In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
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Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Spacefaring Priorities for America's 
Continued Exploration Act'' or the ``SPACE Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Russia is not a reliable partner.--(A) Unless Space 
        Shuttle operations are extended beyond 2010, the United States 
        will be heavily reliant on Russia to supply crew and possibly 
        cargo transport services to the International Space Station 
        during the gap period of 2010 through 2015. There will be no 
        other way to fly our astronauts into space during this period.
            (B) The United States should not increase its reliance on 
        Russia to transport American astronauts into space, given the 
        increasingly divergent views and posturing from Russia. Russia 
        opposes the United States plan to base an antimissile radar 
        system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland 
        to deal with the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear weapons 
        and missile programs. Russia also suspended its participation 
        in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, one of the 
        most significant arms control agreements of the Cold War years. 
        Additionally, Russia continues to arm some of America's most 
        hostile adversaries, Iran and Venezuela. Despite United States 
        objections, Russia sold billions of dollars worth of weapons to 
        the regime of Hugo Chavez in 2006. Such meddling is a possible 
        violation of the Monroe Doctrine and a throwback to the Cold 
        War era. Even more troublesome is the Russian history of 
        weapons trading with Iran. Russia has supplied advanced 
        conventional arms technology, missile technology, and nuclear 
        technologies to this very anti-American regime.
            (2) Russia has abused past nasa cooperation agreements.--
        (A) In the late 1990s, Russia fell short in fulfilling its 
        commitment to the International Space Station.
            (B) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in 
        this Act referred to as ``NASA'') was forced to transfer 
        hundreds of millions of dollars to enable the Russians to 
        complete the critical Space Station service module Zvezda, 
        without which the International Space Station could not 
        operate.
            (C) Russia delayed completion of the Zvezda service module 
        for several years. Under the International Space Station 
        agreement, the Russian government had committed to fund as well 
        as build the Zvezda service module. Subsequent transfers from 
        the United States, in order to complete the module, reflect 
        serious Russian mismanagement in the field of space.
            (D) In 2000, while Russia was failing to meet its 
        commitment to the International Space Station, Russia was 
        diverting financial and human resources away from fulfilling 
        its International Space Station commitments in order to keep 
        the Russian's Mir Space Station aloft.
            (E) Russia's past shortcomings in fulfilling commitments to 
        its international space partners should serve as a warning to 
        the United States as we consider increased reliance on Russian 
        space services in the future. It is not prudent for the United 
        States to depend on Russia for access to space given our past 
        experience with this relationship.
            (3) American space science should not be dependent on 
        russian support.--(A) The United States has already invested 
        billions of dollars in the International Space Station program 
        since its inception.
            (B) There is much research of great value being conducted 
        in space, and on the International Space Station, that may 
        yield tremendous gains. Research being conducted on the 
        International Space Station may help scientists back on Earth 
        develop medicines to treat diseases and help us better 
        understand the Earth's climate. Many scientists believe that 
        the microgravity environment of space will enable the 
        development of new drugs, vaccines, and other therapies. 
        Equipment on the International Space Station will monitor 
        stratospheric gases, and investigate ozone chemistry.
            (4) The united states must have assured access to space.--
        (A) To ensure that the United States realizes the dividends 
        from the considerable investment we have made in the 
        International Space Station, we need to ensure continued access 
        to space for our astronauts. However, NASA's plan for transport 
        of crew to and from the International Space Station fails to 
        provide necessary redundancies to provide assured access to 
        space.
            (B) NASA anticipates that the Russian Soyuz spacecraft will 
