes as an independent entity within the executive branch the Congressional Hunger Fellows Program to award 12-month Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowships (addressing domestic hunger and other humanitarian needs) and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships (addressing international hunger and other humanitarian needs) to develop and train individuals for careers in humanitarian service. Establishes the Congressional Hunger Fellows Trust Fund for the deposit and receipt of Program funds. Authorizes appropriations.

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Provide a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Derivatives Limitations Act of 1994''. SEC. 2. INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS. The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``SEC. 44. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS. ``(a) Derivatives Activities.-- ``(1) General prohibition.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), neither an insured depository institution, nor any affiliate thereof, may purchase, sell, or engage in any transaction involving a derivative financial instrument for the account of that institution or affiliate. ``(2) Exceptions.-- ``(A) Hedging transactions.--An insured depository institution may purchase, sell, or engage in hedging transactions to the extent that such activities are approved by rule, regulation, or order of the appropriate Federal banking agency issued in accordance with paragraph (3). ``(B) Separately capitalized affiliate.--A separately capitalized affiliate of an insured depository institution that is not itself an insured depository institution may purchase, sell, or engage in a transaction involving a derivative financial instrument if such affiliate complies with all rules, regulations, or orders of the appropriate Federal banking agency issued in accordance with paragraph (3). ``(C) De minimis interests.--An insured depository institution may purchase, sell, or engage in transactions involving de minimis interests in derivative financial instruments for the account of that institution to the extent that such activity is defined and approved by rule, regulation, or order of the appropriate Federal banking agency issued in accordance with paragraph (3). ``(D) Existing interests.--During the 3-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this section, nothing in this section shall be construed-- ``(i) as affecting an interest of an insured depository institution in any derivative financial instrument which existed on the date of enactment of this section; or ``(ii) as restricting the ability of the institution to acquire reasonably related interests in other derivative financial instruments for the purpose of resolving or terminating an interest of the institution in any derivative financial instrument which existed on the date of enactment of this section. ``(3) Issuance of rules, regulations, and orders.--The appropriate Federal banking agency shall issue appropriate rules, regulations, and orders governing the exceptions provided for in paragraph (2), including-- ``(A) appropriate public notice requirements; ``(B) a requirement that any affiliate described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) shall clearly and conspicuously notify the public that none of the assets of the affiliate, nor the risk of loss associated with the transaction involving a derivative financial instrument, are insured under Federal law or otherwise guaranteed by the Federal Government or the parent company of the affiliate; and ``(C) any other requirements that the appropriate Federal banking agency considers appropriate. ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section-- ``(1) the term `derivative financial instrument' means-- ``(A) an instrument the value of which is derived from the value of stocks, bonds, other loan instruments, other assets, interest or currency exchange rates, or indexes, including qualified financial contracts (as defined in section 11(e)(8)); and ``(B) any other instrument that an appropriate Federal banking agency determines, by regulation or order, to be a derivative financial instrument for purposes of this section; and ``(2) the term `hedging transaction' means any transaction involving a derivative financial instrument if-- ``(A) such transaction is entered into in the normal course of the institution's business primarily-- ``(i) to reduce risk of price change or currency fluctuations with respect to property which is held or to be held by the institution; or ``(ii) to reduce risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to loans or other investments made or to be made, or obligations incurred or to be incurred, by the institution; and ``(B) before the close of the day on which such transaction was entered into (or such earlier time as the appropriate Federal banking agency may prescribe by regulation), the institution clearly identifies such transaction as a hedging transaction.''. SEC. 3. INSURED CREDIT UNIONS. Title II of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1781 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``SEC. 215. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS. ``(a) Derivative Activities.--Except as provided in subsection (b), neither an insured credit union, nor any affiliate thereof, may purchase, sell, or engage in any transaction involving a derivative financial instrument. ``(b) Applicability of Section 44 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.--Section 44 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act shall apply with respect to insured credit unions and affiliates thereof and to the Board in the same manner that such section applies to insured depository institutions and affiliates thereof (as those terms are defined in section 3 of that Act) and shall be enforceable by the Board with respect to insured credit unions and affiliates under this Act. ``(c) Derivative Financial Instrument.--For purposes of this section, the term `derivative financial instrument' means-- ``(1) an instrument the value of which is derived from the value of stocks, bonds, other loan instruments, other assets, interest or currency exchange rates, or indexes, including qualified financial contracts (as defined in section 207(c)(8)(D)); and ``(2) any other instrument that the Board determines, by regulation or order, to be a derivative financial instrument for purposes of this section.''. SEC. 4. BANK HOLDING COMPANIES. Section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(h) Derivatives Activities.-- ``(1) In general.--A subsidiary of a bank holding company may purchase, sell, or engage in any transaction involving a derivative financial instrument for the account of that subsidiary if it-- ``(A) is not an insured depository institution or a subsidiary of an insured depository institution; and ``(B) is separately capitalized from any affiliated insured depository institution. ``(2) Applicability of section 44 of the federal deposit insurance act.--Section 44 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act shall apply with respect to bank holding companies and the Board in the same manner that those such subsections apply to an insured depository institution (as defined in section 3 of that Act) and shall be enforceable by the Board with respect to bank holding companies under this Act. ``(3) Derivative financial instrument.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `derivative financial instrument' means-- ``(A) an instrument the value of which is derived from the value of stocks, bonds, other loan instruments, other assets, interest or currency exchange rates, or indexes, including qualified financial contracts (as defined in section 207(c)(8)(D)); and ``(B) any other instrument that the Board determines, by regulation or order, to be a derivative financial instrument for purposes of this subsection.''.

Derivatives Limitations Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to prohibit an insured depository institution or credit union (including its affiliates) from engaging in any transaction for its own account which involves derivative financial instruments. Exempts from this prohibition specified transactions conducted in compliance with certain Federal banking agency regulations. Directs the Federal banking agencies to promulgate regulations governing such exceptions, including conspicuous public disclosure by affiliates that their assets and the risk of loss associated with derivatives transactions are neither federally insured nor guaranteed by the affiliate's parent company. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to permit a subsidiary of a bank holding company to engage in derivatives transactions for its account if: (1) it is neither an insured depository institution nor a subsidiary of one; and (2) it is separately capitalized from any affiliated insured depository institution.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Investment in Quality School Leadership Act''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to provide ongoing, intensive professional development to superintendents, principals, and prospective superintendents and principals, particularly those serving, or intending to serve, in high-poverty, low-performing school districts and schools; (2) to improve the capacity of current and prospective superintendents and principals to serve as effective leaders and successfully implement standards-based reforms; (3) to encourage the recruitment and retention of quality school leaders at the district and school-level by enabling them to further develop their skills and knowledge; and (4) to recognize and support the importance of principals and superintendents in facilitating student learning and improving academic achievement. SEC. 3. GRANTS. (a) In General.-- (1) Grant awards.--From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section and not reserved under subsection (g) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible consortia to establish professional development programs described in paragraph (2). (2) Professional development.--A program referred to in paragraph (1) shall serve a State or region and provide superintendents, principals, and prospective superintendents and principals, particularly those serving, or intending to serve, in high-poverty, low-performing school districts and schools, with ongoing, intensive professional development opportunities to improve their capacity to serve as effective leaders and successfully implement standards-based reforms. (b) Award Basis.--The Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible applicants to carry out this section. (c) Eligibility.-- (1) Required participants.--In order to receive a grant under this section, a consortium shall include not less than-- (A) one local educational agency serving a high concentration of children living in poverty; (B) one institution of higher education; and (C) one organization that does not usually provide educational services, but has the necessary expertise to provide professional development to school administrators. (2) Other participants.--An eligible consortium may also include-- (A) one or more additional local educational agencies; (B) State educational agencies; (C) for-profit organizations with the expertise to provide professional development to school administrators; and (D) public or private nonprofit organizations with the expertise to provide professional development to school administrators. (d) Application.-- (1) In general.--In order to receive an award under this section, an eligible applicant shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents.--Each such application shall include-- (A) information demonstrating that the applicant shall meet the matching requirement of subsection (f); and (B) a description of the involvement of superintendents and principals in developing the application. (e) Use of Funds.-- (1) Required uses.-- (A) In general.--A consortium that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to establish or expand a leadership development program described in subparagraph (B). (B) Activities.--The program referred to in subparagraph (A) shall provide superintendents, principals, and prospective superintendents and principals, particularly individuals serving, or intending to serve, in high-poverty, low-performing schools and school districts, with ongoing, intensive professional development opportunities through activities that increase the knowledge and skills of participants in such areas as-- (i) effective instructional practices; (ii) the content of the State's standards and supporting implementation of the standards in the classroom; (iii) comprehensive whole-school reform approaches and programs; (iv) the effective use of educational technology to improve teaching and learning; (v) the recruitment, assignment, retention, and evaluation of school staff; (vi) the enhancement and development of management and organizational skills; (vii) leadership skills; (viii) the effective use of data for decisionmaking; and (ix) the implementation of school-based leadership teams. (2) Additional uses.--A consortium that receives a grant under this section may also use the grant funds to support-- (A) the recruitment and preparation of prospective principals and superintendents, including candidates with leadership and managerial experience in fields other than education; and (B) alternative pathways to administrative positions. (f) Matching Requirement.-- (1) In general.-- (A) In general.--Each recipient of a grant under this Act shall provide not less than 50 percent of the annual cost of the project assisted by the grant from sources other than this Act. (B) Contributions.--A grantee's share of such costs may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated. (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching requirement of paragraph (1) with respect to applicants that the Secretary determines serve low-income areas. (g) Reservation.--The Secretary may reserve not more than 4 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (i) for each fiscal year for technical assistance, evaluation, dissemination of information on effective programs for preparing and training district and school-level administrators, carrying out activities to encourage the spread and adoption of successful leadership development centers, and other national activities that support the programs under this section. (h) Report.-- (1) Existing programs.-- (A) Study.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with representatives of local educational agencies, State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, superintendents, principals, education organizations, community groups, business, and labor, conduct a study to evaluate and report to Congress regarding existing professional development programs that recruit, prepare, and train district and school- level administrators to serve as effective leaders and successfully implement standards-based reforms in diverse educational environments across the Nation. (B) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall submit a report to Congress not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act regarding the findings of the study conducted under subparagraph (A). (2) Program report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report not later March 1, 2006 regarding the effectiveness of professional development programs, established pursuant to this section, to recruit and retain principals and superintendents. (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 to carry out this section.

Directs the Secretary of Education to award such competitive grants to consortia to establish programs that serve a State or region and provide superintendents, principals, and prospective superintendents and principals, particularly those serving, or intending to serve, in high-poverty, low-performing school districts and schools, with ongoing, intensive professional development opportunities to improve their capacity to serve as effective leaders and successfully implement standards-based reforms. Requires a consortium, to be eligible to apply for such a grant, to include at least: (1) one local educational agency (LEA) serving a high concentration of children living in poverty; (2) one institution of higher education; and (3) one organization that does not usually provide educational services, but has the necessary expertise to provide professional development to school administrators (expertise). Allows such consortia also to include: (1) one or more additional LEAs; (2) State educational agencies; (3) for-profit organizations with expertise; and (4) public or private nonprofit organizations with expertise. Sets forth required program activities and additional uses of grant funds. Requires grantees to provide 50 percent of the project's annual costs, in cash or in kind. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) waive such matching requirement for applicants that serve low-income areas; and (2) reserve certain funds for technical assistance, evaluation, dissemination of information on effective programs, activities to encourage the spread and adoption of successful leadership development centers, and other national activities that support the programs. Authorizes appropriations.

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Summarize the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Making Affordable Prescriptions Available for Seniors Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress makes the following findings: (1) although prescription drugs represent one of the most frequently used medical care interventions in treating common acute and chronic diseases, many Americans, especially the elderly and other vulnerable populations, are unable to afford their medication because of excessive and persistent drug price inflation; (2) between 1985 and 1991, the prices of the 20 top selling prescription drugs, which account for almost a third of prescription sales, rose 79 percent--nearly 4 times the general rate of inflation; (3) prescription drug manufacturers continue to make enormous profits on the backs of the elderly, poor, and other vulnerable populations that are unable to afford their medications; (4) because of the limited availability of private or public prescription drug coverage for the elderly, prescription drugs represent the highest out-of-pocket medical care cost for 3 of 4 elderly patients, surpassed only by the cost of long- term care services; (5) individuals over the age of 65 fill an average of 15 prescriptions a year to treat chronic health conditions compared to an annual average of 5 prescriptions for those under the age of 65; (6) 90 percent of Americans who are 60 years of age or older take one or more medications daily; (7) The United States spends several billion dollars on biomedical and related health research and in 1994 the United States spent $33 billion on such research and the pharmaceutical industry only spent $14 billion on such research in such year; and (8) The pharmaceutical industry makes large profits off of the sale of drugs produced from the benefit of research paid for by the United States and, aside from royalties, none of such profits are reimbursed back to the United States taxpayers. SEC. 3. PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. The Public Health Service Act is amended by adding at the end the following: ``TITLE XXVIII--PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ``SEC. 2801. ESTABLISHMENT. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program of pharmacy assistance (referred to in this title as the `program') for eligible persons. ``(b) Administration.--Pharmacy assistance shall be provided under the program to eligible persons in the manner that the Secretary determines to be the most cost-effective, including indemnification, vouchers, coupons, or direct provider reimbursement through the claims payment system under title XIX of the Social Security Act, except that no system of administration shall make direct cash payments to an eligible person before the presentation of a receipt or other invoice for the purchase of any covered benefit. The Secretary may implement utilization review, clinical management, and other administrative techniques used in the management of the pharmacy benefits program under title XIX of the Social Security Act in order to identify and reduce drug interactions, overutilizations, therapeutic duplications, or early refills. ``(c) Income Levels.--The Secretary may authorize local councils on aging, community action agencies, and home care corporations to assist the Secretary in determining if persons meet the income eligibility requirements of the program. ``(d) Fee.--The Secretary may require an annual enrollment fee in an amount not to exceed $15 to be paid to defray the administrative expenses of the program. ``(e) Other Program Items.--The Secretary shall develop copayment requirements and may establish deductibles to control program expenses. Copayment amounts may vary to promote the purchase of generic drugs and may be based on a sliding income scale, except that copayment shall not be more than $10 per prescription. ``SEC. 2802. PROFITS FROM RESEARCH. ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any manufacturer of a drug which submits, in connection with an application for such drug under section 351 of this Act or section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the results of research-- ``(1) carried out by an entity of the National Institutes of Health, or ``(2) under an agreement under section 12 of the Stevenson- Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, shall not receive approval of such application until the manufacturer enters into an agreement with the Secretary under which the manufacturer will pay to the Secretary 7 percent of the gross amount received by the manufacturer from sales of such drug. Such agreement shall specify the manner in which such gross amount shall be determined. ``(b) Exception.--The Secretary may waive the application of a subsection (a) to a manufacturer of a drug when the Secretary determines that it would be in the public interest to exempt such manufacturer. ``SEC. 2803. DEFINITIONS. ``For purposes of section 2801: ``(1) Covered benefits.--The term `covered benefits' means prescription drugs, including insulin syringes and insulin needles, and insulin, eligible for reimbursement under the program as defined by the Secretary, except that within each class of maintenance drugs eligible for reimbursement all such prescription drugs that have been approved safe and effective by the Federal Food and Drug Administration or are otherwise legally marketed in the United States shall be covered under the program. The term does not include experimental drugs or over-the-counter pharmaceutical products except insulin. The Secretary may restrict covered benefits to prescription drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical companies who agree to provide manufacturer rebates. ``(2) Eligible person.--The term `eligible person' means an individual who is 65 years or older with no existing pharmacy benefits or coverage from an insurance policy supplemental to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act or pharmacy benefits or coverage from any other third party payor and one whose annual income does not exceed 175 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines. ``(3) Pharmacy assistance.--The term `pharmacy assistance' means an amount not exceeding $500 in any year for each eligible person to assist in the purchase of covered benefits.''.

