In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Puppies Assisting Wounded 
Servicemembers Act of 2017'' or the ``PAWS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) According to the analysis of veteran suicide published 
        by the Department of Veterans Affairs in August 2016 and titled 
        ``Suicide Among Veterans and Other Americans''--
                    (A) an average of 20 veterans died by suicide each 
                day in 2014;
                    (B) mental health disorders, including major 
                depression and other mood disorders, have been 
                associated with increased risk for suicide;
                    (C) since 2001, the proportion of users of the 
                Veterans Health Administration with mental health 
                conditions or substance use disorders has increased 
                from approximately 27 percent in 2001 to more than 40 
                percent in 2014; and
                    (D) overall, suicide rates are highest among 
                patients with mental health and substance use disorder 
                diagnoses who are in treatment and lower among those 
                who received a mental health diagnoses but were not at 
                risk enough to require enhanced care from a mental 
                health provider.
            (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs must be more 
        effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran 
        suicide connected to mental health disorders, including post-
        traumatic stress disorder, and a pilot program and study to 
        assess the benefits of pairing service dogs with veterans 
        suffering from mental health disorders would allow the 
        Department to better determine the efficacy of using service 
        dogs as a nontraditional therapy to ensure the well-being of 
        veterans.
            (3) Pairing a service dog with a veteran costs 
        approximately $25,000, including with respect to training of 
        the service dog as well as training of the veteran with the 
        service dog.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE GRANTS 
              FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS TO CERTAIN VETERANS 
              WITH SEVERE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

