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

    This Act may be cited as the ``Living Independently for Extended 
Time Act'' or the ``LIFETIME Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The number of Americans over age 65 or living with a 
        disability is growing, and over 70 percent of these individuals 
        will need some form of long-term services and supports, with a 
        majority of individuals preferring home and community-based 
        care.
            (2) This is a major demographic shift and provides an 
        opportunity for innovative solutions in long-term services and 
        supports.
            (3) Developing programs to facilitate high-quality 
        independent community-based living, create and improve jobs, 
        and address and improve upon gaps in existing systems will be 
        essential to providing necessary services and supports to these 
        individuals and families.
            (4) It is imperative that Congress act to address the 
        looming long-term services and supports crisis.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to establish a grant program to 
provide incentives to States for the development of solutions to the 
increased need of individuals for long-term services and supports and 
to increase State support and systems in long-term care.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS INNOVATION 
              GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) State Planning Grants.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
        which grant announcements are made under subsection (d), the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act 
        as the ``Secretary'') shall award grants to eligible States to 
        enable such States to develop innovative programs to meet the 
        unique need for long-term services and supports in the State.
            (2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        paragraph (1), a State shall--
                    (A) submit to the Secretary an application, at such 
                time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                as the Secretary may require;
                    (B) demonstrate to the Secretary that the State 
                will work in conjunction with both public and private 
                long-term services and supports stakeholder groups 
                described in paragraph (3) to develop a coordinated 
                statewide long-term services and supports program for 
                the State that is not duplicative of other programs 
                providing such services and supports in the State; and
                    (C) provide assurances that the State will, not 
                later than 1 year after the date on which the grant is 
                awarded, submit to the Secretary a comprehensive plan 
                for the implementation of innovative long-term services 
                and supports program in the State, which shall include 
                the utilization of existing State or local frameworks.
            (3) Stakeholder groups.--Stakeholder groups described in 
        this paragraph shall be groups that--
                    (A) represent the interests of--
                            (i) consumers of long-term services and 
                        supports and related insurance products, as 
                        well as their representatives;
                            (ii) older adults;
                            (iii) individuals with cognitive or 
                        functional limitations;
                            (iv) family caregivers for individuals 
                        described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii);
                            (v) the health care workforce who directly 
                        provide long-term services and supports;
                            (vi) private long-term services and 
                        supports insurance providers;
                            (vii) employers;
                            (viii) State insurance departments;
                            (ix) area agency on aging or State agency 
                        on aging;
                            (x) direct care workforce; and
                            (xi) State Medicaid agencies;
                    (B) have demonstrated experience in dealing with 
                issues related to long-term services and supports, 
                health care policy, and public and private insurance; 
                and
                    (C) represent the health care interests and needs 
                of a variety of geographic areas and demographic 
                groups.
    (b) State Implementation Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
        eligible States to enable such States to implement the 
        comprehensive plans submitted under subsection (a)(2)(C) to 
        meet the long-term services and supports needs of such States.
            (2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        paragraph (1), a State shall--
                    (A) submit to the Secretary an application, at such 
                time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                as the Secretary may require;
                    (B) have submitted a comprehensive plan under 
                subsection (a)(2)(C) that has been approved by the 
                Secretary or, if the State has not applied for a grant 
                under subsection (a), submit a plan (that is similar to 
                the plans required under subsection (a)(2)(C)) to the 
                Secretary for the implementation of new, or continued 
                operation of existing, long-term services and supports 
                activities;
                    (C) provide assurances that the State will provide 
                long-term services and supports under the grant to 
                individuals who demonstrate a need for such services 
                regardless of age;
                    (D) provide assurances that the State will provide 
                matching funds in accordance with paragraph (3); and
                    (E) submit to the Secretary progress and outcomes 
                reports containing uniform data as determined 
                appropriate by the Secretary.
            (3) Matching requirement.--To be eligible to receive a 
        grant under paragraph (1), a State shall agree, with respect to 
        the costs to be incurred by the State in implementing the 
        comprehensive plan under subsection (a)(2)(C), to make 
        available non-Federal contributions (in cash or in-kind) toward 
        such costs in an amount equal to not less than $1 for each $4 
        of Federal funds provided under the grant. Such contributions 
        may be made directly or through donations from public or 
        private entities.
            (4) Preference.--In awarding grants under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall give preference to States that 
        demonstrate--
                    (A) the activities to be carried out under the 
                grant will enhances access to quality, affordable long-
                term services and supports for consumers; and
                    (B) the sustainability and scalability of the 
                program to be carried out under the grant beyond the 
                grant period.
            (5) Limitation.--A State shall not use in excess of 5 
        percent of the amount awarded under a grant under paragraph (1) 
        for the administrative expenses associated with carrying out 
        activities under the grant.
    (c) Technical Assistance and Outcomes Data.--The Secretary may use 
not to exceed 5 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year 
under subsection (f) to--
            (1) provide technical assistance to States in carrying out 
        programs under this section; and
            (2) collect and disseminate data, including from the 
        reports submitted by the States under subsection (b)(2)(D), on 
        improvements to long-term services and supports provided in the 
        States and the effect that grants under this section had on the 
        availability of such services and supports.
    (d) Grant Announcements.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall announce the opportunity to 
apply for the initial series of grants under this section. Not later 
than 2 years after such date, the Secretary shall announce the 
opportunity to apply for the remaining grants under this section.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which grants 
are awarded under subsection (b), and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the activities carried 
out under grants under this section, including a description of 
improvements to long-term services and supports provided in the States 
and the effect that grants under this section had on the availability 
of such services and supports.
    (f) Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated--
                    (A) to award grants under subsection (a), 
                $50,000,000, to be used during the first fiscal year 
                for which such grants are awarded; and
                    (B) to award grants under subsection (b), 
                $250,000,000, to be available until expended.
            (2) Additional amounts.--In addition to amounts 
        appropriated under paragraph (1)(B) for a fiscal year, the 
        Secretary may use any amounts appropriated under paragraph 
        (1)(A) and remaining unexpended after fiscal year 2015 to award 
        grants under subsection (b).
    (g) Definition.--In this Act, the term ``long-term services and 
supports'' means the services and supports described in section 321(a) 
of the Older Americans Act of (42 U.S.C. 3030d(a) et seq.).