Making Affordable Prescriptions Available for Seniors Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a program of pharmacy assistance for persons at least 65 years old with no pharmacy benefits from an insurance policy supplemental to title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act or coverage from any third party payor, and whose income is under a specified level. Allows an annual enrollment fee (of not over $15) and deductibles. Mandates copayments not over $10 per prescription. Prohibits approval of an application under provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to biological products or provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act relating to new drugs if the drug manufacturer submits with the application the results of research carried out by the National Institutes of Health, or under an agreement under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, until the manufacturer agrees to pay to the Secretary of Health and Human Services seven percent of the gross sales receipts.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether oxygenated fuels (referred to in this Act as ``M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels'') as one means of compliance with section 211(m) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(m)), which requires the use of oxygenated fuels to lower the level of carbon monoxide in nonattainment areas, has resulted in excessive health-related complaints in areas of the State of Alaska in which M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels have been used; (2) consumer hotlines in Fairbanks, Alaska and Anchorage, Alaska have received hundreds of unusual medical complaints (including complaints of abnormal headaches, sore throats, asthma, light headedness, burning sensation in eyes and lungs, shortness of breath, skin rashes, numbness, swollen tissue, and abnormal congestion) in geographic areas in which M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels are in use; (3) tests conducted by employees at the environmental health laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control revealed a measurable quantity of methyl tertiary butyl ether in the blood of workers exposed to M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels; (4) representatives of the Centers for Disease Control testified before Congress that more studies were needed to determine the health effects of exposure to the substance; (5) no studies have been completed to measure the chronic effects of exposure to M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels in cold climates on public health, particularly in areas that have temperatures that regularly reach 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit; (6) because of numerous health complaints and the conclusions of the State epidemiologist of the Alaska Division of Public Health, the Governor of Alaska suspended the M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels program in Fairbanks, Alaska; (7) after the program was suspended in Fairbanks, the State epidemiologist concluded that there is a possibility that similar illnesses are being caused by the M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels program in Anchorage; (8) additional scientific studies on the health effects of M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels need to be completed; (9) the public should not be exposed to M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels until studies are completed and the public health risk has been assessed; and (10) ethanol blend oxygenated fuels are known to separate from the gasoline base at ultacold temperatures and may therefore have drivability and safety implications in Alaska. SEC. 2. WAIVER OF THE M-T-B-E OXYGENATED FUELS REQUIREMENT Section 211(m)(3) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(m)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: ``(D) If requested in writing by an affected local government within a title I nonattainment area for carbon monoxide in Alaska, the Governor of the State of Alaska may petition for a waiver and the Administrator may waive, in whole or in part, the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) with respect to an area within the State of Alaska that is designated under title I as a nonattainment area for carbon monoxide, if the Administrator finds that compliance with the requirements should be waived for one or more of the following reasons: ``(i) Compliance is not technologically or economically feasible because the technology needed to comply is not commercially available or because the use of M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels would increase the cost of commercially available fuel supplies by more than 150 percent of the national average cost of using M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels in nonattainment areas outside of Alaska; ``(ii) Compliance would be unreasonable due to unique geographical or meteorological factors; ``(ii) Compliance could or does cause harmful health effects; ``(iv) The use of M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels increases aldehyde emissions appreciably. ``(E) The Administrator shall grant or deny a petition for a waiver submitted under subparagraph (D) not later than 60 days after receiving the petition. ``(F)(i) The Administrator shall conduct a study that compares the probable health risks and costs of title I carbon monoxide nonattainment in Alaska with the probable health risks and costs of increased noncarbon monoxide emissions (such as aldehyde emissions) associated with the use of M-T-B-E oxygenated fuels in Alaska. ``(ii) The Administrator shall report the results of the study of Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph. ``(G) The Administrator may suspend the required use of oxygenated fuels-- ``(i) during the pendency of a petition for a waiver submitted under paragraph (D); and ``(ii) until the completion of the health risk study conducted pursuant to subparagraph (F).''.

Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to waive requirements for the use of oxygenated fuels in a carbon monoxide nonattainment area in Alaska if compliance: (1) is not feasible because technology is not commercially available or the use of such fuels would increase the cost of available fuel supplies by more than 150 percent of the national average cost of using such fuels in nonattainment areas outside of Alaska; (2) would be unreasonable due to unique geographical or meteorological factors; (3) could or does cause harmful health effects; or (4) increases aldehyde emissions appreciably. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study that compares, and report to the Congress on, the probable health risks and costs of carbon monoxide nonattainment in Alaska with those of increased noncarbon monoxide emissions associated with the use of oxygenated fuels in Alaska. Authorizes the Administrator to suspend the required use of oxygenated fuels during the pendency of a petition for a waiver and until the completion of the health risk study.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act''. SEC. 2. MODERN-DAY SLAVERY. In this Act, the term ``modern-day slavery'' means the status or condition of a person over whom any power attaching to the right of ownership or control is exercised by means of exploitation through involuntary servitude, forced labor, child labor, debt bondage or bonded labor, serfdom, peonage, trafficking in persons for forced labor or for sexual exploitation (including child sex tourism and child pornography), forced marriage, or other similar means. SEC. 3. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) Modern-day slavery takes many forms, including chattel slavery or slavery by descent, and the exploitation occurs in a myriad of situations, including in the agricultural, commercial sex, construction, manufacturing, and service industries, as well as in domestic servitude. (2) The perpetrators of modern-day slavery violate the dignity of men, women, and children, using violence that at times results in death, sexual abuse, rape, torture, dangerous and degrading working conditions, poor nutrition, drug and alcohol addiction, and psychological trauma. (3) According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ``No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.''. (4) The United States and the international community have acknowledged that modern-day slavery must be abolished in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Slavery, Servitude, Forced Labour and Similar Institutions and Practices Convention of 1926; the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery; the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts; the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour; the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention; and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. (5) The Declaration of Independence recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of all people and states that all people are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. (6) The 13th amendment to the Constitution of the United States recognizes that ``Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.''. (7) The United States has given particular priority to combating trafficking in persons, a form of modern-day slavery, through the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (division A of Public Law 106-386) and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Acts of 2003 and 2005 (Public Laws 108-193 and 109-164). (8) The importation into the United States of goods mined, produced, or manufactured by forced or indentured labor, including forced or indentured child labor, is prohibited under the Tariff Act of 1930. SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. (a) Establishment.--There is established a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission''). (b) Membership.-- (1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members, of whom-- (A) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (B) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (C) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and (D) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. (2) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be individuals with demonstrated expertise or experience in combating modern-day slavery. (3) Date.--The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (d) Co-Chairpersons.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate 1 of the members appointed under subsection (b)(1)(A) as a co-chairperson of the Commission. The majority leader of the Senate shall designate 1 of the members appointed under subsection (b)(1)(B) as a co-chairperson of the Commission. (e) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall hold its first meeting. (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of either Co- chairperson. (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may meet or hold hearings. SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. (a) Study.-- (1) In general.--The Commission shall-- (A) conduct a thorough study of modern-day slavery in all its forms, including the factors contributing to modern-day slavery, such as certain social structures, the failure by authorities to enforce laws prohibiting slavery and prosecuting the perpetrators of slavery, corruption among officials, and the vulnerability of certain populations, such as those in areas of conflict and post conflict, transitioning states, or states undergoing sudden political upheaval, economic collapse, civil unrest, internal armed conflict, chronic unemployment, widespread poverty, or manmade or natural disasters; (B) review programs of relevant governmental agencies with respect to modern-day-slavery, including the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of State, the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center; (C) examine efforts undertaken by foreign countries and multilateral organizations to prevent or combat modern-day slavery in all its forms, prosecute the perpetrators or protect its victims, and identify those countries with the most significant number of victims of modern-day slavery; and (D) convene additional experts from relevant nongovernmental organizations as part of the Commission's review. (2) Goals.--Based on its findings under paragraph (1), the Commission shall-- (A) advise the Congress on how the United States could lend support to the efforts to eradicate modern- day slavery in all its forms; (B) provide a comprehensive evaluation of best practices to prevent modern-day slavery in all its forms; (C) provide a comprehensive evaluation of the best practices to rescue and rehabilitate victims of modern- day slavery in all its forms; (D) provide a comprehensive evaluation of the best practices to ensure the prosecution of acts of modern- day slavery and increase accountability within countries that tolerate modern-day slavery; (E) provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of United States laws prohibiting the importation of goods manufactured or produced in whole or in part through forced labor or child labor, as well as policies and relations with regard to countries that tolerate modern-day slavery; (F) provide a comprehensive evaluation of comparative models and strategies to prevent modern-day slavery, rescue and rehabilitate victims of modern-day slavery, prosecute offenders, and increase education about modern-day slavery in all its forms; (G) examine the economic impact on communities and countries that demonstrate measured success in fighting modern-day slavery in all its forms; and (H) increase throughout the United States and among high-risk populations education and awareness about modern-day slavery in all its forms. (b) Recommendations.--The Commission shall develop recommendations for legislative and administrative actions necessary for the most effective ways to combat and eliminate modern-day slavery in all its forms, develop international cooperation to combat modern-day slavery and determine the nature of what constitutes appropriate relations with countries that tolerate modern-day slavery in any form. (c) Report.--Not later than 11 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate, a report containing the results of the study and other activities conducted under subsection (a) and the recommendations developed under subsection (b). SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act. (b) Information From Governmental Agencies.--The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of either co-chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission. SEC. 7. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States. (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission. (c) Staff.-- (1) In general.--The co-chairpersons of the Commission, acting jointly, may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission. (2) Compensation.--The co-chairpersons of the Commission, acting jointly, may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United Sates Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Federal Government employees may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The co- chairpersons of the Commission, acting jointly, may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION. The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 5(c). SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for fiscal year 2007 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. (b) Availability.--Any sums appropriated under the authorization contained in this section shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.

Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act - Defines "modern-day slavery." Establishes a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery which shall: (1) study matters relating to modern-day slavery; (2) review programs of relevant governmental agencies; (3) examine efforts by foreign countries and multilateral organizations to combat modern-day slavery; and (4) convene additional experts from nongovernmental organizations as part of the Commission's review. States that the Commission shall: (1) advise Congress on how the United States could support efforts to eradicate modern-day slavery; (2) provide a comprehensive evaluation of best practices to prevent modern-day slavery, to rescue and rehabilitate its victims, and to prosecute traffickers and increase accountability within countries; (3) examine the economic impact on communities and countries that demonstrate measured success in fighting modern-day slavery; (4) provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of U.S. laws prohibiting the importation of goods produced through forced labor or child labor, as well as policies with regard to countries that tolerate modern-day slavery; and (5) increase education and awareness about modern-day slavery.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission on State Workers' Compensation Laws Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) The full protection of American workers from job- related injury or death requires an adequate, prompt, and equitable system of workers' compensation as well as an effective program of occupational health and safety regulation. (2) The vast majority of American workers and their families are dependent on workers' compensation for their basic economic security in the event such workers suffer injury or death in the course of employment. (3) In 1972, the National Commission on State Workmen's Compensation Laws found that the system of State workers' compensation laws was ``inequitable and inadequate''. Since that time, changes in reductions in State workers' compensation laws have increased the inadequacy and inequitable levels of workers' compensation benefits. Serious questions exist concerning the fairness and adequacy of present workers' compensation laws in light of the growth of the economy, changing nature of the labor force, misclassification of workers as independent contractors, and as leased employees, as well as erosion of remedies for the bad faith handling and delay in payment of benefits and medical care to workers and their families, increases in medical knowledge, changes in the hazards associated with various employment, new risks to health and safety created by new technology, and increases in the general level of wages and in the cost of living. SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. There is established a commission to be known as the ``National Commission on State Workers' Compensation Laws'' (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Commission''). SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a) In General.--The duties of the Commission shall be-- (1) to review the findings of the previous National Commission on State Workmen's Compensation Laws and its recommendations; (2) to study and evaluate State workers' compensation laws in order to determine if such laws provide an adequate, prompt, and equitable system of compensation for injury or death arising out of or in the course of employment; and (3) to study and evaluate whether additional remedies should be available to ensure prompt and good faith payment of benefits and medical care to injured workers and their families. (b) Matters To Be Evaluated and Studied.--The study and evaluation under subsection (a)(2) shall include-- (1) the amount of permanent and temporary disability benefits and the criteria for determining the maximum limitations of such benefits or the elimination of such maximum limitations; (2) a study and evaluation of State workers' compensation laws in order to determine if, and ensure that, such laws provide an adequate, prompt, and equitable system of compensation and medical care for injuries or death arising out of in the course of employment; (3) a study of whether other adequate remedies are available to ensure the prompt payment of benefits and to reduce or eliminate bad faith delays in payments of benefits, providing medical care, and discouraging misclassification of workers as independent contractors and or leased employees to avoid paying workers' compensation benefits; (4) the amount and duration of medical benefits and provisions ensuring adequate medical care and free choice of physician; (5) rehabilitation; (6) standards for determining assurance of benefits caused by aggravation or acceleration of preexisting injuries or disease; (7) time limits on filing claims; (8) waiting periods; (9) compulsory or elective coverage; (10) administration; (11) ensuring prompt hearings and due process evidentiary rights in the resolution of claims; (12) the relationship between workers' compensation on the one hand, and old-age, disability, and survivors insurance and other types of insurance (public or private) on the other hand; and (13) methods of implementing the recommendations of the Commission. SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 14 members, as follows: (1) 1 member, appointed by the President, who shall serve as chairman of the Commission. (2) 1 member, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate in consultation with the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as vice chairman of the Commission. (3) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives. (4) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (5) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. (6) 2 members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. (7) The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Education shall be ex officio members of the Commission. (b) Affiliations.-- (1) Not more than 6 appointed members of the Commission shall be from the same political party. (2) There shall be at all times at least 3 members that represent injured workers, 3 members that represent insurance carriers or employers, and 1 member of the general public. (c) Qualifications.--It is the sense of Congress that individuals appointed to the Commission should be United States citizens-- (1) with significant depth of experience-- (A) as members of State workers' compensation boards; (B) as representatives of insurance carriers, employers, and injured workers; and (C) in the general fields of business and labor; (2) who are members of the medical profession with experience in industrial medicine or in workers' compensation cases; and (3) who are educators having special expertise in the field of workers' compensation. (d) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office. A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. (e) Quorum.--Eight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. (f) Meetings.-- (1) The Commission shall hold its initial meeting as soon as practicable. (2) After its initial meeting, the Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its members. (g) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code. (h) Compensation.-- (1) Basic pay.--Each member of the Commission may be compensated at a level not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the Commission. (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.-- Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Commission. SEC. 6. STAFF OF COMMISSION. (a) Director.--The Chairman of the Commission, in consultation with the vice chairman and in accordance with the rules agreed upon by the Commission, may appoint a Director. The Director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. (b) Staff.--The Chairman, in consultation with the vice chairman and in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and general schedules pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. (c) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission is authorized to procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid to a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. (d) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption. (e) Personnel as Federal Employees.--The executive director and any personnel of the Commission who are employees of the Commission shall be treated as employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title. The preceding sentence shall not apply to members of the Commission. SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. (a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission, or on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act-- (1) hold hearings, take testimony, receive evidence, administer oaths; and (2) subject to subsection (b)(1), require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers and documents. (b) Subpoena Power.-- (1) Issuance.-- (A) In general.--A subpoena may be issued under this subsection only-- (i) by the agreement of the chairman and the vice chairman of the Commission; or (ii) by the affirmative vote of 6 members of the Commission. (B) Signature.--Subject to clause (i) of paragraph (1)(A), subpoenas issued under this subsection may be issued under the signature of the chairman or any member designated by a majority of the Commission, and may be served by any person designated by the chairman or by a member designated by a majority of the Commission. (2) Failure to obey a subpoena.-- (A) In general.--In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph (1), the United States district court for the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found, or wherever the subpoena is returnable, may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished as contempt of that court. (B) Additional enforcement.--In the case of a failure of any witness to comply with a subpoena or to testify when summoned under authority of this subsection, the Committee may, by a majority vote, certify a statement of fact constituting such failure to the appropriate United States attorney, who may bring the matter before the grand jury for action, under the same authority and procedures as if the United States attorney had received a certification under section 192 through 194 of title 2 of the Revised Statutes of the United States Code. (3) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts as are made available in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act. (4) Information from federal agencies.--The Commission is authorized to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statics for the purposes of this Act. Each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request of the chairman of the Commission, the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the Commission, or any member designated by a majority of the Commission. SEC. 8. REPORTS. (a) Interim Reports.--The Commission may submit to the President and Congress interim reports containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for enhancements and improvements in benefit levels, medical care, and administration of State workers' compensation systems, for improvements in insurance practices, and for improvements in dues process and evidentiary hearings and reduction of bad faith and handling of delays, as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members. (b) Final Reports.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a final report containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for enhancements and improvements in benefit levels, medical care, and administration of State workers' compensation systems, for improvements in insurance practices, and for improvements in due process and evidentiary hearings and reduction of bad faith handling and delays, as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members. SEC. 9. TERMINATION. The Commission, and all the authorities of this Act, shall terminate 19 days after the date on which the final report is submitted under section 8(b). SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