    (a) Grants.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a 
pilot program under which the Secretary provides a $25,000 grant to an 
eligible organization for each veteran referred to that organization 
for a service dog pairing.
    (b) Benefits Provided.--
            (1) In general.--An organization that receives a grant 
        under subsection (a) shall provide the following for each 
        service dog and veteran participating in the pilot program:
                    (A) Coverage of a commercially available veterinary 
                health insurance policy to maintain the health of the 
                dog and keep the dog functioning in the prescribed role 
                for the life of the dog.
                    (B) Hardware, or repairs or replacements for 
                hardware, that are clinically determined to be required 
                by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the 
                veteran with the diagnosed disorder of the veteran.
                    (C) Payments for travel expenses for the veteran to 
                obtain the dog, calculated in the same manner as 
                similar travel expenses provided pursuant to section 
                111 of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Other travel expenses.--If a veteran is required to 
        replace a service dog provided pursuant to a grant under this 
        section, the Secretary shall pay for the travel expenses 
        described in paragraph (1)(C) required to obtain a new service 
        dog pursuant to subsection (c)(3), regardless of any other 
        benefits the veteran is receiving for the first service dog 
        under this section.
    (c) Eligible Organizations.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an organization shall--
            (1) be a nonprofit organization that provides trained 
        service dogs--
                    (A) that--
                            (i) is certified by Assistance Dogs 
                        International;
                            (ii) on average, provides one-on-one 
                        training for each service dog and recipient for 
                        30 hours or more over 90 days or more;
                            (iii) provides a wellness verification from 
                        a licensed veterinarian for each service dog;
                            (iv) provides an in-house residential 
                        facility, or other accommodations nearby, in 
                        which service dog recipients stay for a minimum 
                        of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of 
                        training with their new service dog;
                            (v) ensures all service dogs pass the 
                        American Kennel Club Community Canine test and 
                        the ADI Public Access Test prior to permanent 
                        placement with a recipient; and
                            (vi) provides follow-up support service for 
                        the life of the service dog, to include a 
                        contact plan between the veteran and 
                        organization to allow--
                                    (I) the veteran to reach out for 
                                and receive adequate help with the 
                                service dog; and
                                    (II) the organization to 
                                communicate with the veteran to ensure 
                                that the service dog is being properly 
                                cared for; or
                    (B) that meets the Association of Service Dog 
                Providers for Military Veterans Service Dog Agency 
                Standards that cater to the unique needs of veterans 
                with post-traumatic stress disorder;
            (2) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount 
        to guarantee the benefits listed under subsection (b)(1);
            (3) agree to reaccept or replace the service dog the 
        organization provided to the veteran, if necessary, as 
        determined by the organization and the veteran; and
            (4) submit to the Secretary an application containing such 
        information, certification, and assurances as the Secretary may 
        require.
    (d) Eligible Veterans.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        review and approve veterans eligible to participate under this 
        section and shall refer approved veterans to eligible 
        organizations. The period beginning on the date on which a 
        veteran applies to participate under this section and the date 
        on which the Secretary makes an approval determination may not 
        exceed 90 days.
            (2) Initial eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an 
        eligible veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the patient 
        enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under 
        section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, and--
                    (A) has been treated and has completed an 
                established evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic 
                stress disorder yet remains diagnosed with post-
                traumatic stress disorder by a qualified health care 
                provider as rated on the post-traumatic stress disorder 
                checklist (PCL-5);
                    (B) the health care provider or clinical team of 
                the Department of Veterans Affairs that is treating the 
                veteran for such disorder determines based upon medical 
                judgment that the veteran may potentially benefit from 
                a service dog; and
                    (C) agrees to successfully complete training 
                provided by an eligible organization pursuant to 
                subsection (c).
            (3) Ongoing eligibility.--To remain eligible to participate 
        in the pilot program, a veteran shall see the health care 
        provider or clinical team of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        treating the veteran for such a disorder at least every six 
        months to determine, based on a clinical evaluation of 
        efficacy, whether the veteran continues to benefit from a 
        service dog.
            (4) Other cases.--If at any point, the veteran is no longer 
        able or willing to care for the service dog, the organization 
        that provided the service dog and the veteran shall determine 
        the appropriate recourse to ensure the safety of both the 
        veteran and the service dog.
    (e) Relationship to Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits.--The 
provision of a service dog to a veteran under this section is in 
addition to any other hospital care or medical service furnished by the 
Department for that veteran for post-traumatic stress disorder, and an 
improvement in symptoms as a result of the provision of a service dog 
shall not affect the eligibility of the veteran for any other benefit 
under the laws administered by the Secretary.
    (f) Metrics.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall--
            (1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure, 
        with respect to veterans participating in the pilot program, 
        the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic 
        compliance of such veterans and changes with respect to the 
        dependence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic 
        medication of such veterans; and
            (2) establish processes to document and track the progress 
        of such veterans under the pilot program in terms of the 
        benefits and improvements noted as a result of the pilot 
        program.
    (g) GAO Briefing and Study.--
            (1) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date on 
        which the Secretary commences the pilot program under 
        subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States 
        shall provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the 
        methodology established for the pilot program.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on 
        which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General 
        shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a 
        report on the pilot program. Such report shall include an 
        evaluation of the approach and methodology used for the pilot 
        program with respect to--
                    (A) helping veterans with severe post-traumatic 
                stress disorder return to civilian life;
                    (B) relevant metrics, including reduction in 
                metrics such as reduction in scores under the post-
                traumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5), 
                improvement in psychosocial function, and therapeutic 
                compliance; and
                    (C) reducing the dependence of participants on 
                prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for the period of fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 
2023, $10,000,000 to carry out the pilot program under this section.
    (i) Offset.--The amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated 
for Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Human Resources and 
Administration for the period of fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 
2023 shall be reduced by $10,000,000.
    (j) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program under 
this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. An eligible veteran in possession of 
a service dog furnished under the pilot program as of the termination 
of the pilot program may keep the service dog after the termination of 
the program for the life of the dog.
[EX A]: Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2017 or the PAWS Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which it provides grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after completing other evidence-based treatment. An organization that receives a grant shall provide for each participating service dog and veteran:  coverage by a commercially available veterinary health insurance policy, hardware clinically determined to be required by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the veteran, payments for travel expenses to obtain the dog, and  travel expenses required to obtain a replacement service dog.  To be eligible for a grant, an organization must: (1) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee such benefits, (2) be certified by Assistance Dogs International, (3) provide one-on-one training for each service dog and recipient for 30 hours or more over 90 days or more, and (4) provide an in-house residential facility or other accommodations nearby in which service dog recipients stay for a minimum of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of training.  The VA shall develop metrics to measure the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic compliance and changes independence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication of veterans participating in the program. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the methodology used for the pilot program.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Early Education Employee Benefit Act 
of 2002''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make grants on a 
competitive basis, and payable during a period of not less than 2 years 
and not more than 5 years, to eligible States and political 
subdivisions of States--
            (1) to establish innovative partnerships with private 
        partners to reduce the cost incurred by employees and union 
        members to obtain early education (including child care, 
        preschool, and other early childhood programs), or
            (2) to assist private partners to pay part of the cost of 
        acquiring, building, and renovating physical premises to be 
        used as new early education facilities.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF STATES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF STATES TO 
              RECEIVE GRANTS.