SOLUTION: Living Independently for Extended Time Act or the LIFETIME Act  This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to enable eligible states to develop innovative programs to meet the unique need for long-term services and supports in the state. 

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Twice since 1989, the northwestern coast of Maui, 
        Hawaii, has been plagued with massive blooms of the green alga, 
        Cladorphora sericea. Blooms of the red alga, Hypnea 
        musciformis, have also occurred in the area and in the Kihei 
        area.
            (2) The algal blooms have destroyed corals and other reef-
        building organisms, and have washed up on beaches and severely 
        impeded the recreational use of affected coastal areas.
            (3) The algal blooms are particularly detrimental to the 
        natural ecological balance of the near-shore reef environment.
            (4) Although the specific causes of the algal blooms are 
        uncertain, algal growth is stimulated in a proportional manner 
        by concentrations of chemicals such as fertilizers and 
        insecticides, which enter the ocean through freshwater runoff.
            (5) The Department of Health of the State of Hawaii has 
        indicated that the department does not have the resources at 
        this time to determine the cause of the algal blooms.
            (6) Extensive research will be required to determine the 
        factors that contribute to algal growth.
            (7) Potential sources of nutrients that may contribute to 
        algal growth include the near-shore disposal of sewage in 
        injection wells from the Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant, 
        surface runoff from agricultural lands and urban resort areas, 
        and subsurface point sources in the areas.
            (8) The long-term environmental impacts of the algal blooms 
        are unknown, but in the short term, reefs exposed to the algae 
        are being destroyed and the deterioration of the coral has 
        detrimental effects on fish and other wildlife that depend on 
        the reefs for survival.
            (9) The algal blooms are generating negative economic 
        impacts as well as negative biological impacts, as additional 
        reports indicate that the algae are decreasing the intake of 
        fish caught by local fishermen in the affected marine waters.
            (10) The Maui Algae Task Force is comprised of community 
        environmental activists and has been assembled to address the 
        problem of algal blooms.
            (11) The Maui Algae Task Force hopes to work in cooperation 
        with the Department of Health of the State of Hawaii and the 
        Environmental Protection Agency to identify and eradicate the 
        causes of the algal blooms.

