instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. ALEXANDER CREEK VILLAGE RECOGNITION.

    The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 43. ALEXANDER CREEK VILLAGE RECOGNITION.

    ``(a) Recognition of the Village of Alexander Creek.--Subject to 
the limitations of this section and notwithstanding section 1432(d) of 
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (Public Law 96-487) 
to the contrary, Alexander Creek, located within Township 15N, Range 
7W, Seward Meridian, Alaska, is and shall be recognized as an eligible 
Native village under section 11(b)(3) of this Act.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the following 
terms apply:
            ``(1) The term `agency' includes--
                    ``(A) any instrumentality of the United States;
                    ``(B) any element of an agency; and
                    ``(C) any wholly owned or mixed-owned corporation 
                of the United States Government identified in chapter 
                91 of title 31, United States Code.
            ``(2) The term `conservation system unit' has the meaning 
        given that term in the Alaska National Interest Lands 
        Conservation Act.
            ``(3) The term `Alexander Creek' means Alexander Creek 
        Incorporated, an Alaska Native Group corporation, organized 
        pursuant to this Act.
            ``(4) The term `property' has the meaning given that term 
        in Public Law 94-204 (43 U.S.C. 1611 note).
            ``(5) The term `Region' means Cook Inlet Region 
        Incorporated, an Alaska Native Regional Corporation, which is 
        the appropriate Regional Corporation for Alexander Creek under 
        section 1613(h) of this Act.
            ``(6) The term `CIRI Property Account' means the account in 
        the Treasury established by the Secretary of the Treasury 
        pursuant to section 12(b) of Public Law 94-204 (43 U.S.C. 1611 
        note), referred to in that section as the `Cook Inlet Region, 
        Incorporated property account'.
    ``(c) Establishment.--(1) The Secretary of the Treasury, in 
consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish an 
account in the Treasury to be known as the `Alexander Creek account' 
which shall be funded in the full amount provided for by this section 
within 24 months of the date of enactment of this section
    ``(2) Funds in the Alexander Creek account shall--
            ``(A) be available to Alexander Creek for bidding on and 
        purchasing property sold at public sale, subject to paragraph 
        (3); and
            ``(B) remain available until expended.
    ``(3)(A) Alexander Creek may use funds in the Alexander Creek 
account to bid as any other bidder for property in Alaska at any public 
sale by an agency and may purchase such property in accordance with 
applicable laws and regulations of the agency offering the property for 
sale.
    ``(B) In conducting a transaction described in subparagraph (A), an 
agency shall accept, in the same manner as cash, any amount tendered 
from the Alexander Creek account. The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
adjust the balance of the Alexander Creek account to reflect the 
transaction.
    ``(C) The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Interior, shall establish procedures for the following 
transactions related to the Alexander Creek account:
            ``(i) Receipt of deposits.
            ``(ii) Receipt of deposits into escrow when an escrow is 
        required for the sale of property.
            ``(iii) Reinstatement to the Alexander Creek account of any 
        unused escrow deposits in the event that a sale of property is 
        not consummated.
    ``(d) Amount.--(1) The initial balance of the Alexander Creek 
account shall be the fair market value as determined by the appraisal 
conducted under subsection (g) of the surface estate of the 
approximately 61,440 acres of deficiency selections previously made by 
Alexander Creek, which comprise the following parcels of land:
                    ``T. 2 T., R. 19 W., secs. 3 and 4.
                    ``T. 2 T., R. 19 W., sec. 10.
                    ``T. 2 T., R. 19 W., secs. 14 and 15.
                    ``T. 3 T., R. 19 W., sec. 30.
                    ``T. 2 T., R. 20 W., secs. 20 through 23.
                    ``T. 3 T., R. 20 W., sec. 10.
                    ``T. 3 T., R. 20 W., sec. 14.
                    ``T. 3 T., R. 20 W., secs. 24 and 25.
                    ``T. 1 T., R. 26 W., sec. 31.
                    ``T. 2 T., R. 27 W., secs. 3 and 4.
                    ``T. 2 T., R. 29 W., secs. 3 through 5.