        be the only vehicle for astronaut crew rotation to the 
        International Space Station after 2010. From 2011 until the 
        planned operation of Orion in 2015, NASA likely has no other 
        option for transporting American astronauts to space other than 
        on Russian vehicles.
            (C) NASA has conceded that without the Space Shuttle, it 
        will be unable to transport the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 
        (AMS) to the International Space Station. Scientists involved 
        in the development of the AMS acknowledge that it will enhance 
        scientific discoveries. While the AMS has cost over 
        $1,500,000,000 to develop and build, NASA has stated that the 
        remaining Space Shuttle manifest does not allow for transport 
        of the AMS and that it will not be an option to retrofit 
        another launch vehicle in order to fly it into space. Only by 
        extending Space Shuttle operations beyond 2010 will NASA be 
        able to transport the AMS to the International Space Station. 
        As long as the AMS meets all required standards to verify its 
        validity and justify its transport on the Space Shuttle, NASA 
        should fulfill its obligation to the Department of Energy and 
        our international partners.
            (D) In addition, the Japanese Centrifuge Accommodation 
        Module, which can only fly to the International Space Station 
        on the Space Shuttle, will also be unable to reach the Space 
        Station absent extending Space Shuttle operations.
            (5) A better approach.--(A) Due to NASA's lack of a backup 
        plan for reliance on the Russians for transport of American 
        astronauts to space, the United States needs a better approach. 
        The best approach is the Space Shuttle, a proven, domestic 
        source of space transport for assured access to space, 
        including the International Space Station, for crew and cargo 
        transport.
            (B) With 2 Shuttle missions per year during the human 
        spaceflight program flight gap between Shuttle and Orion, 
        currently scheduled from 2010 through 2015, we can replace our 
        need to rely on the Russians for crew rotation for the 
        International Space Station.
            (C) Savings from replacing Russian transport services to 
        the International Space Station with the Space Shuttle would 
        pay for a portion of the costs for flying 2 Space Shuttle 
        missions per year.
            (D) Only by closing the gap between 2010 and 2015, or until 
        the Orion is operational, will our Nation be able to keep our 
        Nation's highly skilled and critically important spaceworkers 
        and engineers gainfully employed, and mitigate the loss of 
        critical skills.
            (E) By extending Space Shuttle operations, NASA may realize 
        considerable savings by no longer having to pay retention 
        bonuses to critical space workers. But retention bonuses would 
        not be the only added costs associated with the end of Space 
        Shuttle operations when critical skilled workers leave NASA or 
        its contractors. Recruitment incentives for new workers and 
        contract cost increases could also be incurred by NASA since 
        the majority of the Kennedy Space Center's workforce are 
        contractors.
            (F) The success of the Constellation program will depend on 
        having the most skilled and experienced workforce possible. The 
        workforce gap, as currently envisioned by NASA, will jeopardize 
        this. NASA has acknowledged that thousands of critical space 
        workers will lose their jobs in the transition from the Space 
        Shuttle to the Constellation program. Continued operation of 
        the Space Shuttle, but on a reduced flight requirement, while 
        also integrating these workers into the Orion program, is the 
        best way to retain many of these critical workers and skill 
        sets.
            (G) An August 2007 study by the Government Accountability 
        Office, ``NASA Progress Made on Strategic Human Capital 
        Management, but Future Program Challenges Remain,'' stated that 
        ``the agency as a whole faces challenges in recruiting and 
        retaining highly experienced senior-level engineers in certain 
        specialties. NASA's principal workforce challenge will be faced 
        in the transition to the next generation of human space flight 
        systems.''.
            (H) This Act authorizes for NASA additional funding under 
        section 4 to fully restore the appropriation shortfalls in 
        fiscal years 2007 and 2008 compared to the funds that were 
        authorized for NASA. An additional $1,000,000,000 is authorized 
        in section 4(b) to reimburse NASA for the costs incurred by 
        NASA from the Space Shuttle return-to-flight efforts following 
        the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON USE OF RUSSIAN SPACE SERVICES.