SEC. 2. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Administrator'') 
shall conduct a study to--
            (1) determine the causes of recent algal blooms off the 
        northwestern coast of Maui, Hawaii; and
            (2) research alternatives for the improved management of 
        chemicals present in wastewater treatment and fresh water 
        runoff.
    (b) Study Requirements.--In carrying out the study under this 
section, the Administrator shall--
            (1) survey and monitor--
                    (A) seaweed populations and animals for which the 
                seaweed is a food source;
                    (B) surface water runoff sediments in the study 
                area; and
                    (C) inputs into the study area from subsurface 
                point sources, including any such inputs from the 
                Lahaina wastewater treatment plant; and
            (2) study the responses of--
                    (A) the seaweed populations referred to in 
                paragraph (1)(A) to different concentrations of 
                nutrients; and
                    (B) the animals referred to in paragraph (1)(A) to 
                pesticides and other biological toxins.
    (c) Equipment; Grants.--
            (1) Acquisition of equipment.--In carrying out the study 
        under this section, the Administrator is authorized to acquire 
        such monitoring and testing equipment as the Administrator 
        determines necessary.
            (2) Grants.--In carrying out the study under this section, 
        the Administrator is authorized to establish a grant program to 
        provide grants to eligible entities that submit approved 
        applications to the Administrator. The following entities may 
        submit an application to conduct study activities under this 
        section:
                    (A) The Department of Health of the State of 
                Hawaii.
                    (B) The Maui Algae Task Force.
                    (C) Appropriate Federal, State, or county 
                departments or agencies.
                    (D) Any other entity that the Administrator 
                determines to be appropriate.
    (d) Demonstration Projects.--In carrying out the study under this 
section, the Administrator is authorized to establish demonstration 
projects to identify and implement best management practices for the 
control of nonpoint source pollution from erosion and agricultural 
runoff.
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) Interim report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
        Congress a report that includes interim results of the study 
        conducted under this section, and such recommendations as the 
        Administrator determines to be appropriate.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than January 31, 1996, the 
        Administrator shall submit to Congress a final report that 
        summarizes the results of the study conducted under this 
        section and includes such recommendations as the Administrator 
        determines to be appropriate.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out this 
section $500,000 for each of fiscal years 1994 and 1995.

SOLUTION: Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to study and report to the Congress on the causes of recent algal blooms off the northwestern coast of Maui, Hawaii, and to research alternatives for the improved management of chemicals present in wastewater treatment and fresh water runoff. 
Authorizes the Administrator to establish:  (1) a grant program to enable eligible entities to conduct study activities; and (2) demonstration projects to implement best management practices for the control of nonpoint source pollution from erosion and agricultural runoff. 
Authorizes appropriations.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rails to Resources Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) rail transportation is an essential component of the 
        North American intermodal transportation system;
            (2) the development of economically strong and socially 
        stable communities in the western United States and Canada was 
        encouraged significantly by government policies promoting the 
        development of integrated transcontinental, interstate and 
        interprovincial rail systems in the states, territories and 
        provinces of the two countries;
            (3) United States and Canadian federal support for the 
        completion of new elements of the transcontinental, interstate 
        and interprovincial rail systems was halted before rail 
        connections were established to the state of Alaska and the 
        Yukon Territory;
            (4) both public and private lands in Alaska, the Yukon 
        Territory and northern British Columbia, including lands held 
        by aboriginal peoples, contain extensive deposits of oil, gas, 
        coal and other minerals as well as valuable forest products 
        which presently are inaccessible, but which could provide 
        significant economic benefit to local communities and to both 
        nations if an economically efficient transportation system was 
        available;
            (5) rail transportation in otherwise isolated areas 
        facilitates controlled access and reduced overall impact to 
        environmentally sensitive areas;
            (6) the extension of the continental rail system through 
        northern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to the 
        current terminus of the Alaska Railroad would significantly 
        benefit the U.S. and Canadian visitor industries by 
        facilitating the comfortable movement of passengers over long 
        distances while minimizing effects on the surrounding areas; 
        and
            (7) ongoing research and development efforts in the rail 
        industry continue to increase the efficiency of rail 
        transportation, ensure safety, and decrease the impact of rail 
        service on the environment.