                    ``T. 2 S., R. 19 W., sec. 18.
                    ``T. 2 S., R. 20 W., secs. 12 and 13.
                    ``T. 2 S., R. 20 W., sec. 24.
                    ``T. 2 S., R. 20 W., secs. 26 and 27.
                    ``T. 2 S., R. 20 W., secs. 33 and 34.
                    ``T. 3 S., R. 23 W., sec. 25.
                    ``T. 6 S., R. 24 W., secs. 1 and 2.
                    ``T. 6 S., R. 24 W., sec. 11.
                    ``T. 6 S., R. 24 W., secs. 18 through 20.
                    ``T. 9 S., R. 27 W., secs. 6 and 7.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., sec. 2.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., sec. 21.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., secs. 28 and 29.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., secs. 31 through 33.
                    ``T. 8 S., R. 28 W., secs. 5 through 7.
                    ``T. 9 S., R. 28 W., sec. 1.
                    ``T. 9 S., R. 28 W., sec. 12.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 29 W., sec. 12.
                    ``T. 8 S., R. 29 W., sec. 1.
                    ``T. 8 S., R. 29 W., secs. 3 and 4.
                    ``T. 8 S., R. 29 W., secs. 8 through 20.
                    ``T. 2 N., R. 20 W., sec. 13.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 27 W., sec. 8.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 27 W., sec. 16.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 27 W., secs. 20 through 23.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 27 W., sec. 25.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 27 W., sec. 36.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 28 W., secs. 1 and 2.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 28 W., secs. 8 through 11.
                    ``T. 1 N., R. 28 W., secs. 16 through 18.
                    ``T. 3 S., R. 23 W., sec. 8.
                    ``T. 3 S., R. 23 W., sec. 26.
                    ``T. 3 S., R. 23 W., sec. 33.
                    ``T. 6 S., R. 24 W., secs. 27 and 28.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., secs. 4 through 7.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., secs. 10 and 11.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., secs. 14 and 15.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., sec. 22.
                    ``T. 8 S., R. 29 W., sec. 5.
                    ``T. 2 N., R. 20 W., sec. 30.
                    ``T. 3 N., R. 20 W., sec. 2.
                    ``T. 3 N., R. 20 W., sec. 13.
                    ``T. 4 N., R. 20 W., sec. 33.
                    ``T. 2 N., R. 27 W., secs. 10 through 12.
                    ``T. 11 N., R. 28 W., secs. 16 through 27.
                    ``T. 2 N., R. 30 W., sec. 12.
                    ``T. 1 S., R. 20 W., sec. 4.
                    ``T. 3 S., R. 23 W., sec. 17.
                    ``T. 3 S., R. 23 W., sec. 28.
                    ``T. 6 S., R. 24 W., sec. 14.
                    ``T. 6 S., R. 24 W., sec. 21.
                    ``T. 6 S., R. 24 W., sec. 26.
                    ``T. 5 S., R. 26 W., secs. 29 and 30.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 28 W., sec. 1.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 29 W., sec. 1.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 29 W., sec. 11.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 29 W., secs. 14 through 16.
                    ``T. 7 S., R. 29 W., secs. 21 and 22.
                    ``T. 2 N., R. 19 W., sec. 7.
                    ``T. 2 N., R. 19 W., sec. 18.
    ``(2) The balance of the CIRI Property Account shall be increased 
by an amount equal to the fair market value of the subsurface estate of 
the approximately 61,440 acres of deficiency selections made by 
Alexander Creek, as described in paragraph (1): Provided, That the 
value of such subsurface estate shall not be less than 61,440 
multiplied by the acre equivalent value of the Region's entitlement 
lands under paragraph (2) of the second section of 12(b)(7)(iv) of the 
Act of January 2, 1976 (Public Law 94-204). The funds added to the CIRI 
Property Account pursuant to this subsection shall be segregated from 
all other funds therein by a method to be mutually agreed by CIRI and 
the Secretary of the Treasury.