National Commission on State Workers' Compensation Laws Act of 2008 - Establishes the National Commission on State Workers' Compensation Laws. Requires the Commission to: (1) review the findings and recommendations of the previous National Commission on State Workmen's Compensation Laws; and (2) study and evaluate state workers' compensation laws to determine their adequacy and whether additional remedies should be available to ensure the payment of benefits and medical care.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Technology for Excellence in Education Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. (a) In General.--The terms used in this Act, unless otherwise specified, shall have the same meaning given to such terms by section 1471 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (b) Additional Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act-- (1) the term ``Director'' means the Director of Educational Technology as established in title I of this Act; and (2) the term ``educational technology'' includes closed circuit television systems, public telecommunications entities, cable television, satellite, copper and fiber optic transmission, computer hardware and software, video and audio laser, and CD ROM disc, video and audio tapes, and other technologies related to educational services. TITLE I--NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY SEC. 101. PURPOSES. The purposes of this title are-- (1) to establish a national agenda for the use of technology in education to assist all students in attaining world-class academic standards as a means to increasing academic achievement and learning and reaching the National Education Goals; (2) to assure that all children in the United States start school ready to learn; (3) to increase the high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent; (4) to provide all students the opportunity to demonstrate competency in challenging subject matter in core areas and ensure that all students learn to use their minds well; (5) to increase the mathematics and science achievement of all students; (6) to provide the opportunity for all adult Americans to achieve literacy; (7) to ensure that every school in the United States is free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning; (8) to coordinate Federal programs--whose support already accounts for 50 percent of all funds used by schools to purchase software, integrated learning systems, and hardware-- that provide for the development, purchase, or use of technology in education, including programs administered by the Department of Education and those administered by other Federal Departments; (9) to develop national standards and guidelines for State and local educational agencies to guide future projects and coordinate existing projects to ensure the compatibility of education-related computer and telecommunications networks on a national level; and (10) to permit funds distributed to the States and localities under existing Federal programs to be used for education-related technology purposes. SEC. 102. DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. The Secretary shall appoint a Director of Educational Technology within the Department of Education. The Director shall be compensated at an annual rate of not less than a level GS-15 employee under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. SEC. 103. DUTIES OF DIRECTOR. (a) Duties.--The duties of the Director of Educational Technology are-- (1) to provide national leadership regarding the use of technology in education at all levels in achieving the National Education Goals, including-- (A) submission of an annual report to Congress regarding education-related technology use and recommendations for the continuation of current and the development of future uses of technology to achieve the National Education Goals; (B) promotion of the use of technology to achieve the National Education Goals in programs that receive Federal assistance, particularly programs under chapters 1 and 2 of title I and title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (C) the development of support programs designed to increase the access of all children, particularly disadvantaged children from rural and urban poverty areas, to high-level learning through the use of quality technologies; and (D) the support of research, development, evaluation, and dissemination of educational technologies; (2) to provide a mechanism for coordinating existing Federal programs across agencies to encourage joint funding, planning, and implementation of projects; (3) to provide a mechanism for the development of standards and guidelines for State and local educational agencies in conjunction with industry to ensure the compatibility of educational computer and telecommunications networks on a national level; and (4) to provide support and training programs to educators in the use of technology to help obtain the National Education Goals. TITLE II--STATE PLANNING GRANTS SEC. 201. PURPOSES. The purposes of this title are-- (1) to ensure that State educational agencies have a clear, long-term strategic plan for incorporating the use of technology in education; and (2) to allow States which have developed a State technology plan to allocate planning funds to local educational agencies to implement strategies developed in such plan. SEC. 202. STATE PLANNING GRANTS. The Secretary of Education is authorized to provide a one-time competitive grant to State educational agencies 50 percent of which shall be allocated in accordance with the relative amount the State received under chapter 1 of title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for the preceding fiscal year and 50 percent of which shall be allocated in accordance with the relative amount the State received under part A of chapter 2 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for the preceding fiscal year. SEC. 203. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. (a) State Plans.--A State educational agency which receives a grant under this title shall not later than 1 year after receipt of funds under this title undertake public hearings and complete a comprehensive State plan which includes-- (1) overall strategic goals for the use of technology in education at all levels within the State; (2) a 5-year standards and assessment process to measure progress toward the goals in paragraph (1); (3) a follow-up 10-year standards and assessment process to measure progress toward the goals in paragraph (1); (4) guidelines for local educational agencies for the incorporation of educational technology into institutions of education at all levels; (5) a plan for the dissemination and sharing of information to local educational agencies about innovative and cost- effective uses of educational technology; (6) a plan for training educational personnel in the use of technology in the classroom; (7) a coordination plan providing mechanisms for the use of educational technology to assist existing and future education reform efforts at both the State and local levels; and (8) a plan to leverage public and private support for the funding and provision of educational technology in a cost- effective manner to institutions of education at all levels. (b) Demonstration Subgrants.--States that have completed the State technology plan under subsection (a) may allocate funds received under this section as competitive subgrants to local educational agencies to implement strategies in such plan following the procedures in title III of this Act. SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and such sums for fiscal years 1995-1999 to carry out the purposes of this title. TITLE III--LOCAL CHALLENGE GRANTS SEC. 301. PURPOSE. The purposes of this title are-- (1) to challenge local communities to incorporate quality, innovative educational technology in their education systems at all levels; and (2) to provide practical models of educational technology as provided for in the goals and guidelines under the State plans required in title II of this Act. SEC. 302. GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES. (a) In General.--(1) The Secretary is authorized to provide grants to State educational agencies for the use by local educational agencies of 3-year competitive demonstration grants to implement State technology plans. (2) Such grants may be awarded only to States which have completed the State technology plan required by title II of this Act. The Secretary may waive this requirement if a State has a plan in place which meets the criteria established in title II of this Act. (3) The State shall give priority consideration to demonstration programs that provide access to quality educational technology to disadvantaged urban and rural areas. (4) The State shall give priority consideration to demonstration programs that may be replicated in other areas throughout the Nation. (b) Dissemination of Model Programs.--The Secretary shall reserve not more than 5 percent of the funds authorized under this title to allow the Director of Educational Technology to disseminate effective models of the use of high-quality educational technology on a national basis. (c) Matching Requirement.--(1) The Federal share under this title may not exceed-- (A) 100 percent of the total cost of a program for the first year for which a State receives funds under this title; (B) 85 percent of the total cost of a program for the second year for which a State receives funds under this title; (C) 60 percent of the total cost of a program for the third year for which a State receives funds under this title; (D) 45 percent of the total cost of a program for the fourth year for which a State receives funds under this title; and (E) 33 percent of the total cost of a program for the fifth and any succeeding year for which a State receives funds under this title. (2) The remaining cost may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, and may be obtained from any source other than funds made available for programs under this title. SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and such sums as may be necessary to carry out the projects under this title for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1999. TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS SEC. 401. PURPOSE. The purpose of this title is to make the acquisition, use, and training of educational technology a permissible activity for existing Federal education programs. SEC. 402. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended-- (1) in section 1011(a)(2)-- (A) by inserting ``, including computers, distance learning equipment, software, and other applications of educational technology related to the instructional program'' after ``instructional materials''; and (B) by inserting ``, including training in the use of educational technologies related to the instructional program'' before ``and, as appropriate''. (2) in section 1054(b), by inserting ``, including the use of educational technology'' after ``instructional programs''; (3) in section 1202(a)(1), by inserting ``which includes educational technology,'' after ``equipment''; (4) in section 1242(a), by inserting ``which includes educational technology,'' after ``equipment''; (5) in section 1531(b)-- (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``computer software and hardware for instructional use'' and inserting ``educational technology related to the improvement of instruction and learning,'' (B) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, including training in the use of educational technology'' after ``training''; (6) in section 2006(b) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following: ``(C) the purchase of, and training in the use of, educational technology related to the instruction of mathematics and science;''; and (7) in section 2015(e)-- (A) in the heading, by striking ``Computers''; and (B) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), by striking ``computers'' each place it appears and inserting ``educational technology''. SEC. 403. INDIAN EDUCATION. The Indian Education Act of 1988 is amended in section 5321(c)(1)(A)(iii) by inserting ``, including educational technology'' after ``equipment''. SEC. 404. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO HEAD START PROGRAMS. (a) Amendments to the Head Start Act.--The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831-9852) is amended-- (1) in section 637 by adding at the end the following: ``(12) The term `educational technology' has the meaning given such term in section 2(b) of the Excellence in Education Act.'', (2) in section 640(a)(2)(C) by inserting ``(including training in the use of educational technology related to educational services)'' after ``training'', (3) in section 641(d)(2) by inserting ``(including educational services that use educational technology)'' after ``services'', and (4) in section 648(d) by inserting ``and educational technology'' after ``electronic media''. (b) Amendment to the Head Start Transition Project Act.--Section 136(a)(3) of the Head Start Transition Project Act (42 U.S.C. 9855d(a)(3)) is amended by inserting ``and the use of educational technology related to educational services'' before the semicolon at the end. SEC. 405. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. Section 235(c)(2) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and educational technology training'' after ``instructional aids''; and (2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, including educational technology training'', after ``inservice training''. SEC. 406. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT. (a) State Plans.--Section 613(a)(3)(B)(iii) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1413(a)(3)(B)(iii)) is amended by striking ``technology.'' and inserting the following: ``technology, including training in the use of educational technology related to the instructional program;''. (b) Grants for Personnel Training.--Section 631(c) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431(c)) is amended by striking ``assistive and instructional technology'' and inserting the following: ``assistive, instructional and other educational technology,''. (c) Financial Assistance.--Section 661(a) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1461(a)) is amended in each of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) by striking ``assistive technology,'' each place such term appears and inserting ``assistive technology, educational technology,''.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Leadership for Educational Technology Title II: State Planning Grants Title III: Local Challenge Grants Title IV: Miscellaneous Programs Technology for Excellence in Education Act - Title I: National Leadership for Educational Technology - Directs the Secretary of Education to appoint a Director of Educational Technology within the Department of Education, with specified duties. Title II: State Planning Grants - Authorizes the Secretary to make one-time competitive grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), according to a specified allotment formula, for: (1) a comprehensive, long-term State educational technology plan; and (2) competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to implement such plan strategies. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Local Challenge Grants - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to SEAs for use by LEAs of three-year competitive demonstration grants to implement State technology plans. Gives priority to demonstration programs that: (1) provide access to quality educational technology to disadvantaged urban and rural areas; and (2) may be replicated in other areas nationwide. Reserves certain funds for the Director to disseminate effective models of the use of high-quality educational technology on a national basis. Sets certain matching funds requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Miscellaneous Programs - Makes acquisition and use of, and training for, educational technology authorized activities for existing Federal education programs, through various amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Indian Education Act of 1988, Head Start Act, Head Start Transition Project Act, Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF STATE OPTION TO EXCLUDE SERVICE OF ELECTION OFFICIALS OR ELECTION WORKERS FROM COVERAGE. (a) Limitation on Mandatory Coverage of State Election Officials and Election Workers Without State Retirement System.-- (1) Amendment to social security act.--Section 210(a)(7)(F)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 410(a)(7)(F)(iv)) (as amended by section 11332(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) is amended by striking ``$100'' and inserting ``$500 with respect to service performed during 1994, and the exempt remuneration amount determined under section 218(c)(8)(B) with respect to service performed thereafter''. (2) Amendment to fica.--Section 3121(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by section 11332(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) is amended by striking ``$100'' and inserting ``$500 with respect to service performed during 1993, and the exempt remuneration amount determined under section 218(c)(8)(B) of the Social Security Act with respect to service performed thereafter''. (b) Conforming Amendments Relating to Medicare Qualified Government Employment.-- (1) Amendment to social security act.--Section 210(p)(2)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 410(p)(2)(E)) is amended by striking ``$100'' and inserting ``$500 with respect to service performed during 1993, and the exempt remuneration amount determined under section 218(c)(8)(B) with respect to service performed thereafter''. (2) Amendment to fica.--Section 3121(u)(2)(B)(ii)(V) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``$100'' and inserting ``$500 with respect to service performed during 1993, and the exempt remuneration amount determined under section 218(c)(8)(B) of the Social Security Act with respect to service performed thereafter''. (c) Authority for States To Modify Coverage Agreements With Respect to Election Officials and Election Workers.--Section 218(c)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 418(c)(8)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``on or after January 1, 1968,'' and inserting ``at any time''; (2) by striking ``$100'' and inserting ``$500 with respect to service performed during 1993, and the exempt remuneration amount determined under subparagraph (B) with respect to service performed thereafter''; and (3) by striking the last sentence and inserting the following new sentence: ``Any modification of an agreement pursuant to this paragraph shall be effective with respect to services performed in and after the calendar year in which the modification is mailed or delivered by other means to the Secretary.''. (d) Indexation of Exempt Remuneration Amount.-- (1) In general.--Section 218(c)(8) of the Social Security Act (as amended by subsection (c)) is further amended-- (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(8)''; and (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: ``(B) The Secretary shall, on or before November 1 of 1993 and of every year thereafter, determine and publish in the Federal Register the exempt remuneration amount which shall be effective with respect to service performed during the following calendar year. ``(C) The exempt remuneration amount determined under subparagraph (B) shall be the larger of-- ``(i) the dollar amount in effect under subparagraph (A) with respect to service performed during the calendar year in which the determination under subparagraph (B) is made, or ``(ii) the product of-- ``(I) $500, and ``(II) the indexing ratio described in subparagraph (D). ``(D) For purposes of subparagraph (C)(ii)(II), the indexing ratio is the ratio of-- ``(i) the deemed average total wages (as defined in section 209(k)(1)) for the calendar year before the calendar year in which the determination under subparagraph (B) is made, to ``(ii) the average of the total wages (as defined in regulations of the Secretary and computed without regard to the limitations specified in section 209(a)(1)) reported to the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate for 1991 (as published in the Federal Register in accordance with section 215(a)(1)(D)), with such product, if not a multiple of $100, being rounded to the next higher multiple of $100 where such product is a multiple of $50 but not of $100 and to the nearest multiple of $100 in any other case.''. (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 209(k)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 409(k)(1)) is amended by inserting ``218(c)(8)(D)(i),'' after ``215(b)(3)(A)(ii),''. (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall apply with respect to service performed on or after January 1, 1993.

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to raise the social security payroll tax exemption for State and local election officials and workers and index the exempt amount beginning in 1993.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be referred to as the ``Plain Regulations Act of 2012''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public by promoting clear regulations that are easier for the Government to implement and for the public to comply with. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' means an Executive agency, as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code. (2) Regulation.--The term ``regulation'' means a rule, as that term is defined in section 551(4) of title 5, United States Code, that is issued by an agency. (3) Plain language.--The term ``plain language'' means language that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES. (a) Preparation for Implementation of Plain Writing Requirements for Regulations.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall-- (A) designate one or more senior officials within the agency to oversee the agency implementation of this Act; (B) communicate the requirements of this Act to the employees of the agency; (C) train employees of the agency to use plain language in developing and implementing regulations; (D) establish a process for overseeing the ongoing compliance of the agency with the requirements of this Act; and (E) designate one or more agency points-of-contact to receive and respond to public input on-- (i) agency implementation of this Act; and (ii) the agency reports required under section 6. (2) Persons designated.--Persons designated under paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(E) may be the same persons designated to carry out similar functions under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-272; 5 U.S.C. 301 note). (b) Requirement To Use Plain Language in New and Revised Regulations.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, each agency shall use plain language in accordance with the guidance issued by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-274; 5 U.S.C. 301 note) in all new and substantially revised proposed and final regulations issued by the agency. (c) Certification of Compliance.--For each proposed or final rule issued by an agency, the head of the agency shall certify to the Director that the agency head has read the proposed or final rule and that the rulemaking documents are in plain language. (d) Exemption From Certain Information Collection Provisions.-- Agency actions to collect information from the public about a regulation are exempt from the information collection provisions of sections 3506(c) and 3507 of title 44, United States Code, if the agency head certifies that the sole reason for the information collection is to improve the clarity of the regulation under the requirements of this Act. SEC. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. (a) Guidance.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget should develop and issue guidance on implementing the requirements of this Act. The Director may designate a lead agency, and may use interagency working groups to assist in developing and issuing the guidance. (b) Return of Regulations.--If the Director finds that, with respect to any regulation proposed to be issued by an agency, the agency did not follow the guidance issued by the Director under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-274; 5 U.S.C. 301 note), the Director shall return the regulation to the agency to be redrafted in plain language and resubmitted to the Director for approval. (c) Publication of Certifications.--The Director shall publish the certifications from agency heads required under section 4(c) on the official Web site of the Office of Management and Budget. SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. (a) Initial Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall publish on the plain writing section of the agency's Web site created under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-274; 5 U.S.C. 301 note) a report that describes the agency plan for compliance with the requirements of this Act. (b) Annual Compliance Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of each agency shall publish on such plain writing section of the agency's Web site a report on agency compliance with the requirements of this Act. SEC. 7. JUDICIAL REVIEW AND ENFORCEABILITY. (a) Judicial Review.--There may be no judicial review of compliance or noncompliance with any provision of this Act. (b) Enforceability.--No provision of this Act may be construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any administrative or judicial action.