SEC. 3. AGREEMENT FOR A UNITED STATES-CANADA BILATERAL COMMISSION.

    The President is authorized and urged to enter into an agreement 
with the Government of Canada to establish a joint commission to study 
the feasibility and advisability of linking the rail system in Alaska 
to the nearest appropriate point on the North American continental rail 
system.

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Membership.--
            (1) Total membership.--The Agreement should provide for the 
        Commission to be composed of 20 members, of which 10 members 
        are appointed by the President and 10 members are appointed by 
        the Government of Canada.
            (2) General qualifications.--The Agreement should provide 
        for the membership of the Commission, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, to be representative of--
                    (A) the interests of the local communities 
                (including the governments of the communities), 
                aboriginal peoples, and businesses that would be 
                affected by the connection of the rail system in Alaska 
                to the North American continental rail system; and
                    (B) a broad range of expertise in areas of 
                knowledge that are relevant to the significant issues 
                to be considered by the Commission, including 
                economics, engineering, management of resources (such 
                as minerals and timber), social sciences, fish and game 
                management, environmental sciences, and transportation.
    (b) United States Membership.--If the United States and Canada 
enter into an agreement providing for the establishment of the 
Commission, the President shall appoint the United States members of 
the Commission as follows:
            (1) Two members from among persons who are qualified to 
        represent the interests of communities and local governments of 
        Alaska.
            (2) One member representing the State of Alaska, to be 
        nominated by the Governor of Alaska.
            (3) One member from among persons who are qualified to 
        represent the interests of Native Alaskans residing in the area 
        of Alaska that would be affected by the extension of rail 
        service.
            (4) Three members from among persons involved in commercial 
        activities in Alaska who are qualified to represent commercial 
        interests in Alaska, of which one shall be a representative of 
        the Alaska Railroad Corporation.
            (5) Three members with relevant expertise, at least one of 
        whom shall be an engineer with expertise in subarctic 
        transportation.
    (c) Canadian Membership.--The Agreement should provide for the 
Canadian membership of the Commission to be representative of broad 
categories of interests of Canada as the Government of Canada 
determines appropriate, consistent with subsection (a)(2).