    ``(e) Land Exchange.--The Secretary of the Interior shall enter 
into negotiations with Alexander Creek, no later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, to attempt to conclude, under 
the authority of section 22(f), a land exchange to acquire lands not 
within any conservation system unit from the State of Alaska or the 
Matanuska-Susitna Borough under the same procedures set forth in 
section 22(f) to enable Alexander Creek to obtain additional public 
lands within Alexander Creek's original withdrawal area in Alaska, as 
identified by Alexander Creek. The subsurface to lands conveyed to 
Alexander Creek under subsection (d) shall be conveyed, without 
consideration, to the Region and shall be treated for all purposes as 
subsurface land conveyed to the Region under section 14(f). Any land 
exchange to be undertaken pursuant to this subsection must be approved 
by Alexander Creek, and must be completed no later than 36 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
    ``(f) Adjustment in Account.--If a conveyance of surface estate is 
made to Alexander Creek pursuant to subsection (e), the Alexander Creek 
account shall be reduced by the amount of the actual acres conveyed 
multiplied by the average value per acre of the surface acres appraised 
under subsection (g). If a conveyance of subsurface estate is made to 
the Region pursuant to subsection (d), the CIRI Property Account shall 
be reduced by the amount of the actual acres conveyed multiplied by the 
average value per acre of the subsurface acres appraised under 
subsection (g).
    ``(g) Appraisal.--(1)(A) Subject to subsection (d)(2), the 
Secretary shall determine the amount to be deposited into the Alexander 
Creek and CIRI Property accounts by separately appraising, on a 
reasonable basis, based on all available evidence, the fair market 
value, as of the date of the enactment of this section, of the surface 
and subsurface of each section selected as a separate parcel and 
considering that `public interest' use may be the highest and best use 
of such parcels.
    ``(B) Alexander Creek and the Region shall each have the 
opportunity to present evidence of value to the Secretary solely with 
respect to the respective estates involved, comprising surface estate 
for Alexander Creek and subsurface estate for the Region. The Secretary 
shall provide Alexander Creek and the Region with a preliminary draft 
of the appraisal. Alexander Creek and the Region shall have a 
reasonable and sufficient opportunity to comment on the appraisal.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall forward a certified copy of the appraisal 
of their separate and respective estates each to Alexander Creek, and 
the Region.
    ``(h) Implementation.--(1) Alexander Creek may assign to any person 
or corporation without restriction any or all of the Alexander Creek 
account upon written notification to the Secretary of the Treasury and 
the Secretary of the Interior. In the event that such an assignment is 
made to the Region, on notice from Alexander Creek to the Secretary of 
the Treasury and the Secretary of the Interior, and subject to the 
written consent of the Region in its sole and absolute discretion, the 
amount of such assignment shall be added to or made a part of the CIRI 
Property Account, and may be used in the same manner as other funds in 
that account.
    ``(2) Except for such lands as Alexander Creek has received prior 
to enactment of this section, and such lands it is entitled to recover 
as a Group Corporation, upon completion by the Secretary of the 
Interior of the appraisal process pursuant to subsection (g), and 
notification to the Secretary from Alexander Creek that Alexander Creek 
accepts the results of the appraisal process, Alexander Creek shall be 
deemed to have accepted the terms of this section in lieu of any other 
land entitlement it could have received as a village pursuant to this 
Act, including, without limitation, any lands it would have received 
pursuant to section 12(b). Such acceptance shall satisfy all claims 
Alexander Creek had or may have had against the United States on the 
date of the enactment of this section.
    ``(3) Any land acquired by Alexander Creek with funds from the 
Alexander Creek account shall be deemed to be a conveyance pursuant to 
this Act.
    ``(i) Treatment of Amounts From the Alexander Creek Account.--The 
Secretary of the Treasury and the heads of agencies shall administer 
sales pursuant to this section in the same manner as is provided for 
any other Native village authorized by law as of the date of the 
enactment of this section (including the use of similar accounts for 
bidding on and purchasing property sold for public sale).
    ``(j) Limitation on Agents' and Attorneys' Fees.--No more than 2.5 
percent of payments received by or on behalf of Alexander Creek under 
this section may be paid to or received by any agent or attorney for 
services rendered in connection with obtaining such payment, any 
contract to the contrary notwithstanding. Any person who violates this 
subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a 
fine in the amount provided in title 18, United States Code.