Plain Regulations Act of 2012 - Requires the head of each executive agency to: (1) implement a program for using plain language in writing new and revised regulations, and (2) certify to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that each proposed or final rule is in plain language. Requires the Director to: (1) develop and issue guidance to agencies for implementing plain language requirements, (2) publish reports on agency compliance with such requirements on the OMB's website, and (3) return proposed agency regulations that fail to meet such requirements to be redrafted and resubmitted for approval.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Today's Entrepreneurs are America's Mentors Act'' or the ``TEAM Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act-- (1) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively; and (2) the term ``small business concern'' has the meaning given that term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). SEC. 3. OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION. (a) In General.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended-- (1) by redesignating section 45 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) as section 47; and (2) by inserting after section 44 (15 U.S.C. 657q) the following: ``SEC. 45. ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION. ``(a) Office of Entrepreneurial Education.-- ``(1) In general.--There is in the Administration an Office of Entrepreneurial Education, which shall develop and provide innovative entrepreneurial information, education, and resources, to promote prospective entrepreneurs and successful small business concerns. ``(2) Director.--The head of the Office of Entrepreneurial Education is the Director of the Office of Entrepreneurial Education, who shall report to the Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development. ``(3) Duties.--The Director of the Office of Entrepreneurial Education shall-- ``(A) manage the online courses, online publications, and other online resources provided by the Administration to entrepreneurs and small business concerns; ``(B) manage the youth entrepreneurship programs of the Administration, including-- ``(i) online resources for youth entrepreneurs; and ``(ii) coordination and outreach with entrepreneurial development service providers that provide counseling and training to youth entrepreneurs desiring to start or expand small business concerns; ``(C) coordinate with nonprofit and other private sector partners to share educational materials on money management and financial literacy for entrepreneurs and small business concerns; and ``(D) provide assistance and courtesy services to individuals and foreign dignitaries visiting the United States who are interested in issues relating to entrepreneurs and small business concerns. ``(b) National Primary and Secondary School Entrepreneurial Education Program.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Today's Entrepreneurs are America's Mentors Act, the Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development (referred to in this subsection as the `Associate Administrator') shall establish a program under which the Associate Administrator may make grants to nonprofit organizations, including small business development centers, women's business centers, chapters of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and other resource partners of the Administration, to provide technical assistance to primary and secondary schools for the development and implementation of curricula and mentoring programs designed to promote entrepreneurship. ``(2) Application.--A nonprofit organization desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Associate Administrator an application that contains-- ``(A) a description of the goals of the project to be funded using the grant; ``(B) a list of any partners that plan to participate in the project to be funded using the grant; and ``(C) any other information that the Associate Administrator determines is necessary. ``(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which a nonprofit organization receives a grant under this subsection, the nonprofit organization shall submit to the Associate Administrator a report that describes-- ``(A) the individuals assisted using the grant; ``(B) the number of jobs created or saved through the use of the grant; and ``(C) any other information concerning the use of the grant that the Associate Administrator may require. ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015.''. (b) Report on Best Practices of Entrepreneurial Education and Training Programs.-- (1) Report required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Entrepreneurial Education shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report that describes best practices of entrepreneurial education and training programs throughout the United States. (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include-- (A) a description of any programs that the Director of the Office of Entrepreneurial Education determines are exemplary, including national programs, regional programs, State programs, and local programs; and (B) a summary of entrepreneurial education and training programs carried out by-- (i) the Federal Government; (ii) State and local governments; and (iii) nonprofit organizations and private sector groups. SEC. 4. UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(o) University and College Entrepreneurial Education Program.-- ``(1) In general.--A small business development center may apply for a grant under this subsection to carry out a university and college entrepreneurial education program. ``(2) Elements of program.--A program carried out using a grant under this subsection may include-- ``(A) connecting university and college students with small business concerns that are clients of a small business development center; ``(B) providing assistance to faculty members of universities and colleges with respect to entrepreneurial education programs for students of the universities and colleges; and ``(C) improving university and college business curricula or developing university and college curricula concerning entrepreneurial education. ``(3) Funding.--The Administration may make grants under this subsection subject to amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts.''. SEC. 5. ENTREPRENEURIAL INNOVATORS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 45, as added by this Act, the following: ``SEC. 46. ENTREPRENEURIAL INNOVATORS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. ``(a) Definitions.--In this section-- ``(1) the term `Associate Administrator' means the Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development; and ``(2) the term `eligible entity'-- ``(A) means a nonprofit organization; and ``(B) includes a small business development center, a women's business center, a chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or any other nonprofit resource partner of the Administration. ``(b) Program Established.--The Associate Administrator shall establish an entrepreneurial innovators partnership program under which the Associate Administrator shall make grants to eligible entities to carry out innovative programs that expand entrepreneurship, improve partnerships between nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs, and promote job creation by small business concerns. ``(c) Program Activities.--A grant under this section may be used to develop or expand-- ``(1) a program that promotes entrepreneurship among youth or veterans; ``(2) a program under which students pursing a Masters of Business Administration degree provide free technical assistance, counseling, or other assistance to small business concerns; ``(3) a program that provides entrepreneurial education to professional services providers, including attorneys and accountants; or ``(4) any other program that the Associate Administrator determines is appropriate. ``(d) Terms and Conditions.-- ``(1) Amount.--The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $250,000. ``(2) Federal share.-- ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under this section may not exceed 50 percent. ``(B) Exception.--The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under this section may exceed 50 percent if the Associate Administrator determines that the project would-- ``(i) assist a program to become self- sustaining; or ``(ii) create not fewer than 100 new jobs. ``(e) Applications.-- ``(1) Submission.--An eligible entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Associate Administrator at such time and in such form as the Associate Administrator shall determine. ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants the Associate Administrator shall give priority to an application that-- ``(A) includes a proposal for an innovative or novel approach to entrepreneurial education; ``(B) is made by an eligible entity with demonstrated success in-- ``(i) creating jobs; ``(ii) increasing the size of small business concerns; or ``(iii) working with small business concerns; or ``(C) includes a proposal for a program to be carried out through a partnership between nonprofit organizations, resource partners of the Administration, and educational institutions. ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015.''. SEC. 6. REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETITIONS. (a) In General.--The Administrator, acting through the Associate Administrator for Field Operations, shall establish a program to host regional competitions and a national conference to address regional challenges through entrepreneurial research and business planning. (b) Program Requirements.-- (1) Regional offices.--The regional administrator of each regional office of the Administration shall-- (A) identify a prominent public-private issue that challenges a broad range of individuals in the region; (B) sponsor a single regional competition among local small business concerns, inventors, and entrepreneurs under which persons or groups of persons submit research and business plans to address the issue identified under subparagraph (A); (C) provide outreach to universities, colleges, business communities, industry leaders and organizations, and nonprofit organizations to promote the competition and to request proposals for research and business plans; (D) in coordination with the Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship Education, select the 3 research or business plans that best address the issue identified under subparagraph (A); and (E) submit to the Administrator a report that contains the research or business plans selected under subparagraph (D). (2) Conference.-- (A) In general.--The Administrator, acting through the Associate Administrator for Field Operations, shall organize a single national conference for the presentation of the research and business plans selected under paragraph (1)(D) by the regional administrators. (B) Panel.-- (i) In general.--The Administrator shall designate 11 employees of the Administration to serve on a panel that shall select, from among the research and business plans presented at the conference, 1 plan from each region that best addresses the issue identified under paragraph (1)(A) for that region. (ii) Members.--The Administrator shall designate as a member of the panel under clause (i)-- (I) 1 employee of the principal office of the Administration; and (II) 1 employee from each of the regional offices of the Administration. (3) Grant.-- (A) In general.--The Administrator shall award a grant of $50,000 to each person or group of persons who submitted a plan selected under paragraph (2)(B). (B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Administrator awards a grant under subparagraph (A), the recipient of the grant shall submit to the Administrator a report on the use of the grant. (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $750,000 to carry out this section. SEC. 7. STUDY ON ENTREPRENEURIAL DEFERMENT OF STUDENT LOANS. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall submit to Congress a report that includes detailed recommendations for legislation establishing a program-- (1) to forgive student loans in a manner that assists youth entrepreneurship by making available capital for business formation; and (2) to defer student loan repayments in a manner that assists youth entrepreneurship by making available capital for business formation.

Today's Entrepreneurs are America's Mentors Act or TEAM Act - Amends the Small Business Act to establish in the Small Business Administration (SBA) an Office of Entrepreneurial Education, headed by a Director, to develop and provide innovative entrepreneurial information, education, and resources to promote prospective entrepreneurs and successful small businesses. Directs the SBA's Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development to establish a program of grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance to primary and secondary schools for the development and implementation of curricula and mentoring programs designed to promote entrepreneurship. Requires the Director to submit to the congressional small business committees best practices of U.S. entrepreneurial education and training programs. Authorizes a small business development center to apply for an SBA grant to carry out a university and college entrepreneurial education program. Directs the SBA's Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development to establish an entrepreneurial innovators partnership program of grants to nonprofit organizations and specified SBA entities to carry out innovative programs that expand entrepreneurship, improve partnerships between nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs, and promote job creation by small businesses. Directs the Administrator to establish a program to host regional competitions and a national conference to address regional challenges through entrepreneurial research and business planning. Requires the Administrator to recommend to Congress legislation for establishing programs to forgive or defer student loan payments in order to assist youth entrepreneurship by making capital available for business formation.

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Condense the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Firefighters Pay Fairness Act of 1995''. SEC. 2. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to improve pay equality between Federal firefighters, other Federal employees, and municipal and other public sector firefighters; (2) to enhance recruitment and retention of firefighters in order to maintain the highest quality Federal fire service; and (3) to encourage Federal firefighters to pursue career advancement and training opportunities. SEC. 3. COMPUTATION OF PAY. (a) Computation of Pay.-- (1) In general.--Section 5504 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d) and by inserting after subsection (b) the following: ``(c)(1) When, in the case of a firefighter, it is necessary for computation of pay under this subsection to convert an annual rate of basic pay to a basic hourly, daily, or biweekly rate, the rules set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (D) shall govern: ``(A) To derive an hourly rate, divide the annual rate by 2,087. ``(B) To derive a daily rate, multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours in the regularly scheduled daily tour of duty. ``(C) To derive a biweekly rate, multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours in the regularly scheduled biweekly tour of duty or 106, whichever is less. ``(D) The annual rate of basic pay used in carrying out the preceding provisions of this paragraph-- ``(i) shall be the annual rate determined in accordance with otherwise applicable provisions of law (applied as if the Firefighters Pay Fairness Act of 1995 had never been enacted); and ``(ii) shall not exclude any amount considered to be part of basic pay for any purpose under chapter 83 or 84. ``(E) To derive an annual rate for any purpose referred to in the next sentence, multiply the biweekly rate by 26. An annual rate determined under this subparagraph shall for all purposes (except the preceding provisions of this paragraph or as otherwise expressly provided by law), be considered to be the annual rate of basic pay for the firefighter involved. ``(F) Except as provided in section 5542(e), the provisions of sections 5542(a), 5545, 5546, and 5547 shall not apply in the case of a firefighter, and pay computed under this paragraph shall be in lieu of-- ``(i) any amount which might otherwise be payable under any of those provisions; ``(ii) any amount required to be taken into account under subparagraph (D); and ``(iii) any other similar amount, as identified by the Office of Personnel Management in regulations. ``(G) For provisions relating to computation of overtime, see section 5542(e). ``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of an employee who is not a firefighter (nor an employee described in subsection (d)(4)), but whose position requires such employee to perform firefighting duties, the pay of such employee for any biweekly pay period during which such employee is required to perform firefighting duties shall be determined-- ``(A) in accordance with otherwise applicable provisions of law, but disregarding paragraph (1), or ``(B) in accordance with paragraph (1) (including the provisions referred to in paragraph (1)(G)), whichever results in the greater total amount. ``(3) Rates under this subsection are computed to the nearest cent, counting one-half and over as a whole cent.''. (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 5504(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking ``in the case of an employee,'' and inserting ``in the case of an employee (other than a firefighter),''. (b) Definitions.-- (1) In general.--Section 5504 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by redesignating subsection (d) (as so designated by subsection (a)(1)) as subsection (e) and by inserting before such subsection the following: ``(d) For the purpose of this section-- ``(1) the term `employee' means-- ``(A) an employee in or under an Executive agency; ``(B) an employee in or under the judicial branch; and ``(C) an employee in or under the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Botanic Garden, and the Library of Congress, for whom a basic administrative workweek is established under section 6101(a)(5); but does not include an employee or individual excluded from the definition of employee in section 5541(2) other than an employee or individual excluded by section 5541(2)(xvi); ``(2) the term `firefighter' means an employee who is a firefighter within the meaning of section 8331(21) or 8401(14), but does not include an employee described in paragraph (4); ``(3) the term `firefighting duties' means duties usually performed by a firefighter in responding to or engaging in the control and extinguishment or the prevention of a fire; and ``(4) this paragraph relates to any employee who-- ``(A) would satisfy the definition of a firefighter under paragraph (2), but for the exclusion thereunder; and ``(B) has a basic administrative workweek of not more than 40 hours.''. (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 5504 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the last sentence in each of subsections (a) and (b) thereof. SEC. 4. OVERTIME. Section 5542 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(e)(1) For the purpose of this subsection, the term `firefighter' has the meaning given such term by section 5504(d)(2). ``(2) In the case of a firefighter, for full-time, part-time, and intermittent tours of duty, hours of work officially ordered or approved in excess of 106 hours in a biweekly pay period performed by such firefighter are overtime work and shall be paid for in accordance with subsections (a) (disregarding the matter in subsection (a) before paragraph (1) thereof). ``(3) For purposes of applying the provisions of section 7(k) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 with respect to a firefighter, no violation referred to in such provisions shall be considered to have occurred if the requirements of paragraph (2) are met.''. SEC. 5. MINIMUM PAY RATE UPON PROMOTION TO A SUPERVISORY POSITION; PAY RETENTION. (a) Minimum Pay Rate Upon Promotion to a Supervisory Position.-- Section 5334 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(g)(1) For the purpose of this subsection-- ``(A) the term `firefighter' has the meaning given such term by section 5504(d)(2); and ``(B) the term `required minimum rate', as used with respect to a firefighter who receives a promotion, means-- ``(i) the total amount of basic pay and overtime pay paid or payable to that individual for service performed as a firefighter during the 12-month period ending on the last day of the second month ending before the date of the promotion (expressed as a single annual rate); or ``(ii) in the case of a firefighter whose promotion occurs in the first fiscal year during which this subsection is in effect, the total amount of basic pay and overtime pay (expressed as a single annual rate) which would have been payable to that individual for service performed as a firefighter during the period described in clause (i), computed-- ``(I) as if the amendments made by sections 3 and 4 of the Firefighters Pay Fairness Act of 1995 had been in effect throughout such period; and ``(II) applying section 8(b) of such Act (using the percentage specified in paragraph (2)(A) thereof). ``(2) A firefighter who is promoted to a supervisory position in a higher grade, and in which the individual continues to be a firefighter, is entitled to basic pay at not less than-- ``(A) the lowest rate of the higher grade which is at least equal to such individual's required minimum rate; or ``(B) if there is no rate in the higher grade that satisfies subparagraph (A), a rate equal to such individual's required minimum rate. ``(3) The regulations under section 5338 shall include such provisions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection in the case of a firefighter who, at the time of promotion, is receiving basic pay at a rate saved to such firefighter under subchapter VI.''. (b) Pay Retention.--Section 5363(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (3), by inserting ``or'' after the semicolon in paragraph (4), and by adding after paragraph (4) the following: ``(5) who is subject to a reduction or termination of a rate of pay established under section 5504(c)(1);''. SEC. 6. TRAINING. Section 4109 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d)(1) For the purpose of this subsection, the term `firefighter' means any firefighter within the meaning of section 5504(d)(2) and any employee described in section 5504(d)(4). ``(2) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a firefighter who is selected and assigned for training under this chapter shall be paid, for the period of training, at the rate of basic pay and overtime pay normally paid for the regularly scheduled tour of duty of such firefighter.''. SEC. 7. TECHNICIAN BONUSES. (a) In General.--Chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SUBCHAPTER IV--AWARDS TO FIREFIGHTERS FOR SPECIAL SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS ``Sec. 4531. Definitions ``For the purpose of this subchapter-- ``(1) the term `firefighter' has the meaning given such term by section 4109(d)(1); and ``(2) the term `firefighting duties' has the meaning given such term by section 5504. ``Sec. 4532. Award authority ``(a) An agency may pay a cash award of up to 5 percent of basic pay to a firefighter or other employee who performs firefighting duties, if such employee-- ``(1) is employed in or under such agency; and ``(2) makes substantial use of-- ``(A) a special skill, such as handling hazardous materials; or ``(B) a certification or license relating to any firefighting duties, such as certification as an emergency medical technician. ``(b) Awards under this section shall be paid under regulations prescribed by the head of the agency involved or pursuant to the terms of any collective bargaining agreement which satisfy the requirements of the next sentence. Any such regulations or agreement shall include-- ``(1) procedures under which any such special skills, certification, or licensure shall be ascertained; ``(2) criteria for determining the amount of any award under this subchapter; and ``(3) any other provisions which may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``subchapter iv--awards to firefighters for special skills and certifications ``4531. Definitions. ``4532. Award authority.''. SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE; TRANSITION PROVISIONS; REPORTING REQUIREMENT. (a) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on October 1, 1995, except that subsection (c) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Transition Provisions.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), instead of the amount which (but for this subsection) would otherwise be payable under any amendment made by section 3(a) or 4, the amount payable under such amendment shall be equal to-- (A) the amount which (but for this subsection) would otherwise be so payable, multiplied by (B) the applicable percentage under paragraph (2). (2) Applicable percentages.--The applicable percentage under this paragraph is-- (A) 85 percent if the amount relates to service performed in fiscal year 1996 or 1997; (B) 90 percent if the amount relates to service performed in fiscal year 1998; (C) 95 percent if the amount relates to service performed in fiscal year 1999; and (D) 100 percent if the amount relates to service performed in fiscal year 2000 or thereafter. (3) Computations under former provisions of law not affected.--A computation under subparagraph (A) of section 5504(c)(2) of title 5, United States Code, as amended by section 3(a)(1), shall not be affected by this subsection. (c) Reporting Requirement.--No later than June 1, 1995, the Office of Personnel Management shall submit a written report to the Congress on-- (1) plans relating to implementing the transition provisions of subsection (b); (2) plans relating to funding increases in pay resulting from the enactment of this Act; and (3) the need for and feasibility of making any regulatory or legislative modifications in the administration of chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States Code, in order to ensure that no diminution in retirement benefits occurs, by reason of the transition provisions of subsection (b), with respect to any firefighter who separates from service during fiscal years 1996 through 2002.