    To be eligible to receive a grant under section 2, a State or a 
political subdivision of a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such form, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require by rule, including--
            (1) the agency designated by the State, or the political 
        subdivision of a State, to serve as the lead agency that will 
        administer such grant,
            (2) a description of the program such applicant intends to 
        carry out with such grant,
            (3) a description of the source, and increasing annual 
        amount, of the funds such applicant will use to pay the non-
        Federal share of the cost to carry out such program during a 
        period not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years, and
            (4) an agreement that such State or such political 
        subdivision--
                    (A) will contribute (from non-Federal funds) to 
                carry out such program, an amount equal to 50 percent 
                of the amount of such grant,
                    (B) will not require a private partner to offer on-
                site early education as a condition for participation 
                in an Early Education Benefit Agreement, and
                    (C) will use such grant to supplement, not 
                supplant, spending by such State, such political 
                subdivision, and private partners to improve access to 
                and enhance the quality of early education.

SEC. 4. SELECTION OF APPLICANTS TO RECEIVE GRANTS.

    In making grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority 
to eligible applicants that--
            (1) are, in the judgment of the Secretary, most likely to 
        increase the number of employees and members who receive an 
        Early Education Benefit through their employers and unions,
            (2) propose innovative public-private partnerships that 
        will carry out early education programs that are likely to be 
        replicated,
            (3) are likely to be sustainable beyond the period during 
        which such grant is expended,
            (4) are developed in consultation with child care resource 
        and referral agencies and networks, and with employers and 
        unions,
            (5) demonstrate the intention and ability to provide--
                    (A) with funds to be expended for the use described 
                in section 5(1), Early Education Benefits through Early 
                Education Benefit Agreements to a significant number of 
                employees of private employers with fewer than 50 
                employees, or
                    (B) with funds to be expended for the use described 
                in section 5(2), Early Education Start-up Grants to 
                private employers with fewer than 50 employees, and
                    (6) have experience working on early childhood 
                issues and working in partnership with the business 
                community, or have an agreement to implement the 
                program funded by a grant made under section 2 through 
                a nonprofit entity with such experience.

SEC. 5. USES OF FUNDS.

    A recipient of a grant made under section 2 shall use such grant--
            (1) to enter into Early Education Benefit Agreements to 
        provide Early Education Benefits, or
            (2) to provide funds to private partners to establish new 
        early education facilities,
except that not more than 5 percent of such grant may be used to pay 
administrative costs incurred by such recipient to carry out this Act, 
including providing outreach to private partners.

SEC. 6. EARLY EDUCATION BENEFIT AGREEMENTS.

    (a) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive funds to be used for 
the purpose specified in section 5(1) from a grant made under section 
2, a private partner, or consortia of private partners, shall enter 
into an Early Education Benefit Agreement with the recipient of such 
grant that includes the following:
            (1) An assurance that such private partner, or such 
        consortia, will pay not less than--
                    (A) \1/3\ of the cost of such Early Education 
                Benefit, or
                    (B) \1/5\ of such cost if such private partner, or 
                such consortia, creates a new early education facility 
                that--
                            (i) serves children less than 2 years of 
                        age or children with disabilities, or
                            (ii) is available during nontraditional 
                        work hours.
            (2) An assurance that such private partner, or such 
        consortia, shall offer such Early Education Benefit on a 
        priority basis to such employees or such members who have lower 
        incomes if such Early Education Benefit is not offered to all 
        such employees or all such members.
            (3) An assurance that if such private partner, or such 
        consortia, requires that such Early Education Benefit received 
        by an employee or member be expended at a limited number of 
        sites where early education (including child care, preschool, 
        and other early childhood programs) is provided, then 
there shall be at least 1 provider of early education (including child 
care, preschool, and other early childhood programs) for which such 
Early Education Benefit may be expended, that is--
                    (A) located at or near the residence or place of 
                employment of such employee or such member, and
                    (B) accredited by the National Association for the 
                Education of Young Children or the National Association 
                for Family Child Care, or taking steps to obtain such 
                accreditation.
            (4) An assurance that early education paid for in whole or 
        in part by such Early Education Benefit will be provided by a 
        provider that is licensed or regulated by the State.
            (5) A detailed description of--
                    (i) the nature of the Early Education Benefit to be 
                provided,
                    (ii) the respective financial contributions of such 
                private partner, or such consortia, and such grant 
                recipient, and the procedures by which such 
                contributions will be made,
                    (iii) the number of employees or members expected 
                to receive the Early Education Benefit provided under 
                such Agreement, and
                    (iv) the estimated total cost of such Benefit to 
                such private partner (or such consortia), such grant 
                recipient, and such employees or such members.
    (b) Selection of Private Partners To Enter Into Early Education 
Benefit Agreements.--In selecting private partners with which to enter 
into Early Education Benefit Agreements, a recipient of a grant made 
under section 2 shall give priority to--
            (1) private partners that will make larger financial 
        contributions to the Early Education Benefit,
            (2) private partners with fewer employees or members,
            (3) private partners that will make an Early Education 
        Benefit available to employees and members on a sliding scale 
        inversely proportional to their level of earned income, and
            (4) private partners that have a history of personnel 
        policies and practices that enable their employees or their 
        members to balance work commitments with family obligations.