    ``(k) Shareholder Participation.--Alexander Creek shall notify each 
member of the Native village recognized under this section that, upon 
the effective date of this provision, such members shall cease to 
receive benefits from the Region as at-large shareholders pursuant to 
section 7(m), and that all future resource payments from the Region 
shall be made to the Village Corporation pursuant to section 7(j). The 
Region shall not be liable under any State, Federal or local law, or 
under State or Federal common law, for damages arising out of or 
related to the cessation of payments to such individuals under section 
7(m) pursuant to this section.
    ``(l) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to--
            ``(1) limit, alter, violate, breach, or otherwise affect 
        the rights of any party under a contract, settlement agreement, 
        or land exchange entered into prior to enactment of this 
        section between Alexander Creek and any party, or one or more 
        parties to any contract, settlement, agreement, or land 
        exchange predicated upon Alexander Creek's Native village 
        status under this Act; or
            ``(2) diminish, reduce, or modify the acreage entitlement 
        to which Alexander Creek became entitled to as a Group 
        Corporation.''.
answer:
Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to recognize the village of Alexander Creek, Alaska, as eligible for land and benefits under the Act, notwithstanding specified provisions of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

Establishes in the Treasury the Alexander Creek account and makes the account's funds available to Alexander Creek Incorporated for purchasing property sold at public sale. Increases the existing CIRI Property Account's balance by the subsurface value of Alexander Creek's selections.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to negotiate for a land exchange to acquire the surface estate in lands not in any conservation system unit from Alaska or the Mantanuska-Susitna Borough to enable Alexander Creek to obtain additional public lands in Alexander Creek's original withdrawal area in Alaska.

Requires the subsurface estate to the lands conveyed to Alexander Creek to be conveyed to CIRI.

Deems Alexander Creek, on completion (and acceptance by Alexander Creek) of an appraisal, to have accepted the terms of this Act in lieu of any other land entitlement it could have received as a village under ANCSA. Requires that such acceptance satisfy all claims of Alexander Creek against the United States.

Requires Alexander Creek to notify each Alexander Creek member that the members will cease to receive benefits from CIRI as at-large shareholders and that all future resource payments from the Region will be made to the Village Corporation. Relieves CIRI from liability under any state, federal, or local law for damages related to that payment cessation.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Independent Ethics Commission Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an independent ethics 
commission within the House of Representatives to be known as the 
Independent Ethics Committee (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').
    (b) Membership and Terms of Office.--(1) The Commission shall 
consist of 9 commissioners, 4 appointed by the Speaker and 4 by the 
minority leader of the House, and one selected by the affirmative vote 
of two-thirds of the 8 appointed commissioners for a term of 5 years. 
No commissioner may serve for more than 5 years.
    (2) Commissioners shall be appointed for terms of 5 years, except 
that of the commissioners first appointed, 2 appointed by the Speaker 
and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 3-year terms and 2 appointed 
by the Speaker and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 4-year terms 
as designated by the Speaker and the minority leader at the time of 
appointment.
    (c) Qualifications.--Only former Federal judges shall be eligible 
for appointment to the Commission.
            (1) Disqualifications for appointments.--
                    (A) Lobbying.--No individual who has been a 
                lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
                of 1995 or engages in, or is otherwise employed in, 
                lobbying of the Congress or who is an agent of a 
                foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents 
                Registration Act within the 4-year period immediately 
                preceding appointment shall be eligible for appointment 
                to, or service on, the Commission.
                    (B) Incompatible office.--No member of the 
                Commission appointed under subsection (b) may be a 
                Member of the House of Representatives or Senator.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Compensation.--Members shall each be entitled to receive the 
daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay in effect for 
Level III of the Executive Schedule for each day (including travel 
time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties 
vested in the Commission.
    (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum.