Firefighters Pay Fairness Act of 1995 - Amends Federal law to provide that, for Federal fire fighters, the annual rate of basic pay shall be calculated on the basis of 26 administrative biweekly work periods of up to 106 hours each. Prescribes a formula for computing the basic biweekly pay of Federal employees who are not fire fighters but perform fire fighting duties. Extends existing biweekly pay period and pay computation requirements to Federal fire fighters and employees in and under the judicial branch. Removes employees of the District of Columbia government from coverage by such requirements. Repeals the current exception from such requirements for employees on the Isthmus of Panama in the service of the Panama Canal Commission. Requires compensation at time-and-a-half per hour for any hours worked in excess of 106 during a biweekly pay period by fire fighters subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Prescribes basic rates of pay for fire fighters: (1) promoted to a supervisory position; and (2) selected and assigned for training. Adds certain pay retention rights for Federal firefighters subject to a reduction or termination of a rate of pay established under this Act. Authorizes a Federal agency to pay cash awards of up to five percent of basic pay to fire fighters or other employees performing fire fighting duties who make substantial use of: (1) special skills, such as handling hazardous materials; or (2) a certification or license, such as certification as an emergency medical technician. Requires the Office of Personnel Management to report to the Congress with respect to transition and funding increase plans and regulatory or legislative modifications necessary to prevent diminution in retirement benefits under this Act.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Central Contractor Registry Act of 2004''. SEC. 2. CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRY DATABASE. (a) Authority.--Chapter 137 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2302d the following new section: ``Sec. 2302e. Central contractor registry ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense shall maintain a centralized, electronic database for the registration of sources of property and services who seek to participate in contracts and other procurements entered into by the various procurement officials of the United States. The database shall be known as the `Central Contractor Registry'. ``(b) Taxpayer Information.--(1) The Central Contractor Registry shall include the following tax-related information for each source registered in that registry: ``(A) Each of that source's taxpayer identification numbers. ``(B) The source's authorization for the Secretary of Defense to obtain from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue-- ``(i) verification of the validity of each of that source's taxpayer identification numbers; and ``(ii) in the case of any of such source's registered taxpayer identification numbers that is determined invalid, the correct taxpayer identification number (if any). ``(2)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall require each source, as a condition for registration in the Central Contractor Registry, to provide the Secretary with the information and authorization described in paragraph (1). ``(B) The Secretary shall-- ``(i) warn each source seeking to register in the Central Contractor Registry that the source may be subject to backup for a failure to submit each such number to the Secretary; and ``(ii) take the actions necessary to initiate the backup withholding in the case of a registrant who fails to register each taxpayer identification number valid for the registrant and is subject to the backup withholding requirement. ``(3) A source registered in the Central Contractor Registry is not eligible for a contract entered into under this chapter or title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) if that source-- ``(A) has failed to provide the authorization described in paragraph (1)(B); ``(B) has failed to register in that registry all valid taxpayer identification numbers for that source; or ``(C) has registered in that registry an invalid taxpayer identification number and fails to correct that registration. ``(4)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall make arrangements with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for each head of an agency within the Department of Defense to participate in the taxpayer identification number matching program of the Internal Revenue Service. ``(B) The Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall cooperate with the Secretary of Defense to determine the validity of taxpayer identification numbers registered in the Central Contractor Registry. As part of the cooperation, the Commissioner shall promptly respond to a request of the Secretary of Defense or the head of an agency within the Department of Defense for electronic validation of a taxpayer identification number for a registrant by notifying the Secretary or head of an agency, respectively, of-- ``(i) the validity of that number; and ``(ii) in the case of an invalid taxpayer identification number, any correct taxpayer identification number for such registrant that the Commissioner can promptly and reasonably determine. ``(C) The Secretary shall transmit to a registrant a notification of each of the registrant's taxpayer identification numbers, if any, that is determined invalid by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and shall provide the registrant with an opportunity to substitute a valid taxpayer identification number. ``(5) The Secretary of Defense shall require that, at the place in the Central Contractor Registry where the taxpayer identification numbers of a registrant are to be displayed, the display bear (as applicable)-- ``(A) for each taxpayer identification number of that registrant, an indicator of whether such number has been determined valid, is being reviewed for validity, or has been determined invalid; or ``(B) an indicator that no taxpayer identification number is required for the registrant. ``(6) This subsection applies to each source who registers any information regarding that source in the Central Contractor Registry after December 31, 2004, except that paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) do not apply to a source who establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Defense that such source is not required to have a taxpayer identification number. ``(c) Confidentiality of Information.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that taxpayer identification numbers in the Central Contractor Registry are not made available to the public. The Secretary shall prescribe a requirement for procurement officials of the United States having access to such numbers in that registry to maintain the confidentiality of those numbers.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2302d the following new item: ``2302e. Central Contractor Registry.''.

Central Contractor Registry Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to maintain a centralized, electronic database, to be known as the Central Contractor Registry, for the registration of sources of property and services (contractors) who seek to participate in contracts and other procurements entered into by various Federal procurement officials. Requires the Registry to include certain tax-related information for each contractor, including their taxpayer identification numbers and authorization for the Secretary of Defense to obtain verification of such numbers from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. Makes contractors who do not register such information, or who register invalid information, ineligible for contracts entered into under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act''. SEC. 2. GRANTS TO PREPARE GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES. Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``PART E--PREPARING GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ``SEC. 5701. PROGRAM AUTHORITY. ``(a) In General.--From funds provided under section 5702, the Secretary is authorized to provide grants to, and enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, local educational agencies on behalf of elementary and secondary schools to establish and implement a program to encourage the ongoing interest of girls and underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology and to prepare girls and underrepresented minorities to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology. ``(b) Application.-- ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant, or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement, under this part, a local educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. ``(2) Contents.--The application shall contain, at a minimum, the following: ``(A) A program description, including the content of the program and the research and models used to design the program. ``(B) A description of the collaboration between elementary and secondary schools to fulfill goals of the program and how the applicant will ensure that there is a comprehensive plan to improve science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education for girls and underrepresented minorities in grades kindergarten through 12. ``(C) A description of the process for recruitment and selection of participants. ``(D) A description of the planned instructional and motivational activities. ``(E) A description of any collaboration among local, regional, or national institutions and organizations that will occur in order to fulfill the goals of the program. ``(3) Priority.--In selecting among applications, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that partner or coordinate, to the extent possible, with local, regional, or national institutions and organizations who have extensive experience, expertise and research on increasing the participation of girls or underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. ``(c) Use of Funds.--Funds provided under this section shall be used for the following: ``(1) Acquainting and preparing girls and underrepresented minorities with careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, and the advantages of pursuing careers in these areas. ``(2) Educating the parents of girls and underrepresented minorities about the opportunities and advantages of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology careers. ``(3) Enlisting the help of the parents of girls and unrepresented minorities in overcoming the obstacles these groups face and encouraging their child's continued interest and involvement in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ``(4) Providing tutoring and mentoring programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ``(5) Establishing partnerships and other opportunities that expose girls and underrepresented minorities to role models in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering and technology. ``(6) Enabling female and underrepresented minority students and their teachers to attend events and academic programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ``(7) Providing after-school activities designed to encourage interest, and develop skills of girls and underrepresented minorities, in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ``(8) Summer programs designed in order that girls and unrepresented minorities develop an interest in, develop skills in, and understand the relevance and significance of, science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ``(9) Purchasing-- ``(A) educational instructional materials or software designed to encourage interest of girls and underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology; or ``(B) equipment, instrumentation, or hardware used for teaching and to encourage interest of girls and underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ``(10) Field trips to locations, including institutions of higher education, to educate and encourage girls' and underrepresented minorities' interest in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology and acquaint them with careers in these fields. ``(11) Providing academic advice and assistance in high school course selection that encourages girls and underrepresented minorities to take advanced courses in areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. ``(12) Paying up to 50 percent of the cost of an internship in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology for female and underrepresented minority students. ``(13) Providing professional development for teachers and other school personnel, including-- ``(A) how to eliminate gender and racial bias in the classroom; ``(B) how to be sensitive to gender and racial differences; ``(C) how to engage students in the face of gender- based and racial peer pressure and parental expectations; ``(D) how to create and maintain a positive environment; and ``(E) how to encourage girls and underserved minorities through academic advice and assistance to pursue advanced classes and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology fields. ``(d) Supplement, Not Supplant.--The Secretary shall require each local educational agency to use the assistance provided under this section only to supplement, and not to supplant, any other assistance or funds made available from non-Federal sources for the activities assisted under this section. ``(e) Evaluations.--Each local educational agency that receives funds under this section shall provide the Secretary, at the conclusion of every school year during which the funds are received, with an evaluation, in a form prescribed by the Secretary. This evaluation shall include-- ``(1) a description of the programs and activities conducted by the local educational agency using the funds; ``(2) data on curriculum and partnerships developed using the funds; ``(3) data on the amount of time spent on subjects allowed for under the grant; and ``(4) such other information as may be required by the Secretary. ``SEC. 5702. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.

21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to, and enter into agreements with, local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve the education of girls and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and prepare them to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in such fields. Gives priority to LEAs that partner or coordinate with local, regional, or national entities experienced in increasing the participation of girls or underrepresented minorities in STEM. Requires the use of grant funds to: (1) involve the parents of girls and underrepresented minorities in stoking their children's interest in STEM, (2) provide tutoring and mentoring programs in such fields, (3) expose girls and underrepresented minorities to STEM role models, (4) enable such students and their teachers to attend STEM events outside the classroom, (5) provide after-school and summer programs for students in such fields, (6) purchase education materials or equipment to facilitate STEM instruction, (7) provide such students with academic advice and assistance in selecting high school courses, (8) pay up to 50% of the cost of a STEM internship for such students, and (9) train school personnel to facilitate students' progress in such fields.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. LIABILITY OF BUSINESS ENTITIES PROVIDING USE OF FACILITIES TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Business entity.--The term ``business entity'' means a firm, corporation, association, partnership, consortium, joint venture, or other form of enterprise. (2) Facility.--The term ``facility'' means any real property, including any building, improvement, or appurtenance. (3) Gross negligence.--The term ``gross negligence'' means voluntary and conscious conduct by a person with knowledge (at the time of the conduct) that the conduct is likely to be harmful to the health or well-being of another person. (4) Intentional misconduct.--The term ``intentional misconduct'' means conduct by a person with knowledge (at the time of the conduct) that the conduct is harmful to the health or well-being of another person. (5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit organization'' means-- (A) any organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code; or (B) any not-for-profit organization organized and conducted for public benefit and operated primarily for charitable, civic, educational, religious, welfare, or health purposes. (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, any other territory or possession of the United States, or any political subdivision of any such State, territory, or possession. (b) Limitation on Liability.-- (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c), a business entity shall not be subject to civil liability relating to any injury or death occurring at a facility of the business entity in connection with a use of such facility by a nonprofit organization if-- (A) the use occurs outside of the scope of business of the business entity; (B) such injury or death occurs during a period that such facility is used by the nonprofit organization; and (C) the business entity authorized the use of such facility by the nonprofit organization. (2) Application.--This subsection shall apply-- (A) with respect to civil liability under Federal and State law; and (B) regardless of whether a nonprofit organization pays for the use of a facility. (c) Exception for Liability.--Subsection (b) shall not apply to an injury or death that results from an act or omission of a business entity that constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct, including any misconduct that-- (1) constitutes a crime of violence (as that term is defined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code) or act of international terrorism (as that term is defined in section 2331 of title 18) for which the defendant has been convicted in any court; (2) constitutes a hate crime (as that term is used in the Hate Crime Statistics Act (28 U.S.C. 534 note)); (3) involves a sexual offense, as defined by applicable State law, for which the defendant has been convicted in any court; or (4) involves misconduct for which the defendant has been found to have violated a Federal or State civil rights law. (d) Superseding Provision.-- (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection (e), this Act preempts the laws of any State to the extent that such laws are inconsistent with this Act, except that this Act shall not preempt any State law that provides additional protection from liability for a business entity for an injury or death with respect to which conditions under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1) apply. (2) Limitation.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede any Federal or State health or safety law. (e) Election of State Regarding Nonapplicability.--This Act shall not apply to any civil action in a State court against a business entity in which all parties are citizens of the State if such State enacts a statute-- (1) citing the authority of this subsection; (2) declaring the election of such State that this Act shall not apply to such civil action in the State; and (3) containing no other provision.

Shields a business entity from civil liability relating to any injury or death occurring at a facility of that entity in connection with a use of such facility by a nonprofit organization if: (1) the use occurs outside the scope of business of the business entity; (2) such injury or death occurs during a period that such facility is used by such organization; and (3) the business entity authorized the use of such facility by the organization. Makes this Act inapplicable to an injury or death that results from an act or omission of a business entity that constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct, including misconduct that: (1) constitutes a hate crime or a crime of violence or act of international terrorism for which the defendant has been convicted in any court; or (2) involves a sexual offense for which the defendant has been convicted in any court or misconduct for which the defendant has been found to have violated a Federal or State civil rights law. Preempts State laws to the extent that such laws are inconsistent with this Act, except State law that provides additional protection from liability. Specifies that this Act shall not be construed to supersede any Federal or State health or safety law. Makes this Act inapplicable to any civil action in a State court against a business entity in which all parties are citizens of the State if such State, citing this Act's authority and containing no other provision, enacts a statute declaring the State's election that this Act shall not apply to such action in the State.

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Provide a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Ethical Stem Cell Research Tax Credit Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. CREDIT FOR ETHICAL STEM CELL RESEARCH. (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 (relating to business related credits) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``SEC. 45O. ETHICAL STEM CELL RESEARCH. ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of an eligible taxpayer, the ethical stem cell research credit determined under this section for the taxable year shall be an amount equal to 30 percent of the qualified stem cell research expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year. ``(b) Eligible Taxpayer.--For purposes of this section, the term `eligible taxpayer' means any taxpayer that elects the application of this section for the taxable year. ``(c) Qualified Stem Cell Research Expenses.--For purposes of this section-- ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified stem cell research expenses' means expenses which are paid or incurred by the eligible taxpayer during the taxable year in carrying on basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, testing, and human clinical use of stem cells that may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, no part of which may involve-- ``(A) the creation of a human embryo for research purposes, ``(B) the destruction of or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a human embryo, or ``(C) the use of any stem cell, the derivation or provision of which would be inconsistent with subparagraph (A) or (B). ``(2) Human embryo.--The term `human embryo' means any organism not protected as a human subject under part 46 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section) that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells. ``(3) Risk of injury.--The term `risk of injury' means subjecting a human embryo to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on a fetus in utero under section 498(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289g(b)) (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section) and section 46.204(b) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (as so in effect). ``(d) Treatment of Qualified Stem Cell Research Expenses.-- ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any qualified stem cell research expenses for a taxable year to which an election under this section applies shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining the credit allowable under section 41 for such taxable year. ``(2) Treated as base period research expenses.--Any qualified stem cell research expenses for any taxable year which are qualified research expenses (within the meaning of section 41(b)) shall be taken into account in determining base period research expenses for purposes of applying section 41 to subsequent taxable years. ``(e) Special Rules.-- ``(1) Limitation.--No credit shall be allowed under this section with respect to any stem cell research conducted by a corporation to which an election under section 936 applies. ``(2) Aggregation of expenditures and allocations of credit.--Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 41(f) and section 41(g) shall apply for purposes of this section.''. (b) Credit Allowed as Part of General Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (30), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (31) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(32) the ethical stem cell research credit determined under section 45O(a).''. (c) Denial of Double Benefit.--Section 280C of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(f) Ethical Stem Cell Research Credit.-- ``(1) In general.--No deduction shall be allowed for that portion of the qualified stem cell research expenses (as defined in section 45O(c)(1)) otherwise allowable as a deduction for the taxable year which is equal to the amount of the credit determined for such taxable year under section 45O(a). ``(2) Similar rule where taxpayer capitalizes rather than deducts expenses.--If-- ``(A) the amount of the credit determined for the taxable year under section 45O(a), exceeds ``(B) the amount allowable as a deduction for such taxable year for qualified stem cell research expenses (determined without regard to paragraph (1)), the amount chargeable to capital account for the taxable year for such expenses shall be reduced by the amount of such excess. ``(3) Controlled groups.--Paragraph (3) of subsection (b) shall apply for purposes of this subsection.''. (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item: ``Sec. 45O. Ethical stem cell research.''. (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Ethical Stem Cell Research Tax Credit Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 30% of qualified stem cell research expenses paid or incurred in a taxable year. Defines "qualified stem cell research expenses" as expenses for carrying out basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, testing, and human clinical use of stem cells that may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions. Prohibits a tax credit for any research expenses that may involve: (1) the creation of a human embryo for research purposes; (2) the destruction of or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a human embryo; or (3) the use of any stem cell for prohibited purposes.