    NASA shall not rely solely on the Russian government for astronaut 
transport or cargo resupply services. This prohibition does not apply 
to the current Soyuz emergency escape services for astronauts on the 
International Space Station.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NASA.

    (a) Additional Authorization for Fiscal Year 2007 Shortfall.--There 
are authorized to be appropriated to NASA $1,648,000,000, 41.6 percent 
of which shall be for Exploration Systems, and 28.7 percent of which 
shall be available for Space Operations.
    (b) Columbia Return-to-Flight.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to NASA $1,000,000,000 for emergency funding to reimburse 
for Columbia return-to-flight costs, of which the Exploration Systems 
and Space Operations Accounts shall receive funding at the rate 
proportional to the amounts used to pay the costs associated with the 
Space Shuttle return-to-flight efforts.
    (c) Additional Authorization for Fiscal Year 2008 Shortfall.--There 
are authorized to be appropriated to NASA $1,064,000,000, 41.7 percent 
of which shall be for Exploration Systems.
    (d) Preservation of Funding for Programs.--NASA shall not take any 
funding from its Exploration Systems account or the Constellation 
program in order to fund the continued operation of the Space Shuttle 
program as required in this Act.

SEC. 5. EXTENDING SPACE SHUTTLE OPERATIONS.

    (a) Use of Space Shuttle for Access to Space.--NASA shall fly at 
least 2 Space Shuttle missions per year for crew transport, instead of 
Russian crew and cargo services, for the period of 2010 through 2015, 
or until Orion is operational. There are authorized to be appropriated 
to NASA such sums as may be necessary, in addition to amounts otherwise 
authorized, to carry out this subsection, including for the production 
of more external tanks as may be needed.
    (b) Insufficient Funding.--Except as provided under subsection (c), 
the requirements of this Act shall have effect only to the extent that 
sufficient funding is appropriated, as authorized under subsection (a). 
Sufficient funding is defined as funds required to fully or partially 
comply with the requirements of this Act.
    (c) Report to Congress.--NASA shall report to Congress not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act on the specific 
costs and actions needed to extend the operation of the Space Shuttle 
in accordance with this Act.
    (d) Operational Efficiencies.--As soon as possible, but no later 
than March 31, 2011, NASA shall investigate areas of reduced operations 
and enhanced cost savings and implement those that do not impinge the 
safe operation of the Space Shuttle program, including the following:
            (1) The possible retirement of one Space Shuttle orbiter, 
        leaving 2 to remain operational, in a manner that ensures the 
        safe operation of the Space Shuttle program.
            (2) Significantly reducing changes to the design of the 
        Space Shuttle orbiters, in a manner that ensures the safe 
        operation of the Space Shuttle program. This shall include 
        changes to the Space Shuttle software systems.
            (3) Significantly reducing Space Shuttle orbiter 
        configuration operations and payload configuration operations, 
        in a manner that ensures the safe operation of the Space 
        Shuttle program.
            (4) Maximizing the use of shared personnel between the 
        continued operation of the Space Shuttle and Constellation and 
        other NASA programs.
    (e) Facilities.--If conflicts arise in NASA's efforts to allocate 
facilities, personnel, and other resources in order to fly the Space 
Shuttle as well as continue the development of Constellation, then NASA 
shall identify in a report to Congress in advance such conflicts, along 
with recommendations as to how they can be mitigated.

SEC. 6. SHUTTLE RECERTIFICATION.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
NASA shall define achievable and attainable requirements for operation 
of the Space Shuttle program beyond 2010, as recommended by the 
Columbia Accident Investigation Board. NASA shall transmit these 
requirements to Congress in the form of a report. NASA shall then 
immediately begin the process of satisfying these requirements and 
shall satisfy all requirements no later than March 31, 2010.

Answer: Spacefaring Priorities for America's Continued Exploration Act or SPACE Act - Prohibits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from relying solely on the Russian government for astronaut transport or cargo resupply services, except for the current Soyuz emergency escape services for astronauts on the International Space Station.

Authorizes appropriations to NASA for: (1) exploration systems; and (2) emergency funding for Columbia return-to-flight costs.

Requires NASA to fly at least two space shuttle missions per year for crew transport, instead of Russian crew and cargo services, for the period 2010-2015, or until Orion is operational. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such operations. Requires NASA to report to Congress on the specific costs and actions needed to extend the operation of the space shuttle.

Requires NASA, by March 31, 2011, to investigate areas of reduced operations and enhanced cost savings and implement those that do not impinge on the safe operation of the space shuttle program.