    (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call a majority of 
its members.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Duties.--The Commission is authorized--
            (1) to receive, monitor, and oversee financial disclosure 
        and other reports filed by Members of the House and officers 
        and employees of the House under the Ethics in Government Act 
        of 1978, and reports filed by registered lobbyists under the 
        Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995;
            (2) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any 
        rule or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of 
        such Member, officer, or employee under House rules in the 
        performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
        responsibilities;
            (3) to present a case of probable ethics violations to the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (4) to make recommendations to the Committee on Standards 
        of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives that it 
        report to the appropriate Federal or State authorities any 
        substantial evidence of a violation by a Member, officer, or 
        employee of the House of Representatives of any law applicable 
        to the performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
        responsibilities, which may have been disclosed in an 
        investigation by the Office;
            (5) to provide information and informal guidance to 
        Members, officers and employees of the House of Representatives 
        regarding any rules and other standards of conduct applicable 
        to such individuals in their official capacities, and develop 
        and carry out periodic educational briefings for Members, 
        officers, and employees of the House of Representatives on 
        those laws, rules, regulations, or other standards; and
            (6) to give consideration to the request of any Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives for a 
        formal advisory opinion or other formal ruling, subject to the 
        review of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the 
        House of Representatives, as applicable, with respect to the 
        general propriety of any current or proposed conduct of such 
        Member, officer, or employee and, with appropriate deletions to 
        assure the privacy of the individual concerned, to publish such 
        opinion for the guidance of other Members, officers, and 
        employees of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 4. POWERS OF 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), require, by subpoena or 
        otherwise, 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.--A subpoena may be issued only with a majority of 
the Commission.
    (c) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall furnish 
information deemed necessary by the Commission to enable it to carry 
out its duties.
    (d) Referrals to the Department of Justice.--Whenever the 
Commission has reason to believe that a violation of the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995 may have occurred, that matter may be referred 
to the Department of Justice for it to investigate.
    (e) General Audits.--The Commission shall have the authority to 
conduct general audits of filings under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995.

SEC. 5. INVESTIGATIONS AND INTERACTION WITH THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON 
              STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) Notification.--Whenever the Commission determines that there 
are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation--
            (1) the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards 
        of Official Conduct of this determination;
            (2) the applicable committee may overrule the determination 
        of the Commission if, within 10 legislative days--
                    (A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote 
                of two-thirds of the full committee votes to overrule 
                the determination of the Commission;
                    (B) the committee issues a public report detailing 
                its reasoning for overruling the Commission;
                    (C) the vote of each member of the committee on 
                such roll-call vote is included in the report;
                    (D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their 
                own report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with 
                the majority vote; and
                    (E) if the committee votes to overrule the 
                determination of the Commission pursuant to 
                subparagraph (B), the Commission may publish and make 
                available to the general public a report detailing the 
                reasons that the Commission concluded there were 
                sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation.
    (b) Conducting Investigations.--(1) If the Commission determines 
that there are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation and his 
determination is not overruled under subsection (a)(5), the Commission 
shall conduct an investigation to determine if probable cause exists 
that a violation occurred.
    (2) As part of an investigation, the Commission may--
            (A) administer oaths;
            (B) issue subpoenas;
            (C) compel the attendance of witnesses and the production 
        of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony; and
            (D) take the deposition of witnesses.
    (3) If a person disobeys or refuses to comply with a subpoena, or 
if a witness refuses to testify to a matter, he may be held in contempt 
of Congress.
    (c) Presentation of Case to House Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct.--(1) If the Commission determines, upon conclusion of 
an investigation, that probable cause exists that an ethics violation 
has occurred, the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct of the House of Representatives of this determination.
    (2) The committee may overrule the determination of the Commission 
if, within 10 legislative days--
            (A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote of two-
        thirds of the full committee votes to overrule the 
        determination of the Commission;
            (B) the committee issues a public report detailing its 
        reasoning for overruling the Commission;
            (C) the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-
        call vote is included in the report; and
            (D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their own 
        report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with the 
        majority vote.
    (3) If the committee votes to overrule the determination of the 
Commission pursuant to paragraph (2), the Commission may publish and 
make available to the general public a report detailing the reasons 
that he concluded there were sufficient grounds to present such case to 
the committee.