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Create a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments Act of 2012'' or the ``PACT Act''. SEC. 2. SALES OF OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS CONTAINING DEXTROMETHORPHAN. (a) Prohibited Act.--Section 301 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 331) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(aaa)(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (2), the sale or offering for sale of a drug containing dextromethorphan to an individual under 18 years of age, including any such sale using the Internet, provided the drug is not subject to section 503(b)(1). ``(B) If a person fails to request identification from an individual under 18 years of age and sells a product containing dextromethorphan to that individual, that person shall be deemed to have known that the individual was under 18 years of age. ``(C) It shall be an affirmative defense to an alleged violation of clause (A) that the person selling a product containing dextromethorphan examined the purchaser's identification card and, based on that examination, that person reasonably concluded that the identification was valid and indicated that the purchaser was not less than 18 years of age. ``(2)(A) This paragraph shall not apply to any sale made pursuant to a validly issued prescription. ``(B) This paragraph shall not apply to the sale or offering for sale of a drug containing dextromethorphan to an individual under 18 years of age if such individual supplies proof at the time of such sale that such individual-- ``(i) is married; ``(ii) is the parent of a child; or ``(iii) is actively enrolled in the military. ``(3) In this paragraph, the term `identification card' mean an identification card that-- ``(A) includes a photograph and the date of birth of the individual; and ``(B) is issued by a State or the Federal Government or is considered acceptable for purposes of sections 274a.2(b)(1)(v)(A) and 274a.2(b)(1)(v)(B)(1) of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on or after the date of the enactment of the Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments Act of 2012).''. (b) Civil Penalties.--Section 303 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 333) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(h)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person who violates section 301(aaa) shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount-- ``(A) not more than $1,000 for the first such violation by a person; ``(B) not more than $2,000 for the second such violation by a person; and ``(C) not more than $5,000 for the third such violation, or a subsequent such violation, by a person. ``(2) In determining the amount of a civil penalty under this subsection for a person who is a retailer, the Secretary shall consider whether the retailer has taken appropriate steps to prevent subsequent violations, such as-- ``(A) the establishment and administration of a documented employee training program to ensure all employees are familiar with and abiding by the provisions of this section; or ``(B) other actions taken by a retailer to ensure compliance with this section. ``(3) If a person who is a retailer transacts sales of products containing dextromethorphan at more than one physical location, for purposes of determining the number of violations by that person under this subsection, each individual physical location operated by that retailer shall be considered a separate person. ``(4) In this subsection, the term `retailer' means a grocery store, general merchandise store, drug store, pharmacy, convenience store, or other entity or person whose activities as a distributor relating to products containing dextromethorphan are limited almost exclusively to sales for personal use, both in number of sales and volume of sales, either directly to walk-in customers or in face-to- face transactions by direct sales.''. SEC. 3. RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTION OF BULK DEXTROMETHORPHAN. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321 et seq.) is amended-- (1) in section 501, by inserting at the end the following: ``(j) If it is unfinished dextromethorphan and is possessed, received, or distributed in violation of section 506D.''; (2) by inserting after section 506C the following: ``SEC. 506D. RESTRICTIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF BULK DEXTROMETHORPHAN. ``(a) In General.--No person shall-- ``(1) possess or receive unfinished dextromethorphan, unless the person is registered under section 510 or otherwise registered, licensed, or approved pursuant to Federal or State law to engage in the practice of pharmacy, pharmaceutical production, or manufacture or distribution of drug ingredients; or ``(2) distribute unfinished dextromethorphan to any person other than a person registered under section 510 or otherwise registered, licensed, or approved pursuant to Federal or State law to engage in the practice of pharmacy, pharmaceutical production, or manufacture or distribution of drug ingredients. ``(b) Exception for Common Carriers.--This section does not apply to a common carrier that possesses, receives, or distributes unfinished dextromethorphan for purposes of distributing such unfinished dextromethorphan between persons described in subsection (a) as registered, licensed, or approved. ``(c) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) The term `common carrier' means any person that holds itself out to the general public as a provider for hire of the transportation by water, land, or air of merchandise, whether or not the person actually operates the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft by which the transportation is provided, between a port or place and a port or place in the United States. ``(2) The term `unfinished dextromethorphan' means dextromethorphan that is not contained in a drug that is in finished dosage form.''; and (3) by amending section 303, as amended by section 2(b), by adding at the end the following: ``(i) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person who violates section 506D shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100,000.''.

Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments Act of 2012 or the PACT Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale or offering for sale of a drug containing dextromethorphan, and not subject to practitioner supervision requirements, to an individual under age 18, except if the sale is: (1) made pursuant to a validly issued prescription; or (2) to an individual who provides proof of being married, the parent of a child, or actively enrolled in the military. Imposes civil monetary penalties that escalate upon repeated violation. Deems to be adulterated any unfinished dextromethorphan that is possessed, received, or distributed in violation of this Act. Prohibits a person from: (1) possessing or receiving unfinished dextromethorphan unless the person is registered with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a producer of a drug or device or otherwise registered, licensed, or approved pursuant to federal or state law to engage in the practice of pharmacy, pharmaceutical production, or manufacture or distribution of drug ingredients; or (2) distributing unfinished dextromethorphan to any person other than a registered or otherwise authorized person. Excludes from such prohibitions common carriers that possess, receive, or distribute unfinished dextromethorphan for purposes of distributing it between registered, licensed, or approved persons. Imposes additional civil monetary penalties for such possession and distribution violations.

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Provide a condensed version of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Seniors' Investment Security Act of 2008''. SEC. 2. SUSPENSION OF MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS. (a) In General.--In the case of a defined contribution plan-- (1) section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall not apply during the suspension period, (2) in lieu of the calendar year specified in subparagraph (C)(i) of section 401(a)(9) of such Code, the calendar year specified in such subparagraph shall be the later of-- (A) the calendar year described in such subparagraph (C)(i), or (B) calendar year 2011, and (3) after the end of the suspension period, no part of the suspension period shall be taken into account for purposes of applying any time limitation in section 401(a)(9) of such Code. (b) Suspension Period.--For purposes of this section, the term ``suspension period'' means the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2010. (c) Application to Certain Other Plans.--The following sections shall be applied for the suspension period under rules similar to the rules of subsection (a) of this section-- (1) in the case of a defined contribution plan, subsections (a) and (b) of section 403, and section 408 of such Code, and (2) in the case of an eligible deferred compensation plan described in section 457(b) of such Code which is maintained by an eligible employer described in section 457(e)(1)(A) of such Code, section 457 of such Code. (d) Provisions Relating to Plan Amendments.-- (1) In general.--If this section applies to any plan or annuity contract, such plan or contract shall be treated as being operated in accordance with the terms of the plan during the period described in paragraph (2)(B)(i). (2) Amendments to which section applies.-- (A) In general.--This section shall apply to any amendment to any plan or annuity contract which is made-- (i) pursuant to this section or pursuant to any regulation issued by the Secretary of the Treasury to carry out this section, and (ii) on or before the last day of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2010. (B) Conditions.--This section shall not apply to any amendment unless-- (i) during the period-- (I) beginning on the first day of the suspension period, and (II) ending on the date described in subparagraph (A)(ii) (or, if earlier, the date the plan or contract amendment is adopted), the plan or contract is operated as if such plan or contract amendment were in effect, and (ii) such plan or contract amendment applies retroactively for such period. (e) Effective Date.-- (1) In general.--This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Recontribution of distributions before date of enactment.-- (A) In general.--Any individual who receives a payment or distribution during the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act from a plan to which subsection (a) or (c) of this section applies may, before the end of the suspension period, make one or more contributions in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such payments or distributions to an eligible retirement plan of which such individual is a beneficiary and to which a rollover contribution of such distribution could be made under section 402(c), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), or 457(e)(16) of such Code, as the case may be. (B) Treatment of repayments of distributions from eligible retirement plans other than iras.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if a contribution is made pursuant to subparagraph (A) to an eligible retirement plan other than an individual retirement plan, then the taxpayer shall, to the extent of the amount of the contribution, be treated as having received such payments or distributions in an eligible rollover distribution (as defined in section 402(c)(4) of such Code) and as having transferred the amount to the eligible retirement plan in a direct trustee to trustee transfer within 60 days of the distribution. (C) Treatment of repayments for distributions from iras.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if a contribution is made pursuant to subparagraph (A) to an individual retirement plan (as defined by section 7701(a)(37) of such Code), then, to the extent of the amount of the contribution, such payments or distributions shall be treated as a distribution described in section 408(d)(3) of such Code and as having been transferred to the individual retirement plan in a direct trustee to trustee transfer within 60 days of the distribution.

Seniors' Investment Security Act of 2008 - Suspends for calendar 2008-2010 the minimum required distributions from certain individual retirement (IRA) plans.

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Make a brief summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2010''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) North Korean negotiators in the Six-Party diplomatic process did not act in good faith by their refusal to agree to a transparent verification process for denuclearization consistent with ``international standards'', including provisions for nuclear sampling, following North Korea's removal on October 11, 2008, from the list of state sponsors of terrorism maintained by the Department of State. (2) International press reports indicate that North Korea has continued to provide support to Iran in the areas of missile technology and nuclear development and has provided Iran's surrogates, Hezbollah and Hamas, with both missile technology and training in tunneling techniques with which to attack Israel, an ally of the United States. (3) International press reports indicate that North Korea was engaged for a number of years in assistance to Syria in the construction of a nuclear reactor in the Syrian desert which was destroyed in a strike by Israeli forces on September 6, 2007. (4) North Korean negotiators continue to refuse to address in a humane and sincere manner the issue of the abduction of civilians of Japan and the Republic of Korea, both allies of the United States, as well as the abductions of citizens from a number of other countries, including France, Lebanon, Romania, and Thailand. (5) Defectors coming out of North Korea have provided testimony that United States permanent resident, Reverend Kim Dong-shik, the spouse and father of United States citizens, was tortured and murdered inside North Korea after his abduction by Pyongyang's agents on the Chinese border in January 2000 and that his remains are currently being held at a military facility inside North Korea. (6) Congress authoritatively expressed its view, in section 202(b)(2) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-333; 22 U.S.C. 7832(b)(2)) that ``United States nonhumanitarian assistance to North Korea shall be contingent on North Korea's substantial progress'' on human rights improvements, release of and accounting for abductees, family reunification, reform of North Korea's labor camp system, and the decriminalization of political expression, none of which has occurred. (7) Congress further authoritatively expressed its view, in section 2 of the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-346) that ``human rights and humanitarian conditions inside North Korea are deplorable'' and that ``North Korean refugees remain acutely vulnerable''. (8) Congress has determined that any missile test or launch conducted by North Korea would be in direct violation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1695, adopted on July 16, 2006, which ``condemns the multiple launches by the DPRK (North Korea) of ballistic missiles on July 5 2006 local time'', and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, adopted on October 9, 2006, which ``demands that the DPRK (North Korea) not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile'' and ``decides that the DPRK shall suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme and in this context re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching'', and further determines that the resulting sanctions imposed under such resolution 1718 would again come into full effect following a missile test or launch. (9) Congress has further determined that a return by North Korea to the Six-Party diplomatic process following any missile test or launch by Pyongyang must include a firm and transparent commitment to the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of North Korea's nuclear programs, including those derived both from plutonium as well as highly enriched uranium. (10) Japanese press reports have indicated that a delegation of approximately fifteen Iranian missile experts arrived in North Korea in March 2009 ``to help Pyongyang prepare for a rocket launch'', including senior officials with the Iranian rocket and satellite producer Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, and that they brought with them a letter from their President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il stressing the importance of cooperating on space technology. (11) North Korea, in defiance of the international community's efforts to end nuclear proliferation and in violation of its international obligations, conducted a second underground nuclear test on May 25, 2009 (local time), in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, which resulted in the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 on June 12, 2009, which imposed additional sanctions and inspection requirements with regard to North Korea. SEC. 3. CONTINUATION OF RESTRICTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF NORTH KOREA. (a) Finding.--Congress finds that subsequent to the decision of the Secretary of State on October 11, 2008, to rescind the designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, North Korea has committed acts that can be defined as international terrorism or as highly provocative, including-- (1) the dispatch of a covert team of two North Korean military-trained agents to South Korea with orders to assassinate North Korean defector Hwang Jang-yop who were apprehended by South Korean officials in April 2010; (2) complicity in the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan on March 26, 2010, which resulted in the deaths of 46 South Korean naval personnel; and (3) the shipment of weapons by North Korea, seized in Bangkok in December 2009, which were bound for delivery to foreign terrorist organizations Hezbollah and Hamas, according to a statement made by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Tokyo on May 12, 2010. (b) Continuation of Restrictions.--Notwithstanding the decision by the Secretary of State on October 11, 2008, to rescind the designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, and in light of the congressional finding described in subsection (a), restrictions against the Government of North Korea that were imposed by reason of a determination of the Secretary of State that the Government of North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism and that are in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act shall remain in effect, and shall not be lifted, unless the President makes the certification described in subsection (c). (c) Certification.--The certification referred to in subsection (b) is a certification to Congress containing a determination of the President that the Government of North Korea-- (1) is no longer engaged in the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology, particularly to the governments of Iran, Syria, or any other state sponsor of terrorism; (2) is no longer engaged in training in combat operations or tunneling, or harboring, supplying, financing, or supporting in any way-- (A) Hamas, Hezbollah, the Japanese Red Army, or any member of such organizations; (B) any organization designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization in accordance with section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)); and (C) any person included on the annex to Executive Order 13224 (September 21, 2001) and any other person identified under section 1 of that Executive Order whose property and interests are blocked by that section (commonly known as a ``specially designated global terrorist''); (3) is no longer engaged in the counterfeiting of United States currency ``supernotes''; (4) is no longer engaged in the international trafficking of illicit narcotics into the United States, Japan, Australia, or other allied countries of the United States; (5) has returned the last remains of United States permanent resident, Reverend Kim Dong-shik, to his United States citizen widow, family, and church members, so that he may be provided with a proper Christian burial in Chicago; (6) has released the Japanese nationals recognized as abduction victims by the Government of Japan as well as abduction victims recognized by the Government of the Republic of Korea; (7) has released an estimated 600 surviving South Korean POWs, and any other surviving POWs from the Korean War, who have been held in North Korea against their will and in violation of the Armistice Agreement since hostilities ended in July, 1953; (8) has made concrete provisions for unrestricted family reunification meetings for those individuals among the two- million strong Korean-American community who maintain family ties with relatives inside North Korea; (9) has opened the North Korean penal system, including the gulag of concentration camps holding an estimated 200,000 political and religious prisoners, to unrestricted and regular visits by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); (10) has made provision for unrestricted and regular access by representatives of the United National High Commissioner for Refugees to refugees forcibly repatriated to North Korea to determine their general health and welfare; and (11) has made concrete provisions for unrestricted contact, including direct communications and meetings, between representatives of international and South Korean religious organizations, including Christians and Buddhists, and their co-believers inside North Korea. (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in light of the congressional finding described in subsection (a), the Secretary of State should redesignate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism immediately upon the date of the enactment of this Act. (e) State Sponsor of Terrorism Defined.--In this section, the term ``state sponsor of terrorism'' means any country the government of which the Secretary of State determines has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism pursuant to section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (as continued in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act), section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, or any other provision of law. SEC. 4. CONTINUATION OF DIPLOMATIC NONRECOGNITION OF NORTH KOREA. (a) Finding.--Congress finds that the United States did not grant diplomatic recognition to North Korea upon its establishment as a client regime of the former Soviet Union in 1948. The United States has consistently continued to withhold such formal diplomatic recognition during the 60 years since the sudden and unprovoked attack by North Korean forces on the Republic of Korea on June 25, 1950, an attack which led directly to the Korean War and the deaths of over 36,000 United States military personnel as well as at least 2,000,000 Koreans and over 3,000 soldiers from Allied countries. (b) Continuation of Diplomatic Nonrecognition.--The diplomatic nonrecognition described in subsection (a), including restrictions on the establishment of a permanent presence or United States liaison office inside North Korea, shall remain in effect, until such time as the President certifies to Congress that the Government of North Korea has met all of the benchmarks specified in section 3. SEC. 5. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO A NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH OR NUCLEAR TEST. In the case of the launch of a missile, rocket, or other airborne object by North Korea or the conducting of a nuclear test in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874, the President shall instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to secure adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's action as a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874 and requiring the implementation of comprehensive sanctions and an inspection regime against North Korea.