SEC. 7. EARLY EDUCATION START-UP GRANTS.

    (a) Eligibility To Receive Funds.--To be eligible to receive funds 
for the use specified in section 5(2) from a grant made under section 
2, a private partner shall agree--
            (1) to subsidize attendance at the proposed new early 
        education facility for children of lower-paid employees or 
        members, and
            (2) to pay not less than \1/3\ of the cost of acquiring, 
        building, and renovating physical premises to be used as such 
        facility.
    (b) Selection of Private Partners To Receive Funds.--In providing 
funds to private partners from a grant received for the use specified 
in section 5(2), a recipient of a grant made under section 2 shall give 
priority to--
            (1) private partners that will create a facility to provide 
        early education that--
                    (A) serves children less than 2 years of age or 
                children with disabilities, or
                    (B) is available during nontraditional hours during 
                which their parents are employed,
            (2) private partners that will operate such a facility that 
        is accredited, has a low ratio of children to adults, or 
        demonstrates other facts that show such facility offers an 
        early education program of high quality,
            (3) private partners that will pay with nongovernmental 
        funds a larger share of the cost of the use for which the Early 
        Education Start-up Grant funds will be expended,
            (4) private partners that have fewer employees or members, 
        and
            (5) private partners that have a history of personnel 
        policies and practices that enable their employees or members 
        to balance work commitments with family obligations.

SEC. 8. REPORTS.