SEC. 5. GOVERNANCE AND STAFFING OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Chairman.--The Agreement should provide for the Chairman of the 
Commission to be elected from among the members of the Commission by a 
majority vote of the members.
    (b) Compensation and Expenses of United States Members.--
            (1) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission appointed 
        by the President 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 5315 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. Each such member who is an officer or 
        employee of the United States shall serve without compensation 
        in addition to that received for services as an officer or 
        employee of the United States.
            (2) Travel expenses.--The members of the Commission 
        appointed by the President 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 Agreement should provide for the 
        appointment of a staff and an executive director to be the head 
        of the staff.
            (2) Compensation.--Funds made available for the Commission 
        by the United States may be used to pay the compensation of the 
        executive director and other personnel at rates fixed by the 
        Commission that are not in excess of the rate payable for level 
        V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
    (d) Office.--The Agreement should provide for the office of the 
Commission to be located in a mutually agreed location within the 
impacted areas of Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and northern British 
Columbia.
    (e) Meetings.--The Agreement should provide for the Commission to 
meet at least biannually to review progress and to provide guidance to 
staff and others, and to hold, in locations within the affected areas 
of Alaska, the Yukon Territory and northern British Columbia, such 
additional informational or public meetings as the Commission deems 
necessary to the conduct of its business.
    (f) Procurement of Services.--The Agreement should authorize and 
encourage the Commission to procure by contract, to the maximum extent 
practicable, the services (including any temporary and intermittent 
services) that the Commission determines necessary for carrying out the 
duties of the Commission. In the case of any contract for the services 
of an individual, funds made available for the Commission by the United 
States may not be used to pay for the services of the individual at a 
rate that exceeds the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 6. DUTIES.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Agreement should provide for the 
        Commission to study and assess, on the basis of all available 
        relevant information, the feasibility and advisability of 
        linking the rail system in Alaska to the North American 
        continental rail system through the continuation of the rail 
        system in Alaska from its northeastern terminus to a connection 
        with the continental rail system in Canada.
            (2) Specific issues.--The Agreement should provide for the 
        study and assessment to include the consideration of the 
        following issues:
                    (A) Railroad engineering.
                    (B) Land ownership.
                    (C) Geology.
                    (D) Proximity to mineral, timber, tourist, and 
                other resources.
                    (E) Market outlook.
                    (F) Environmental considerations.
                    (G) Social effects, including changes in the use or 
                availability of natural resources.
                    (H) Potential financing mechanisms.
            (3) Route.--The Agreement should provide for the 
        Commission, upon finding that it is feasible and advisable to 
        link the rail system in Alaska as described in paragraph (1), 
        to determine one or more recommended routes for the rail 
        segment that establishes the linkage, taking into consideration 
        cost, distance, access to potential freight markets, 
        environmental matters, and such other factors as the Commission 
        determines relevant.
            (4) Combined corridor evaluation.--The Agreement should 
        also provide for the Commission to consider whether it would be 
        feasible and advisable to combine the power transmission 
        infrastructure and petroleum product pipelines of other 
        utilities into one corridor with a rail extension of the rail 
        system of Alaska.
    (b) Report.--The Agreement should require the Commission to submit 
to Congress and the Secretary of Transportation and to the Minister of 
Transport of the Government of Canada, not later than 3 years after the 
Commission commencement date, a report on the results of the study, 
including the Commission's findings regarding the feasibility and 
advisability of linking the rail system in Alaska as described in 
subsection (a)(1) and the Commission's recommendations regarding the 
preferred route and any alternative routes for the rail segment 
establishing the linkage.

SEC. 7. COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Commencement.--The Agreement should provide for the Commission 
to begin to function on the date on which all members are appointed to 
the Commission as provided for in the Agreement.
    (b) Termination.--The Commission should be terminated 90 days after 
the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 6.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) Rails to Resources Fund.--The Agreement should provide for the 
following:
            (1) Establishment.--The establishment of an interest-
        bearing account to be known as the ``Rails to Resources Fund''.
            (2) Contributions.--The contribution by the United States 
        and the Government of Canada to the Fund of amounts that are 
        sufficient for the Commission to carry out its duties.
            (3) Availability.--The availability of amounts in the Fund 
        to pay the costs of Commission activities.
            (4) Dissolution.--Dissolution of the Fund upon the 
        termination of the Commission and distribution of the amounts 
        remaining in the Fund between the United States and the 
        Government of Canada.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to any fund established as described in subsection (a)(1) 
$6,000,000, to remain available until expended.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agreement.--The term ``Agreement'' means an agreement 
        described in section 2.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means a commission 
        established pursuant to any Agreement.

            Passed the Senate October 13 (legislative day, September 
      22), 2000.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
106th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2253

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

    To authorize the establishment of a joint United States-Canada 
 commission to study the feasibility of connecting the rail system in 
  Alaska to the North American continental rail system; and for other 
                               purposes.

SOLUTION:
Provides for the establishment of the Rails to Resources Fund to pay for the costs of commission activities.
Authorizes appropriations.