North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2010 - Continues diplomatic, economic, and military sanctions against the government of North Korea as a supporter of international terrorism until the President certifies to Congress that North Korea: (1) is no longer engaged in the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology, particularly to Iran and Syria; (2) is not assisting foreign terrorist organizations, engaged in counterfeiting U.S. currency, or engaged in illicit narcotics traffic; (3) has released specified U.S. citizens, Japanese nationals, and surviving Korean War prisoners of war; and (4) has undertaken specified actions regarding family reunification, penal reforms, refugee access, and religious organization communications. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should redesignate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Finds that the United States did not grant diplomatic recognition to North Korea upon its establishment as a client regime of the former Soviet Union in 1948. Continues diplomatic nonrecognition of North Korea until such benchmarks have been met. Directs the President, in the case of a North Korean missile, rocket, or other airborne launch or the conducting of a nuclear test in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874, to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use U.S. influence to secure adoption of a Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's action and requiring implementation of comprehensive sanctions against North Korea.

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Change the following text into a summary: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Elder Abuse Prevention Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) The number of older Americans who are abused, neglected, or exploited is increasing, and a large percentage of elder abuse cases are not reported to Federal and State law enforcement authorities. (2) The number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to increase exponentially in the coming years, and many of these valued citizens will begin to constitute a vulnerable population at increased risk of abuse and exploitation in domestic and community-based settings. (3) The projected increase in the number of Americans aged 65 and over is expected to result in a corresponding increase in the number of cases of elder abuse, which suggests an urgent need for comprehensive consideration of means by which such abuse can be prevented, reported, and prosecuted by Federal and State authorities. (4) Violent, physical, and sexual assaults upon older Americans are particularly abhorrent and should be prosecuted vigorously by Federal and State law enforcement authorities. Such acts should be deterred by appropriate penalties including enhanced penalties and the elimination of parole for individuals convicted of violent sexual offenses against the elderly. SEC. 3. NO PAROLE FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES COMMITTED AGAINST THE ELDERLY OR FOR SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS. (a) In General.--For each fiscal year after the expiration of the period specified in subsection (b)(1) in which a State receives funds for a program referred to in subsection (b)(2), the State shall have in effect throughout the State laws and policies that prohibit parole for any individual who is-- (1) convicted of a criminal sexual offense against a victim who is elderly, which shall include any such offense under State law for conduct that would constitute an offense under chapter 109A of title 18 had the conduct occurred in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or in a Federal prison; or (2) a sexually violent predator, as such term is defined in section 14071(a)(3) of title 18, United States Code. (b) Compliance and Ineligibility.-- (1) Compliance date.--Each State shall have not more than 3 years from the date of enactment of this Act to comply with subsection (a), except that-- (A) the Attorney General may grant an additional 2 years to a State that is making good faith efforts to comply with such subsection; and (B) the Attorney General shall waive the requirements of subsection (a) if compliance with such subsection by a State would be unconstitutional under the constitution of such State. (2) Ineligibility for funds.--For any fiscal year after the expiration of the period specified in paragraph (1), a State that fails to comply with subsection (a) shall not receive 10 percent of the funds that would otherwise be allocated for that fiscal year to the State under Subpart 1 of Part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.), whether characterized as the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Programs, the Local Government Law Enforcement Block Grants Program, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, or otherwise. (3) Reallocation.--Amounts not allocated under a program referred to in paragraph (2) to a State for failure to fully comply with subsection (a) shall be reallocated under that program to States that have not failed to comply with such subsection. SEC. 4. AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES. (a) Request for Immediate Consideration by the United States Sentencing Commission.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the United States Sentencing Commission is requested to-- (1) promptly review the sentencing guidelines applicable to sexual offenses committed against the elderly; (2) expeditiously consider the promulgation of new sentencing guidelines or amendments to existing sentencing guidelines to provide an enhancement for such offenses; and (3) submit to Congress an explanation of actions taken by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to paragraph (2) and any additional policy recommendations the Sentencing Commission may have for combating offenses described in paragraph (1). (b) Considerations in Review.--In carrying out this section, the Sentencing Commission is requested to-- (1) ensure that the sentencing guidelines and policy statements reflect the serious nature of such offenses and the need for aggressive and appropriate law enforcement action to prevent such offenses; (2) assure reasonable consistency with other relevant directives and with other guidelines; (3) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances that might justify exceptions, including circumstances for which the sentencing guidelines currently provide sentencing enhancements; (4) make any necessary conforming changes to the sentencing guidelines; and (5) assure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes of sentencing as set forth in section 3553 (a)(2) of title 18, United States Code. (c) Emergency Authority and Deadline for Commission Action.--The United States Sentencing Commission is requested to promulgate the guidelines or amendments provided for under this section as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than the 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, in accordance with the procedures sent forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1987, as though the authority under that Act had not expired.

Elder Abuse Prevention Act of 2006 - Requires states to adopt laws and policies that prohibit parole for: (1) any individual who is convicted of a criminal sexual offense against a victim who is elderly; or (2) a sexually violent predator. Requests the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promptly review its guidelines for sexual offenses committed against the elderly and to consider new guidelines for enhanced sentencing for such crimes.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Federal-State agreements. Sec. 3. Temporary extended unemployment compensation account. Sec. 4. Payments to States having agreements for the payment of temporary extended unemployment compensation. Sec. 5. Financing provisions. Sec. 6. Fraud and overpayments. Sec. 7. Definitions. Sec. 8. Applicability. SEC. 2. FEDERAL-STATE AGREEMENTS. (a) In General.--Any State which desires to do so may enter into and participate in an agreement under this Act with the Secretary of Labor (in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary''). Any State which is a party to an agreement under this Act may, upon providing 30 days written notice to the Secretary, terminate such agreement. (b) Provisions of Agreement.--Any agreement under subsection (a) shall provide that the State agency of the State will make payments of temporary extended unemployment compensation to individuals who-- (1) have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under the State law or under Federal law with respect to a benefit year (excluding any benefit year that ended before the date that is 1 year prior to the date of enactment of this Act); (2) have no rights to regular compensation or extended compensation with respect to a week under such law or any other State unemployment compensation law or to compensation under any other Federal law; (3) are not receiving compensation with respect to such week under the unemployment compensation law of Canada; and (4) filed an initial claim for regular compensation on or after the date that is 1 year prior to the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Exhaustion of Benefits.--For purposes of subsection (b)(1), an individual shall be deemed to have exhausted such individual's rights to regular compensation under a State law when-- (1) no payments of regular compensation can be made under such law because such individual has received all regular compensation available to such individual based on employment or wages during such individual's base period; or (2) such individual's rights to such compensation have been terminated by reason of the expiration of the benefit year with respect to which such rights existed. (d) Weekly Benefit Amount, etc.--For purposes of any agreement under this Act-- (1) the amount of temporary extended unemployment compensation which shall be payable to any individual for any week of total unemployment shall be equal to the sum of-- (A) the amount of the regular compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable to such individual during such individual's benefit year under the State law for a week of total unemployment; and (B) $50; (2) the terms and conditions of the State law which apply to claims for regular compensation and to the payment thereof shall apply to claims for temporary extended unemployment compensation and the payment thereof, except where otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or with the regulations or operating instructions of the Secretary promulgated to carry out this Act; and (3) the maximum amount of temporary extended unemployment compensation payable to any individual for whom a temporary extended unemployment compensation account is established under section 3 shall not exceed the amount established in such account for such individual. (e) Election by States.--Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law (and if State law permits), the Governor of a State that is in an extended benefit period may provide for the payment of temporary extended unemployment compensation in lieu of extended compensation to individuals who otherwise meet the requirements of this section. Such an election shall not require a State to trigger off an extended benefit period. SEC. 3. TEMPORARY EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION ACCOUNT. (a) In General.--Any agreement under this Act shall provide that the State will establish, for each eligible individual who files an application for temporary extended unemployment compensation, a temporary extended unemployment compensation account with respect to such individual's benefit year. (b) Amount in Account.-- (1) In general.--The amount established in an account under subsection (a) shall be equal to 20 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount (as determined under paragraph (2)) for the benefit year. (2) Weekly benefit amount.--For purposes of paragraph (1) and subsection (c)(1), an individual's weekly benefit amount for any week is equal to the sum of-- (A) the amount of regular compensation (including dependents' allowances) under the State law payable to such individual for such week for total unemployment; and (B) $50. (c) Special Rule.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if, at the time that the individual's account is exhausted, such individual's State is in an extended benefit period (as determined under paragraph (2)), then, such account shall be augmented by an amount equal to 13 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount (as determined under subsection (b)(2)) for the benefit year. (2) Extended benefit period.--For purposes of paragraph (1), a State shall be considered to be in an extended benefit period if, at the time of exhaustion (as described in paragraph (1)) or at any time during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this act and ending at the time of such exhaustion-- (A) such a period is then in effect for such State under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970; or (B) such a period would then be in effect for such State under such Act if-- (i) section 203(f) of such Act was applied to such State (regardless of whether the State by law had provided for such application); and (ii) such section 203(f)-- (I) was applied by substituting ``6.0'' for ``6.5'' in paragraph (1)(A)(i); and (II) did not include the requirement under paragraph (1)(A)(ii). SEC. 4. PAYMENTS TO STATES HAVING AGREEMENTS FOR THE PAYMENT OF TEMPORARY EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION. (a) General Rule.--There shall be paid to each State which has entered into an agreement under this Act an amount equal to 100 percent of the temporary extended unemployment compensation paid to individuals by the State pursuant to such agreement. (b) Treatment of Reimbursable Compensation.--No payment shall be made to any State under this section in respect of any compensation to the extent the State is entitled to reimbursement in respect of such compensation under the provisions of any Federal law other than this Act or chapter 85 of title 5, United States Code. A State shall not be entitled to any reimbursement under such chapter 85 in respect of any compensation to the extent the State is entitled to reimbursement under this Act in respect of such compensation. (c) Determination of Amount.--Sums payable to any State by reason of such State having an agreement under this Act shall be payable, either in advance or by way of reimbursement (as may be determined by the Secretary), in such amounts as the Secretary estimates the State will be entitled to receive under this Act for each calendar month, reduced or increased, as the case may be, by any amount by which the Secretary finds that the Secretary's estimates for any prior calendar month were greater or less than the amounts which should have been paid to the State. Such estimates may be made on the basis of such statistical, sampling, or other method as may be agreed upon by the Secretary and the State agency of the State involved. SEC. 5. FINANCING PROVISIONS. (a) In General.--Funds in the extended unemployment compensation account (as established by section 905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1105(a))) of the Unemployment Trust Fund (as established by section 904(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1104(a))) shall be used for the making of payments to States having agreements entered into under this Act. (b) Certification.--The Secretary shall from time to time certify to the Secretary of the Treasury for payment to each State the sums payable to such State under this Act. The Secretary of the Treasury, prior to audit or settlement by the Government Accountability Office, shall make payments to the State in accordance with such certification, by transfers from the extended unemployment compensation account (as so established) to the account of such State in the Unemployment Trust Fund (as so established). (c) Assistance to States.--There are appropriated out of the employment security administration account (as established by section 901(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1101(a))) of the Unemployment Trust Fund, without fiscal year limitation, such funds as may be necessary for purposes of assisting States (as provided in title III of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 501 et seq.)) in meeting the costs of administration of agreements under this Act. (d) Appropriations for Certain Payments.--There are appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury, without fiscal year limitation, to the extended unemployment compensation account (as so established) of the Unemployment Trust Fund (as so established) such sums as the Secretary estimates to be necessary to make the payments under this section in respect of-- (1) compensation payable under chapter 85 of title 5, United States Code; and (2) compensation payable on the basis of services to which section 3309(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 applies. Amounts appropriated pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not be required to be repaid. SEC. 6. FRAUD AND OVERPAYMENTS. (a) In General.--If an individual knowingly has made, or caused to be made by another, a false statement or representation of a material fact, or knowingly has failed, or caused another to fail, to disclose a material fact, and as a result of such false statement or representation or of such nondisclosure such individual has received an amount of temporary extended unemployment compensation under this Act to which the individual was not entitled, such individual-- (1) shall be ineligible for further temporary extended unemployment compensation under this Act in accordance with the provisions of the applicable State unemployment compensation law relating to fraud in connection with a claim for unemployment compensation; and (2) shall be subject to prosecution under section 1001 of title 18, United States Code. (b) Repayment.--In the case of individuals who have received amounts of temporary extended unemployment compensation under this Act to which they were not entitled, the State shall require such individuals to repay the amounts of such temporary extended unemployment compensation to the State agency, except that the State agency may waive such repayment if it determines that-- (1) the payment of such temporary extended unemployment compensation was without fault on the part of any such individual; and (2) such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience. (c) Recovery by State Agency.-- (1) In general.--The State agency may recover the amount to be repaid, or any part thereof, by deductions from any temporary extended unemployment compensation payable to such individual under this Act or from any unemployment compensation payable to such individual under any Federal unemployment compensation law administered by the State agency or under any other Federal law administered by the State agency which provides for the payment of any assistance or allowance with respect to any week of unemployment, during the 3-year period after the date such individuals received the payment of the temporary extended unemployment compensation to which they were not entitled, except that no single deduction may exceed 50 percent of the weekly benefit amount from which such deduction is made. (2) Opportunity for hearing.--No repayment shall be required, and no deduction shall be made, until a determination has been made, notice thereof and an opportunity for a fair hearing has been given to the individual, and the determination has become final. (d) Review.--Any determination by a State agency under this section shall be subject to review in the same manner and to the same extent as determinations under the State unemployment compensation law, and only in that manner and to that extent. SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. In this Act, the terms ``compensation'', ``regular compensation'', ``extended compensation'', ``benefit year'', ``base period'', ``State'', ``State agency'', ``State law'', and ``week'' have the respective meanings given such terms under section 205 of the Federal- State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note). SEC. 8. APPLICABILITY. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), an agreement entered into under this Act shall apply to weeks of unemployment-- (1) beginning after the date on which such agreement is entered into; and (2) ending on or before the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Transition for Amount Remaining in Account.-- (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), in the case of an individual who has amounts remaining in an account established under section 3 as of the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, temporary extended unemployment compensation shall continue to be payable to such individual from such amounts for any week beginning after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act for which the individual meets the eligibility requirements of this Act. (2) No augmentation after 1 year after the date of enactment of this act.--If the account of an individual is exhausted after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, then section 3(c) shall not apply and such account shall not be augmented under such section, regardless of whether such individual's State is in an extended benefit period (as determined under paragraph (2) of such section). (3) Limitation.--No compensation shall be payable by reason of paragraph (1) for any week beginning after the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 - Provides for federal-state agreements under which a state will make temporary extended unemployment compensation payments to individuals who: (1) have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under state or federal law with respect to a benefit year (excluding any benefit year that ended before one year before the enactment of this Act); (2) have no rights to regular compensation or extended compensation with respect to a week under such law or any other state or federal unemployment compensation law; (3) are not receiving compensation for such week under the unemployment compensation law of Canada; and (4) filed an initial claim for regular compensation on or after one year before the enactment of this Act. Requires federal payments to states to cover 100% of such temporary extended unemployment compensation payments. Provides for handling of fraud and overpayments of unemployment compensation.