    (4)(A) If the Commission determines there is probable cause that an 
ethics violation has occurred and the Commission's determination is not 
overruled, the Commission shall present the case and evidence to the 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives to hear and make a determination pursuant to its rules.
    (B) The committee shall vote upon whether the individual who is the 
subject of the investigation has violated any rules or other standards 
of conduct applicable to that individual in his official capacity. Such 
votes shall be a roll-call vote of the full committee, a quorum being 
present. The committee shall issue a public report which shall include 
the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-call vote. 
Dissenting members may issue their own report detailing their own 
reasons for disagreeing with the majority vote.
    (d) Sanctions.--Whenever the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct of the House of Representatives finds that an ethics violation 
has occurred the Commission shall recommend appropriate sanctions to 
the committee and whether a matter should be referred to the Department 
of Justice for investigation.

SEC. 6. PROCEDURAL RULES.

    (a) Majority Approval.--No report or recommendation relating to the 
official conduct of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of 
Representatives shall be made by the Commission, and no investigation 
of such conduct shall be undertaken by the Commission, unless approved 
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission.
    (b) Investigations.--Except in the case of an investigation 
undertaken by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission may 
undertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of an 
individual Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives 
only--
            (1) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, 
        made by or submitted to a Member of the House of 
        Representatives and transmitted to the Commission by such 
        Member, or
            (2) upon receipt of a complaint from the chairman of the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
        Representatives, in writing and under oath, made by that 
        committee.
    (c) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall 
be undertaken by the Commission of any alleged violation of a law, 
rule, regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of 
the alleged violation.
    (d) Disclosure.--No information or testimony received, or the 
contents of a complaint or the fact of its filing, shall be publicly 
disclosed by any member of the Commission or staff of the Commission 
unless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the 
Commission.

SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff 
as the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties. The 
Commission shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and minority 
leader and shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay 
payable for Level III of the Executive Schedule.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF 
              THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) House Rules Amendments.--Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives is amended as follows:
            (1) In paragraph (a), strike subparagraphs (1), (2), and 
        (3), and redesignate subparagraphs (4), (5), and (6), as 
        subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.
            (2)(A) Paragraph (b)(1) is amended by striking ``(A)'', by 
        striking ``a resolution, report, recommendation, or'' and 
        inserting ``an'', and by striking ``, or, except as provided in 
        subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation'', and by striking 
        subdivision (B).
            (B) Paragraph (b) is further amended by striking 
        subparagraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) and by redesignating 
        subparagraphs (6) and (7) as subparagraphs (2) and (3), 
        respectively.
            (3) Strike paragraphs (j) (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), and 
        (q).
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of 
1989 (2 U.S.C. 29d) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d).

SEC. 9. ACTION ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) Printing of Reports in Congressional Record.--Upon receipt by 
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives of any report of the Commission, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives shall have the report printed in the 
Congressional Record.
    (b) House Consideration of Independent Ethics Commission 
Recommendations.--Within 14 calendar days after a report referred to in 
subsection (a) is printed in the Congressional Record, that portion of 
the report recommending action by the House of Representatives 
respecting any alleged violation, by a Member, officer, or employee of 
the House of Representatives, of any law, rule, regulation, or other 
standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member, officer, 
or employee in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
responsibilities shall be introduced (by request) in the House by the 
Speaker of the House, for himself and the minority leader of the House 
in the form of a resolution. This resolution shall constitute a 
question of privilege under rule IX of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives. Any Member favoring the resolution may call it up as a 
question of privilege but only on the third day after the calendar date 
upon which such Member announces to the House his intention to do so.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect upon the date of its enactment, except 
that sections 3, 4, and 8 shall not take effect immediately prior to 
noon January 3, 2009.
answer:
Independent Ethics Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes within the House of Representatives an Independent Ethics Commission composed only of former federal judges.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Air Ambulance Services Clarification 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF STATE AUTHORITY OVER THE MEDICAL STANDARDS OF 
              AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 401 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 40131. CLARIFICATION OF STATE AUTHORITY OVER AIR AMBULANCE 
              MEDICAL STANDARDS AND MEDICAL CARE RELATED LICENSING 
              REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Rule of Construction.--With respect to an air ambulance and 
the medical services provided within an air ambulance, the term `law, 
regulation, or other provision having the force and effect of law 
related to a price, route, or service of an air carrier', as used in 
section 41713, may not be construed to include any medical care related 
license and certification requirements based on medical standards 
effectuated pursuant to a State's authority over the licensure and 
regulation of health care within its borders.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Air ambulance.--The term `air ambulance' means a 
        fixed wing aircraft or a helicopter used for the provision of 
        care and patient transport.