Directs NASA to define achievable and attainable requirements for the operation of such program beyond 2010, as recommended by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Requires: (1) NASA to report to Congress on such requirements; and (2) NASA to immediately begin satisfying those requirements and to satisfy all of them by March 31, 2010.


Question: SECTION 1. RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD.

    (a) In General.--Title VI of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 610. FEDERAL RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD.

    ``(a) Renewable Energy Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each electric utility that sells 
        electricity to electric consumers shall obtain a percentage of 
        the base amount of electricity it sells to electric consumers 
        in any calendar year from new renewable energy or existing 
        renewable energy. The percentage obtained in a calendar year 
        shall not be less than the amount specified in the following 
        table:

 
 
 
``Calendar year:                    Minimum annual percentage:
  2010............................  1
  2011............................  2
  2012............................  4
  2013............................  6
  2014............................  8
  2015............................  10
  2016............................  12
  2017............................  14
  2018............................  16
  2019............................  18
  2020............................  20
  2021............................  21
  2022............................  22
  2023............................  23
  2024............................  24
  2025............................  25.

            ``(2) Means of compliance.--An electric utility shall meet 
        the requirements of paragraph (1) by--
                    ``(A) submitting to the Secretary renewable energy 
                credits issued under subsection (b);
                    ``(B) making alternative compliance payments to the 
                Secretary at the rate of 2 cents per kilowatt hour (as 
                adjusted for inflation under subsection (g)); or
                    ``(C) a combination of activities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B).
    ``(b) Renewable Energy Credit Trading Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than July 1, 2009, the 
        Secretary shall establish a renewable energy credit trading 
        program under which electric utilities shall submit to the 
        Secretary renewable energy credits to certify the compliance of 
        the electric utilities with respect to obligations under 
        subsection (a)(1).
            ``(2) Administration.--As part of the program, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) issue tradeable renewable energy credits to 
                generators of electric energy from new renewable 
                energy;
                    ``(B) issue nontradeable renewable energy credits 
                to generators of electric energy from existing 
                renewable energy;
                    ``(C) issue renewable energy credits to electric 
                utilities associated with State renewable portfolio 
                standard compliance mechanisms pursuant to subsection 
                (h);
                    ``(D) ensure that a kilowatt hour, including the 
                associated renewable energy credit, shall be used only 
                once for purposes of compliance with this Act;
                    ``(E) allow double credits for generation from 
                facilities on Indian land, and triple credits for 
                generation from small renewable distributed generators 
                (meaning those no larger than 1 megawatt); and
                    ``(F) ensure that, with respect to a purchaser 
                that, as of the date of enactment of this section, has 
                a purchase agreement from a renewable energy facility 
                placed in service before that date, the credit 
                associated with the generation of renewable energy 
                under the contract is issued to the purchaser of the 
                electric energy.
            ``(3) Duration.--A credit described in subparagraph (A) or 
        (B) of paragraph (2) may only be used for compliance with this 
        section during the 3-year period beginning on the date of 
        issuance of the credit.
            ``(4) Transfers.--An electric utility that holds credits in 
        excess of the quantity of credits needed to comply with 
        subsection (a) may transfer the credits to another electric 
        utility in the same utility holding company system.
            ``(5) Delegation of market function.--The Secretary may 
        delegate to an appropriate market-making entity the 
        administration of a national tradeable renewable energy credit 
        market for purposes of creating a transparent national market 
        for the sale or trade of renewable energy credits.
    ``(c) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) Civil penalties.--Any electric utility that fails to 
        meet the compliance requirements of subsection (a) shall be 
        subject to a civil penalty.
            ``(2) Amount of penalty.--The amount of the civil penalty 
        shall be determined by multiplying the number of kilowatt-hours 
        of electric energy sold to electric consumers in violation of 
        subsection (a) by the greater of 2 cents (adjusted for 
        inflation under subsection (g)) or 200 percent of the average 
        market value of renewable energy credits during the year in 
        which the violation occurred.
            ``(3) Mitigation or waiver.--The Secretary may mitigate or 
        waive a civil penalty under this subsection if the electric 
        utility was unable to comply with subsection (a) for reasons 