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Make a summary of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Clean technology.--The term ``clean technology'' means a technology, production process, or methodology that-- (A) produces energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, ocean, or another renewable energy source (as defined in section 609 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 918c)); (B) more efficiently transmits, distributes, or stores energy; (C) enhances energy efficiency for buildings and industry, including combined heat and power; (D) enables the development of a Smart Grid (as described in section 1301 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17381)), including integration of renewable energy sources and distributed generation, demand response, demand side management, and systems analysis; (E) produces an advanced or sustainable material with energy or energy efficiency applications; (F) improves energy efficiency for transportation, including electric vehicles; (G) enhances water security through improved water management, conservation, distribution, or end use applications; or (H) addresses challenges in advanced manufacturing and supply chain integration related to a technology, production process, or methodology described in subparagraphs (A) through (G). (2) Advanced manufacturing.--The term ``advanced manufacturing''-- (A) means a family of activities that-- (i) depend on the use and coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking; or (ii) make use of cutting edge materials and emerging capabilities enabled by the physical or biological sciences, including nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology; and (B) includes both new ways to manufacture existing products and the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced technologies. (3) Cluster.--The term ``cluster'' means a network of entities directly involved in the research, development, finance, and commercial application of clean technologies and advanced manufacturing whose geographic proximity facilitates the use and sharing of skilled human resources, infrastructure, research facilities, educational and training institutions, venture capital, and input suppliers. (4) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means a clean technology consortium established in accordance with this Act. (5) Project.--The term ``project'' means an activity with respect to which a consortium provides support under this Act. (6) Qualifying entity.--The term ``qualifying entity'' means-- (A) a research university; (B) a Federal or State institution with a focus on developing clean technologies or clusters; or (C) a nongovernmental organization with expertise in translational research, clean technology, or cluster development. (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce. (8) Translational research.--The term ``translational research'' means the coordination of basic or applied research with technical applications to enable promising discoveries or inventions to achieve commercial application. SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIA PROGRAM. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program to establish clean technology consortia to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean, state-of-the-art technologies. (b) Program.--The Secretary shall carry out the program established under subsection (a) by leveraging the expertise and resources of private research communities, institutions of higher education, industry, venture capital, National Laboratories (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), and other participants in technology innovation-- (1) to support collaborative, cross-disciplinary research and development in clean technologies and advanced manufacturing; and (2) to develop and accelerate the commercial application of innovative clean technologies. (c) Role of the Secretary.--The Secretary shall-- (1) carry out and oversee all aspects of the program established under subsection (a); (2) select recipients of grants for the establishment and operation of consortia through a competitive selection process; and (3) coordinate the innovation activities of consortia with activities carried out by the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, other Federal agency heads, industry, and institutions of higher education, including by annually-- (A) issuing guidance regarding national clean technology development priorities and strategic objectives; and (B) convening a conference relating to clean technology, which shall bring together representatives of Federal agencies, industry, institutions of higher education, and other entities to share research and commercialization results, program plans, and opportunities for collaboration. (d) Role of Consortia.--The consortia shall-- (1) promote new innovative clean technologies that have demonstrated interest and potential for commercialization; (2) expand advanced manufacturing capabilities, networks, supply chains, and assets, in the area of clean technologies, that contribute to regional and national manufacturing competitiveness and potential for growth; (3) promote job creation and entrepreneurship through the establishment of new companies, the expansion of existing companies, and commercialization of clean technologies; (4) provide technical or financial assistance to companies looking to invest in clean technologies, new products or services, or enhanced processes that will grow sales and jobs; (5) determine opportunities and challenges that companies are facing and how to improve their use or production of clean technologies; (6) equip individual small- and medium-sized enterprises with the capacity and agility to change through the adoption and utilization of new clean technologies and related business practices; (7) accelerate investment in and deployment of clean technologies through public-private partnerships; (8) encourage partnering between and among emerging and established clean technology and advanced manufacturing enterprises; and (9) demonstrate a comprehensive and successful model for commercialization of clean technologies for promotion and emulation. SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS. (a) In General.--To receive a grant under this Act, a consortium shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be necessary. (b) Eligibility.--A consortium shall be eligible to receive a grant under this Act if-- (1) the consortium consists of-- (A) 1 or more research universities that can demonstrate a significant annual clean technology research budget, entrepreneurial support programs, and technology licensing expertise; and (B) a total of 5 or more qualifying entities that can demonstrate expertise in translational research, clean technology, and cluster development; (2) the members of the consortium have established a binding agreement that documents-- (A) the structure of the partnership agreement; (B) a governance and management structure that enables cost-effective implementation of the program; (C) a conflicts-of-interest policy, including procedures, consistent with those of the Department of Commerce, to ensure that employees and designees for consortium activities who are in decisionmaking capacities disclose all material conflicts of interest, including financial, organizational, and personal conflicts of interest; (D) an accounting structure that meets the requirements of the Secretary and that may be audited under this Act; and (E) the existence of an external advisory committee; (3) the consortium receives funding from non-Federal sources, such as a State and participants of the consortium, that may be used to support projects; (4) the consortium is part of an existing cluster or demonstrates high potential to develop a new cluster; and (5) the consortium operates as a nonprofit organization or as a public-private partnership under an operating agreement led by a nonprofit organization. (c) Disqualification.--The Secretary may disqualify an application from a consortium under this Act if the Secretary determines that the conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium is inadequate. (d) External Advisory Committees.-- (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, a consortium shall establish an external advisory committee, the members of which shall have extensive and relevant scientific, technical, industry, financial, or research management expertise. (2) Duties.--An external advisory committee shall-- (A) review the proposed plans, programs, project selection criteria, and projects of the consortium; and (B) ensure that projects selected by the consortium meet the applicable conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium. (3) Members.--An external advisory committee shall consist of-- (A) representatives of the members of the consortium; and (B) such representatives of industry, including entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, as the members of the consortium determine to be necessary. (4) Secretary as member.--The Secretary shall join the external advisory committee of a consortium that receives a grant under this Act. SEC. 5. GRANTS. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 6 or more consortia. (b) Terms.-- (1) In general.--The initial term of a grant awarded under this Act shall not exceed 5 years. (2) Extension.--The Secretary may extend the term of a grant awarded under this Act for a period of not more than 5 additional years. (c) Amounts.-- (1) In general.--A grant awarded to a consortium under this Act shall not exceed the lesser of-- (A) $30,000,000 per fiscal year; or (B) the collective contributions of non-Federal entities to the consortium, as described under section 4(b)(3). (2) Flexibility.--In determining the amount of a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider-- (A) the translational research capacity of the consortium; (B) the financial, human, and facility resources of the qualifying entities; and (C) the cluster of which the consortium is a part. (3) Increases in amounts.--Subject to paragraph (1), a consortium may request an increase in the amount of a grant awarded under this Act at the time the consortium requests an extension of an initial grant. (d) Use of Amounts.-- (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), a consortium awarded a grant under this Act shall use the amounts to support translational research, technology development, manufacturing innovation, and commercialization activities relating to clean technology. (2) Project selection.--As a condition of receiving a grant under this Act, a consortium shall-- (A) develop and make available to the public on the Web site of the Department of Commerce proposed plans, programs, project selection criteria, and terms for individual project awards; (B) establish policies-- (i) to prevent resources provided to the consortium from being used to displace private sector investment otherwise likely to occur, including investment from private sector entities that are members of the consortium; (ii) to facilitate the participation of private entities that invest in clean technologies to perform due diligence on award proposals, to participate in the award review process, and to provide guidance to projects supported by the consortium; and (iii) to facilitate the participation of parties with a demonstrated history of commercial application of clean technologies in the development of consortium projects; (C) oversee project solicitations, review proposed projects, and select projects for awards; and (D) monitor project implementation. (3) Limitations.-- (A) Administrative expenses.--A consortium may use not more than 10 percent of the amounts awarded to the consortium for administrative expenses. (B) Prohibition on use.--A consortium may not use any amounts awarded to the consortium under this Act to construct a new building or facility. (e) Audits.-- (1) In general.--A consortium that receives a grant under this Act shall carry out, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe, an annual audit to determine whether the grant has been used in accordance with this Act. (2) Report.--The consortium shall submit a copy of each audit under paragraph (1) to the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States. (3) GAO review.--As a condition of receiving a grant under this Act, a consortium shall allow the Comptroller General of the United States, on the request of the Comptroller General, full access to the books, records, and personnel of consortium. (4) Reports to congress.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress annually a report that includes-- (A) a copy of each audit carried out under paragraph (1); and (B) any recommendations of the Secretary relating to the clean technology consortia program. (f) Revocation of Awards.--The Secretary shall have the authority-- (1) to review grants awarded under this Act; and (2) to revoke a grant awarded under this Act if the Secretary determines that a consortium has used the grant in a manner that is not consistent with this Act. (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $100,000,000.

Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act - Directs the Department of Commerce to carry out a program to establish clean technology consortia to enhance U.S. economic, environmental, and energy security by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies, production processes, or methodologies that: produce energy from renewable energy sources; transmit, distribute, or store energy more efficiently; enhance energy efficiency for buildings and industry; enable the development of a Smart Grid (an electric power system to maintain a reliable and secure electricity infrastructure that can meet future demand growth, including by deploying demand-side resources that enable consumers to reduce or shift their electricity usage during peak periods); produce an advanced or sustainable material with energy or energy efficiency applications; improve energy efficiency for transportation, including electric vehicles; or enhance water security through improved water management, conservation, distribution, or end use applications. Requires Commerce to award grants for the establishment and operation of consortia. Establishes the role of consortia, including promoting new innovative clean technologies, providing technical or financial assistance, and accelerating investment in and deployment of clean technologies through public-private partnerships.

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Create a condensed overview of the following text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2009''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to improve the quality and value of health care by increasing the safety and accuracy of medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy procedures, thereby reducing duplication of services and decreasing costs. SEC. 3. QUALITY OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION THERAPY. Part F of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Subpart 4--Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy ``SEC. 355. QUALITY OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION THERAPY. ``(a) Qualified Personnel.-- ``(1) In general.--Effective January 1, 2013, personnel who perform or plan the technical component of either medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures for medical purposes must be qualified under this section to perform or plan such services. ``(2) Qualification.--Individuals qualified to perform or plan the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures must-- ``(A) possess current certification in each medical imaging or radiation therapy modality and service provided from a certification organization designated by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (c); or ``(B) possess current State licensure, or certification, where-- ``(i) such services and modalities are within the scope of practice as defined by the State for such profession; and ``(ii) the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration meet or exceed the standards established by the Secretary pursuant to this section. ``(3) State licensure, certification, or registration.-- ``(A) Nothing in this section diminishes the authority of a State to define requirements for licensure, certification, or registration, the requirements for practice, or the scope of practice of personnel. ``(B) The Secretary shall not take any action under this section that would require licensure by a State of those who perform or plan the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures. ``(4) Exemptions.--The qualification standards described in this subsection shall not apply to physicians (as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r))) or to nurse practitioners and physician assistants (each as defined in section 1861(aa)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(5))). ``(b) Establishment of Standards.-- ``(1) In general.--For the purposes of determining compliance with subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with recognized experts in the technical provision of medical imaging or radiation therapy services, shall establish minimum standards for personnel who perform, plan, evaluate, or verify patient dose for medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures. Such standards shall not apply to the equipment used. ``(2) Experts.--For the purposes of this subsection, the Secretary shall select expert advisers to reflect a broad and balanced input from all sectors of the health care community that are involved in the provision of such services to avoid undue influence from any single sector of practice on the content of such standards. ``(3) Minimum standards.--Minimum standards may vary in form for each of the covered disciplines, reflecting the unique or specialized nature of the technical services provided, and shall represent expert consensus from those practicing in each of the covered disciplines as to what constitutes excellence in practice and be appropriate to the particular scope of care involved. ``(4) Allowance for additional standards.--Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a State or certification organization from requiring compliance with higher standards than the minimum standards specified by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection. ``(5) Timeline.--The Secretary shall promulgate regulations for the purposes of carrying out this subsection no later than 18 months after the date on which this section is enacted. ``(c) Designation of Certification Organizations.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program for designating certification organizations that the Secretary determines have established appropriate procedures and programs for certifying personnel as qualified to furnish medical imaging or radiation therapy services. ``(2) Factors.--When designating certification organizations, and when reviewing or modifying the list of designated organizations for the purposes of paragraph (4)(B), the Secretary shall consider-- ``(A) whether the certification organization has established certification requirements for individuals that are consistent with or exceed the minimum standards established in subsection (b); ``(B) whether the certification organization has established a process for the timely integration of new medical imaging or radiation therapy services into the organization's certification program; ``(C) whether the certification organization has established education and continuing education requirements for individuals certified by the organization; ``(D) whether the organization has established reasonable fees to be charged to those applying for certification; ``(E) whether the examinations leading to certification by the certification organization are accredited by an appropriate accrediting body as defined in subsection (d); ``(F) the ability of the certification organization to review applications for certification in a timely manner; and ``(G) such other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate. ``(3) Equivalent education, training, and experience.-- ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this section, the Secretary shall, through regulation, provide a method for the recognition of individuals whose training or experience are determined to be equal to, or in excess of, those of a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty. Such authority shall expire seven years after the enactment of this section. ``(B) Eligibility.--The Secretary shall not recognize any individual pursuant to the authority of subparagraph (A) unless such individual-- ``(i) was performing or planning the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy treatments prior to enactment of this section; and ``(ii) is ineligible to take the licensure or certification examination for that discipline. ``(4) Process.-- ``(A) Regulations.--The Secretary shall, by July 1, 2012, promulgate regulations for designating certification organizations pursuant to this paragraph. ``(B) Designations and list.--The Secretary shall, by January 1, 2013, make determinations regarding all certification organizations that have applied for designation pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (A), and shall publish a list of all certification organizations that have received designation. ``(C) Periodic review and revision.--The Secretary shall periodically review the list, taking into account the factors established under paragraph (2). After such review, the Secretary may, by regulation, modify the list of certification organizations that have received designation. ``(D) Certifications prior to removal from list.-- If the Secretary removes a certification organization from the list of certification organizations designated under subparagraph (B), any individual who was certified by the certification organization during or before the period beginning on the date on which the certification organization was designated as a certification organization under subparagraph (B) and ending on the date on which the certification organization is removed from such list shall be considered to have been certified by a certification organization designated by the Secretary under subparagraph (B) for the remaining period that such certification is in effect. ``(d) Approved Accrediting Bodies.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall publish a list of entities that are approved accrediting bodies for certification organizations for purposes of subsection (c)(2)(E). The Secretary shall publish the list no later than 24 months after enactment of this section and shall revise the list as appropriate. ``(2) Requirements for approval.--The Secretary shall not approve an accrediting body for certification organizations unless the Secretary determines that such accrediting body-- ``(A) is a nonprofit organization; ``(B) is a national or international organization with accreditation programs for examinations leading to certification by certification organizations; ``(C) has established standards for recordkeeping and to minimize the possibility of conflicts of interest; and ``(D) demonstrates compliance with any other requirements established by the Secretary. ``(3) Withdrawal of approval.--The Secretary may withdraw the approval of an accrediting body if the Secretary determines that the body does not meet the standards defined in paragraph (2). ``(e) Alternative Standards for Rural and Underserved Areas.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall determine whether the standards established under subsection (a) must be met in their entirety for medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures that are performed and planned in a geographic area that is determined by the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board to be a `rural area' or that is designated as a health professional shortage area. If the Secretary determines that alternative standards for such rural areas or health professional shortage areas are appropriate to assure access to quality medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures, the Secretary is authorized to develop such alternative standards. ``(2) State discretion.--The chief executive officer of a State may submit to the Secretary a statement declaring that an alternative standard developed under paragraph (1) is inappropriate for application to such State, and such alternative standard shall not apply in such submitting State. The chief executive officer of a State may rescind a statement described in this paragraph following the provision of appropriate notice to the Secretary. ``(f) Rule of Construction.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, individuals who provide medical imaging examinations relating to mammograms shall continue to meet the regulations applicable under the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992, as amended. ``(g) Definitions.--As used in this section-- ``(1) Medical imaging.--The term `medical imaging' means any examination or procedure used to visualize tissues, organs, or physiologic processes in humans for the purpose of detecting, diagnosing, treating or impacting the progression of disease or illness. For purposes of this section, such term does not include routine dental diagnostic procedures or advanced imaging procedures as defined in section 1834(e)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act. ``(2) Perform.--The term `perform', with respect to medical imaging or radiation therapy, means-- ``(A) the act of directly exposing a patient to radiation including ionizing or radio frequency radiation, to ultrasound, or to a magnetic field for purposes of medical imaging or for purposes of radiation therapy; and ``(B) the act of positioning a patient to receive such an exposure. ``(3) Plan.--The term `plan', with respect to medical imaging or radiation therapy, means the act of preparing for the performance of such a procedure to a patient by evaluating site-specific information, based on measurement and verification of radiation dose distribution, computer analysis, or direct measurement of dose, in order to customize the procedure for the patient. ``(4) Radiation therapy.--The term `radiation therapy' means any procedure or article intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans that achieves its intended purpose through the emission of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation.''. SEC. 4. PAYMENT AND STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION THERAPY. Section 1848(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w- 4(b)(4)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking the ``imaging'' and inserting ``medical imaging and radiation therapy'' and; (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(C) Payment for medical imaging and radiation therapy services.--With respect to expenses incurred for the planning and performing of the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures furnished on or after January 1, 2013, payment shall be made under this section only if the examination or procedure is planned or performed by an individual who meets the requirements established by the Secretary under section 355 of the Public Health Service Act.''. SEC. 5. REPORT ON THE EFFECTS OF THIS ACT. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report on the effects of this Act no later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Requirements.--Such report shall include the types and numbers of individuals qualified to perform or plan the technical component of medical imaging or radiation therapy services for whom standards have been developed, the impact of such standards on diagnostic accuracy and patient safety, and the availability and cost of services. Entities reimbursed for technical services through programs operating under the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be required to contribute data to such report.

Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require personnel who perform or plan the technical component of either medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures for medical purposes to possess, effective January 1, 2013: (1) certification in each medical imaging or radiation therapy modality and service provided from a certification organization designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS); or (2) state licensure or certification where such services and modalities are within the scope of practice as defined by the state for such profession and where the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration meet or exceed the standards established by the Secretary. Exempts physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish minimum standards for personnel who perform, plan, evaluate, or verify patient dose for medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures; (2) establish a program for designating certification organizations after consideration of specified criteria; (3) provide a method for the recognition of individuals whose training or experience are determined to be equal to, or in excess of, those of a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty; and (4) approve and publish a list of accrediting bodies for such certification organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to develop alternative standards for rural or health professional shortage areas as appropriate to assure access to quality medical imaging. Amends the Social Security Act to allow Medicare payment for medical imaging and radiation therapy services furnished on or after January 1, 2013, only if the examination or procedure is planned or performed by an individual who meets this Act's requirements.

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