    (a) Reports by Grantees.--The Secretary shall issue rules that 
require each recipient of a grant made under section 2 to submit 
annually to the Secretary a report that includes the following 
information for the fiscal year for which such report is submitted:
            (1) The number of Early Education Benefit Agreements 
        participated in and Start-Up Grants made.
            (2) Information about the private partners, including the 
        industry of which they are a part and their size.
            (3) Information about the number of employees who are both 
        offered and are receiving Early Education Benefits as a result 
        of such grant,including the number and average incomes of 
        employees who are receiving Early Education Benefits and the 
        number of employees who were offered and declined Early 
        Education Benefits.
            (4) Information about the amount of private spending on 
        Early Education Benefits and on the investment in new early 
        education facilities leveraged by the grants.
            (5) If appropriate and available, information about whether 
        and at what level private partners have continued to provide 
        Early Education Benefits after the conclusion of the grantee's 
        participation in an Early Education Benefit Agreement.
    (b) Reports by the Secretary.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress biennially a report that includes the following information 
for the period of 2 fiscal years for which such report is submitted:
            (1) Summaries of the reports received under subsection (a) 
        by the Secretary for such period.
            (2) A description of the implementation of this Act, and 
        its impact on employees' access to early education programs for 
        their children, during such period.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who is 
        less that 6 years of age.
            (2) Early Education Benefit.--The term ``Early Education 
        Benefit'' means assistance, in cash or in kind, to pay any part 
        of the cost incurred by employees and union members to obtain 
        early education (including child care, preschool, and other 
        early childhood programs) for their children.
            (3) Early Education Benefit Agreement.--The term ``Early 
        Education Benefit Agreement'' means a contract under which a 
        recipient of a grant under section 2 and a private partner that 
        receives from such recipient funds provided for the use 
        described in section 5(1) agree to provide jointly an Early 
        Education Benefit for children of the members or employees of 
        such private partner.
            (4) Private Partner.--The term ``private partner'' means a 
        private employer, labor union, and consortia of employers or 
        labor unions.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such 
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2003 through 2007.
[EX A]: Early Education Employee Benefit Act of 2002 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make competitive matching grants to States and local governments to: (1) enter Early Education Benefit Agreements with private partners to provide part of the cost of Early Education Benefits, which reduce costs incurred by employees and union members to obtain early education (including child care, preschool, and other early childhood programs); or (2) make Early Education Start-Up Grants to assist private partners to pay part of the cost of acquiring, building, and renovating physical premises to be used as new early education facilities, if such partners subsidize attendance at those facilities for children of lower-paid employees or union members.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on the Foreclosure and 
Mortgage Lending Crisis Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established in the legislative branch a commission to be 
known as the ``Commission on the Foreclosure and Mortgage Lending 
Crisis'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States is experiencing a steady increase in 
        foreclosures and mortgage lending problems that have impacted 
        homeowners, families, communities, the United States economy 
        and the global credit markets.
            (2) In 2006, there were an estimated 1,300,000 foreclosures 
        in the United States.
            (3) This number increased by 79 percent in 2007, bringing 
        the estimated number of foreclosures nationwide to 2,200,000.
            (4) In 2008, an estimated 3,200,000 foreclosures were 
        reported nationwide.
            (5) Estimates suggest that this trend is likely to continue 
        with millions more Americans potentially losing their homes to 
        foreclosure in the next 4 years.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a commission 
to undertake a comprehensive analysis and review of the causes of the 
current foreclosure and mortgage lending crisis and to submit a report 
of its findings to the Congress. The Commission shall also recommend 
legislative and regulatory changes that will prohibit the kinds of 
lending practices that contributed to the increased foreclosure rate 
and the current mortgage lending crisis.

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION.

    (a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 members as 
follows:
            (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the House of Representatives.
            (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
        the Senate.
            (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the Senate.
            (5) The Secretary of the Treasury or his designee.
            (6) The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal 
        Reserve System or his designee.
    (b) Deadline for Appointment.--All members of the Commission shall 
be appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (c) Co-Chairmen.--Of the members appointed to the Commission under 
paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a), 2 shall be designated as 
the Co-Chairmen of the Commission. One Co-Chairman shall be designated 
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in consultation with the 
majority leader of the Senate and the other Co-Chairman shall be 
designated by the minority leader of the House of Representatives in 
consultation with the minority leader of the Senate.
    (d) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made.
    (e) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Members of the Commission shall serve 
        without pay.
            (2) 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 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (f) Initial Meeting; Rules of Procedure; Quorum.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin 
        the operations of the Commission not later than 60 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Meetings.--After its initial meeting, the Commission 
        shall meet upon the call of a majority of its members.
            (3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
        shall constitute a quorum.
            (4) Rules of procedure.--The Commission may establish rules 
        for the conduct of the Commission's business, if such rules are 
        consistent with this Act and other applicable law.