        outside of the reasonable control of the utility. The Secretary 
        shall reduce the amount of any penalty determined under 
        paragraph (2) by an amount paid by the electric utility to a 
        State for failure to comply with the requirement of a State 
        renewable energy program if the State requirement is greater 
        than the applicable requirement of subsection (a).
            ``(4) Procedure for assessing penalty.--The Secretary shall 
        assess a civil penalty under this subsection in accordance with 
        the procedures prescribed by section 333(d) of the Energy 
        Policy and Conservation Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 6303).
    ``(d) State Renewable Energy Account Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish, not later 
        than December 31, 2008, a State renewable energy account 
        program.
            ``(2) Deposits.--All money collected by the Secretary from 
        alternative compliance payments and the assessment of civil 
        penalties under this section shall be deposited into the 
        renewable energy account established pursuant to this 
        subsection. The State renewable energy account shall be held by 
        the Secretary and shall not be transferred to the Treasury 
        Department.
            ``(3) Use.--Proceeds deposited in the State renewable 
        energy account shall be used by the Secretary, subject to 
        appropriations, for a program to provide grants to the State 
        agency responsible for developing State energy conservation 
        plans under section 362 of the Energy Policy and Conservation 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 6322) for the purposes of promoting renewable 
        energy production, including programs that promote technologies 
        that reduce the use of electricity at customer sites such as 
        solar water heating.
            ``(4) Administration.--The Secretary may issue guidelines 
        and criteria for grants awarded under this subsection. State 
        energy offices receiving grants under this section shall 
        maintain such records and evidence of compliance as the 
        Secretary may require.
            ``(5) Preference.--In allocating funds under this program, 
        the Secretary shall give preference--
                    ``(A) to States in regions which have a 
                disproportionately small share of economically 
                sustainable renewable energy generation capacity; and
                    ``(B) to State programs to stimulate or enhance 
                innovative renewable energy technologies.
    ``(e) Rules.--The Secretary shall issue rules implementing this 
section not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
section.
    ``(f) Exemptions.--This section shall not apply in any calendar 
year to an electric utility--
            ``(1) that sold less than 4,000,000 megawatt-hours of 
        electric energy to electric consumers during the preceding 
        calendar year; or
            ``(2) in Hawaii.
    ``(g) Inflation Adjustment.--Not later than December 31 of each 
year beginning in 2008, the Secretary shall adjust for inflation the 
price of a renewable energy credit under subsection (b)(2) and the 
amount of the civil penalty per kilowatt-hour under subsection (c)(2).
    ``(h) State Programs.--
            ``(1) In general.--Nothing in this section diminishes any 
        authority of a State or political subdivision of a State to 
        adopt or enforce any law or regulation respecting renewable 
        energy, but, except as provided in subsection (c)(3), no such 
        law or regulation shall relieve any person of any requirement 
        otherwise applicable under this section. The Secretary, in 
        consultation with States having such renewable energy programs, 
        shall, to the maximum extent practicable, facilitate 
        coordination between the Federal program and State programs.
            ``(2) Regulations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                with States, shall promulgate regulations to ensure 
                that an electric utility subject to the requirements of 
                this section that is also subject to a State renewable 
                energy standard receives renewable energy credits in 
                relation to equivalent quantities of renewable energy 
                associated with compliance mechanisms, other than the 
                generation or purchase of renewable energy by the 
                electric utility, including the acquisition of 
                certificates or credits and the payment of taxes, fees, 
                surcharges, or other financial compliance mechanisms by 
                the electric utility or a customer of the electric 
                utility, directly associated with the generation or 
                purchase of renewable energy.
                    ``(B) Prohibition on double counting.--The 
                regulations promulgated under this paragraph shall 
                ensure that a kilowatt hour associated with a renewable 
                energy credit issued pursuant to this subsection shall 
                not be used for compliance with this section more than 
                once.
    ``(i) Recovery of Costs.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall issue and enforce 
        such regulations as are necessary to ensure that an electric 
        utility recovers all prudently incurred costs associated with 
        compliance with this section.
            ``(2) Applicable law.--A regulation under paragraph (1) 
        shall be enforceable in accordance with the provisions of law 
        applicable to enforcement of regulations under the Federal 
        Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.).
    ``(j) Wind Energy Development Study.--The Secretary, in 
consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies, shall 
conduct, and submit to Congress a report describing the results of, a 
study on methods to increase transmission line capacity for wind energy 
development.
    ``(k) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Base amount of electricity.--The term `base amount of 
        electricity' means the total amount of electricity sold by an 
        electric utility to electric consumers in a calendar year, 
        excluding municipal waste and electricity generated by a 
        hydroelectric facility (including a pumped storage facility, 
        but excluding incremental hydropower).
            ``(2) Distributed generation facility.--The term 
        `distributed generation facility' means a facility at a 
        customer site.
            ``(3) Existing renewable energy.--The term `existing 
        renewable energy' means, except as provided in paragraph 
        (7)(B), electric energy generated at a facility (including a 
        distributed generation facility) placed in service prior to 
        January 1, 2001, from solar, wind, or geothermal energy, ocean 
        energy, biomass (as defined in section 203(a) of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005), or landfill gas.
            ``(4) Geothermal energy.--The term `geothermal energy' 
        means energy derived from a geothermal deposit (within the 
        meaning of section 613(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986).
            ``(5) Incremental geothermal production.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `incremental geothermal 
                production' means for any year the excess of--
                            ``(i) the total kilowatt hours of 
                        electricity produced from a facility (including 
                        a distributed generation facility) using 
                        geothermal energy; over
                            ``(ii) the average annual kilowatt hours 
                        produced at such facility for 5 of the previous 
                        7 calendar years before the date of enactment 
                        of this section after eliminating the highest 
                        and the lowest kilowatt hour production years 
                        in such 7-year period.
                    ``(B) Special rule.--A facility described in 
                subparagraph (A) that was placed in service at least 7 
                years before the date of enactment of this section 
                shall, commencing with the year in which such date of 
                enactment occurs, reduce the amount calculated under 
                subparagraph (A)(ii) each year, on a cumulative basis, 
                by the average percentage decrease in the annual 
                kilowatt hour production for the 7-year period 
                described in subparagraph (A)(ii) with such cumulative 
                sum not to exceed 30 percent.
            ``(6) Incremental hydropower.--The term `incremental 
        hydropower' means additional energy generated as a result of 
        efficiency improvements or capacity additions made on or after 
        January 1, 2001, or the effective date of an existing 
        applicable State renewable portfolio standard program at a 
        hydroelectric facility that was placed in service before that 
        date. The term does not include additional energy generated as 
        a result of operational changes not directly associated with 
        efficiency improvements or capacity additions. Efficiency 
        improvements and capacity additions shall be measured on the 
        basis of the same water flow information used to determine a 
        historic average annual generation baseline for the 
        hydroelectric facility and certified by the Secretary or the 
        Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
            ``(7) New renewable energy.--The term `new renewable 
        energy' means--
                    ``(A) electric energy generated at a facility 
                (including a distributed generation facility) placed in 
                service on or after January 1, 2001, from--
                            ``(i) solar, wind, or geothermal energy or 
                        ocean energy;
                            ``(ii) biomass (as defined in section 
                        203(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
                        U.S.C. 15852(b));
                            ``(iii) landfill gas; or
                            ``(iv) incremental hydropower; and
                    ``(B) for electric energy generated at a facility 
                (including a distributed generation facility) placed in 
                service prior to the date of enactment of this 
                section--
                            ``(i) the additional energy above the 
                        average generation in the 3 years preceding the 
                        date of enactment of this section at the 
                        facility from--
                                    ``(I) solar or wind energy or ocean 
                                energy;
                                    ``(II) biomass (as defined in 
                                section 203(b) of the Energy Policy Act 
                                of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15852(b));
                                    ``(III) landfill gas; or
                                    ``(IV) incremental hydropower.
                            ``(ii) incremental geothermal production.
            ``(8) Ocean energy.--The term `ocean energy' includes 
        current, wave, tidal, and thermal energy.
    ``(l) Sunset.--This section expires on December 31, 2040.''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. prec. 2601) 
is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title VI the 
following:

``Sec. 610. Federal renewable portfolio standard.''.

Answer: Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to set forth a federal renewable energy portfolio standard applicable to calendar years 2010 to 2025.

Instructs the Secretary of Energy to establish: (1) a renewable energy credit trading program under which electric utilities shall submit to the Secretary renewable energy credits to certify their compliance with such standard; and (2) a state renewable energy account program for grants to state agencies to promote renewable energy production (including programs that promote technologies that reduce the use of electricity at customer sites such as solar water heating).



Requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue and enforce regulations to ensure that an electric utility recovers all prudently incurred costs associated with compliance with this Act.

Instructs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on methods to increase transmission line capacity for wind energy development.


Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Caregiver Credit Act 
of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF THE SENATE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that:
            (1) Caregiving is an essential element of family life and a 
        vital service for children, the ill, the disabled, and the 
        elderly.
            (2) The establishment of a caregiver credit would bolster 
        the economic prospects of unpaid caregivers and would provide 
        them with vital retirement security.
            (3) The 2015 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the 
        Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability 
        Insurance Trust Funds concluded that the combined Trust Funds 
        will be able to pay scheduled benefits in full until 2034.
            (4) While there is no immediate crisis, policy options 
        should be considered to extend OASDI solvency, including by 
        eradicating the gender wage gap, increasing overall employment, 
        or increasing the minimum wage.
    (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of Senate that the United 
States Congress must address the unfair exclusion of professional and 
hardworking home care providers who are not eligible to receive Social 
Security or Medicare because they provide paid care to a family member 
with a disability under programs operated at the State and local level 
for general health and welfare protection.

SEC. 3. DEEMED WAGES FOR CAREGIVERS OF DEPENDENT RELATIVES.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Social Security Act is amended by 
adding after section 234 (42 U.S.C. 434) the following new section:

          ``deemed wages for caregivers of dependent relatives

    ``Sec. 235.  (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the term `qualifying 
        month' means, in connection with an individual, any month--
                    ``(i) beginning after the date which is 60 months 
                prior to the date of the enactment of the Social 
                Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2017, and
                    ``(ii) during which such individual was engaged for 
                not less than 80 hours in providing care to a dependent 
                relative without monetary compensation.
            ``(B) The term `qualifying month' does not include any 
        month ending after the date on which such individual attains 
        retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)).
            ``(2) The term `dependent relative' means, in connection 
        with an individual--
                    ``(A) a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew (of 
                such individual or such individual's spouse or domestic 
                partner), or a child to which the individual or the 
                individual's spouse or domestic partner is standing in 
                loco parentis, who is under the age of 12, or
                    ``(B) a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew (of 
                such individual or such individual's spouse or domestic 
                partner), a child to which the individual or the 
                individual's spouse or domestic partner is standing in 
                loco parentis, a parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, or 
                uncle (of such individual or his or her spouse or 
                domestic partner), or such individual's spouse or 
                domestic partner, if such child, grandchild, niece, 
                nephew, parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, 
                spouse, or domestic partner is a chronically dependent 
                individual.
            ``(3)(A) The term `chronically dependent individual' means 
        an individual who--
                    ``(i) is dependent on a daily basis on verbal 
                reminding, physical cueing, supervision, or other 
                assistance provided to the individual by another person 
                in the performance of at least two of the activities of 
                daily living (described in subparagraph (B)) or 
                instrumental activities of daily living (described in 
                subparagraph (C)), and
                    ``(ii) without the assistance described in clause 
                (i), could not perform such activities of daily living 
                or instrumental activities of daily living.
            ``(B) The `activities of daily living' referred to in 
        subparagraph (A) means basic personal everyday activities, 
        including--
                    ``(i) Eating.
                    ``(ii) Bathing.
                    ``(iii) Dressing.
                    ``(iv) Toileting.
                    ``(v) Transferring in and out of a bed or in and 
                out of a chair.
            ``(C) The `instrumental activities of daily living' 
        referred to in subparagraph (A) means activities related to 
        living independently in the community, including--
                    ``(i) Meal planning and preparation.
                    ``(ii) Managing finances.
                    ``(iii) Shopping for food, clothing, or other 
                essential items.
                    ``(iv) Performing essential household chores.
                    ``(v) Communicating by phone or other form of 
                media.
                    ``(vi) Traveling around and participating in the 
                community.
    ``(b) Deemed Wages of Caregiver.--(1)(A) For purposes of 
determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit for 
any month after December 2017, or entitlement to and the amount of any 
lump-sum death payment in the case of a death after such month, payable 
under this title on the basis of the wages and self-employment income 
of any individual, and for purposes of section 216(i)(3), such 
individual shall be deemed to have been paid during each qualifying 
month (in addition to wages or self-employment income actually paid to 
or derived by such individual during such month) at an amount per month 
equal to--
            ``(i) in the case of a qualifying month during which no 
        wages or self-employment income were actually paid to or 
        derived by such individual, 50 percent of the national average 
        wage index (as defined in section 209(k)(1)) for the second 
        calendar year preceding the calendar year in which such month 
        occurs; and
            ``(ii) in the case of any other qualifying month, the 
        excess of the amount determined under clause (i) over \1/2\ of 
        the wages or self-employment income actually paid to or derived 
        by such individual during such month.
    ``(B) In any case in which there are more than 60 qualifying months 
for an individual, only the last 60 of such months shall be taken into 
account for purposes of this section.
    ``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not be applicable in the case of any 
monthly benefit or lump-sum death payment if a larger such benefit or 
payment, as the case may be, would be payable without its application.
    ``(c) Rules and Regulations.--
            ``(1) Not later than one year after the date of the 
        enactment of this section, the Commissioner of Social Security 
        shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out 
        this section and to prevent fraud and abuse with respect to the 
        benefits under this section, including regulations establishing 
        procedures for the application and certification requirements 
        described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) A qualifying month shall not be taken into account 
        under this section with respect to an individual unless--
                    ``(A) the individual submits to the Commissioner of 
                Social Security an application for benefits under this 
                section that includes--
                            ``(i) the name and identifying information 
                        of the dependent relative with respect to whom 
                        the individual was engaged in providing care 
                        during such month;
                            ``(ii) if the dependent relative is not a 
                        child under the age of 12, documentation from 
                        the physician of the dependent relative 
                        explaining why the dependent relative is a 
                        chronically dependent individual; and
                            ``(iii) such other information as the 
                        Commissioner may require to verify the status 
                        of the dependent relative; and
                    ``(B) for every qualifying month or period of up to 
                12 consecutive qualifying months that occurs after the 
                first period of 12 consecutive qualifying months, the 
                individual certifies, in such form and manner as the 
                Commissioner shall require, that the information 
                provided in the individual's application for benefits 
                under this section has not changed.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 209(k)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
409(k)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' before ``230(b)(2)'' the first time 
        it appears; and
            (2) by inserting ``and 235(b)(1)(A)(i),'' after ``1977),''.

SEC. 4. PROMOTING STATE PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE MEDICAL TRAINING TO 
              CAREGIVERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services is 
authorized to make grants to States to support State programs that 
provide medical training to individuals who provide care to dependent 
relatives without monetary compensation.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Answer:
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2017 This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act, for purposes of determining OASDI benefits,&nbsp;to credit individuals who serve as caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service. Specifically, an individual shall be deemed to have been paid a wage (according to a specified formula) during each month in which the individual was engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative without monetary compensation. However, this requirement&nbsp;shall not apply if a larger benefit or payment would otherwise be payable.  The bill also authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to support state programs that provide medical training to individuals who provide care to dependent relatives without monetary compensation.