SEC. 5. DUTIES.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall--
            (1) study and assess the current legal and regulatory 
        framework governing the housing mortgage lending markets and 
        investigate how such framework contributed to the increased 
        foreclosure rate, including--
                    (A) refinancing practices;
                    (B) loan-to-value ratios; and
                    (C) the prevalence of fraudulent industry 
                practices;
            (2) recommend changes to the current legal and regulatory 
        framework to prohibit lending practices that have contributed 
        to the mortgage lending crisis;
            (3) review the impact of subprime abuses and predatory 
        lending practices;
            (4) assess the role of States in enacting policies to 
        reduce predatory lending practices and abuses in the subprime 
        markets;
            (5) assess the impact of mortgage-backed securities and the 
        Federal National Mortgage Corporation (``Fannie Mae'') and the 
        Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (``Freddie Mac'') on the 
        mortgage lending crisis; and
            (6) assess the impact of the Community Reinvestment Act of 
        1977 (12 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) on the mortgage lending crisis.
    (b) Final Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Congress a 
final report containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations 
as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members. If, at the 
conclusion of such 12-month period, a majority of the Commission 
determines it necessary, the Commission may be granted a 6-month 
extension for submission of its final report upon written notification 
to the Congress.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act--
            (1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and 
        places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer 
        such oaths; and
            (2) subject to subsection (b)(1), subpoena or otherwise 
        require the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the 
        production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, 
        papers, and documents as the Commission may determine 
        advisable.
    (b) Subpoenas.--
            (1) Issuance.--
                    (A) In general.--A subpoena may be issued under 
                this section only by the affirmative vote of a majority 
                of the members of the Commission.
                    (B) Signature.--Subject to subparagraph (A), 
                subpoenas issued under this section may be issued under 
                the signature of the Co-Chairmen or any member 
                designated by a majority of the Commission, may be 
                served by any person designated by the Co-Chairmen or 
                by a member designated by a majority of the Commission.
            (2) Enforcement.--
                    (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 where 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 by the court as a 
                contempt of that court.
                    (B) Additional enforcement.--In the case of any 
                failure of any witness to comply with any subpoena or 
                to testify when summoned under authority of this 
                section, the Commission may, by 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 its action, under the 
                same statutory authority and procedures as if the 
                United States attorney had received as certification 
                under section 102 through 104 of the Revised Statutes 
                of the United States (2 U.S.C. 192 through 194).
    (c) Contract Authority.--The Commission may, to such extent and in 
such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into 
contracts to enable the Commission to carry out its duties under this 
Act.
    (d) Information From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--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 statistics to carry out its duties under this 
        Act. Each 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 made by a majority of the members of 
        the Commission.
            (2) Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.--
        Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and 
        disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff 
        consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and 
        Executive orders.
    (e) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) General services administration.--The Administrator of 
        General Services shall provide to the Commission on a 
        reimbursable basis administrative support and other services to 
        assist the Commission in carrying out its duties.
            (2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to the 
        assistance described in paragraph (1), departments and agencies 
        of the United States may provide to the Commission such 
        services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services 
        as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by 
        law.
    (f) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments 
and agencies of the United States.
    (g) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Appointment and compensation.--The Co-Chairmen, 
                in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, 
                may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff 
                director and such other personnel as may be necessary 
                to enable the Commission to carry out its duties, 
                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 Schedule 
                pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this 
                subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable 
                for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule 
                under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
                    (B) Personnel as federal employees.--
                            (i) In general.--The staff director and any 
                        personnel of the Commission who are employees 
                        shall be 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.
                            (ii) Members of the commission.--Clause (i) 
                        shall not apply to members of the Commission.
            (2) 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.
            (3) Expert and consultant services.--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.
            (4) Volunteer services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of 
        title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and use 
        voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission 
        determines necessary.

SEC. 7. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.

    (a) In General.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
shall not apply to the Commission.
    (b) Public Meetings and Release of Public Versions of Reports.--The 
Commission shall--
            (1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent 
        appropriate; and
            (2) release public versions of the report required under 
        section 5(b).
    (c) Public Hearings.--Any public hearings of the Commission shall 
be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information 
provided to or developed for or by the Commission as required by any 
applicable statute, regulations, or Executive order.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission and all the authorities of this 
Act, shall terminate not later than 60 days after the date on which the 
final report is submitted under section 5(b).
    (b) Administrative Activities Before Termination.--The Commission 
may use the 60-day period referred to in subsection (a) for the purpose 
of concluding its activities, including providing testimony to 
committees of Congress concerning its report and disseminating the 
final report.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriation.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this Act.
[EX A]:
Commission on the Foreclosure and Mortgage Lending Crisis Act - Establishes in the legislative branch the Commission on the Foreclosure and Mortgage Lending Crisis to: (1) study and report to Congress on the current legal and regulatory framework governing the housing mortgage lending markets and how it contributed to the increased foreclosure rate; (2) recommend changes to the current framework to prohibit lending practices that have contributed to the mortgage lending crisis; (3) review the impact of subprime abuses and predatory lending practices; (4) assess the role of states in enacting policies to reduce predatory lending practices and abuses in the subprime markets; (5) assess the impact of mortgage-backed securities and the Federal National Mortgage Corporation (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) upon the mortgage lending crisis; and (6) assess the impact of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 on the crisis.