            ``(2) Air ambulance medical personnel.--The term `air 
        ambulance medical personnel' means the doctors, nurses, 
        paramedics, emergency medical technicians, physician 
        assistants, respiratory therapists, or other medical 
        specialists providing air ambulance services aboard an air 
        ambulance.
            ``(3) Air ambulance operator.--The term `air ambulance 
        operator' means a commercial holder of a part 121 or part 135 
        certificate that has received, from the Federal Aviation 
        Administration--
                    ``(A) an operations specification A021 (Air 
                Ambulance Operations--Helicopter); or
                    ``(B) an operations specification A024 (Air 
                Ambulance Operations--Airplane).
            ``(4) Air ambulance provider.--The term `air ambulance 
        provider' means a program or agency licensed by the State to 
        provide air ambulance medical services.
            ``(5) Air ambulance services.--The term `air ambulance 
        services' means the medical care and patient transport provided 
        aboard an air ambulance.
            ``(6) Federal operating requirements.--The term `Federal 
        operating requirements' means--
                    ``(A) the requirements under part A of subtitle VII 
                of title 49, United States Code;
                    ``(B) Federal aviation regulations set forth in 
                title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and
                    ``(C) the operation specifications and notices to 
                airmen issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
            ``(7) Medical care related license or certification.--The 
        term `medical care related license or certification' means the 
        permission granted by a State to air ambulance medical 
        personnel, air ambulance providers, or a specific air ambulance 
        for providing medical care and transport that--
                    ``(A) is based solely on, and restricted to, the 
                State's authority to set standards for providing health 
                care within its borders; and
                    ``(B) is not construed to reference any Federal 
                Operating Requirements.
            ``(8) Medically-related dispatch.--The term `medically-
        related dispatch'--
                    ``(A) means a medically-related request for an air 
                ambulance to provide medical care and transport to a 
                patient; and
                    ``(B) does not refer to the flight dispatch or 
                operational control of an aircraft.
            ``(9) Referring entities.--The term `referring entity' 
        means any entity that makes a request for medically-related 
        dispatch of an air ambulance or provides a referral for a 
        provider of air ambulance services, such as a medical 
        institution, an agency providing emergency medical services, or 
        a first responder.
            ``(10) Routine.--The term `routine' means medical care and 
        transport that is provided more than 25 times per year in the 
        applicable State.
            ``(11) Scene.--The term `scene' means the location at which 
        the patient's injury or illness, or other event resulting in 
        the need for emergency medical care and transport for the 
        patient occurred.
    ``(c) Medical and Related Medical Care Standards To Ensure the 
Consistent Quality of Air Ambulance Services.--This section shall apply 
to medical and related medical care standards that--
            ``(1) are required by a State as a condition of providing--
                    ``(A) a license or certification to an air 
                ambulance, air ambulance providers, and air ambulance 
                medical personnel based in such State; or
                    ``(B) routine medical care and transport to 
                patients in such State; and
            ``(2) address--
                    ``(A) the quality of emergency medical care 
                provided to patients;
                    ``(B) the qualifications and training of air 
                ambulance medical personnel, scope of practice, 
                credentialing, and ongoing clinical experience in 
                critical care settings;
                    ``(C) the medical direction and clinical oversight 
                of patient care including qualifications and 
                credentialing of physicians providing medical direction 
                or clinical oversight;
                    ``(D) the maintenance of medical records and data 
                collection and reporting;
                    ``(E) health outcome and proficiency measures;
                    ``(F) participation in patient safety and quality 
                control initiatives, such as peer review, utilization 
                review, and error reporting;
                    ``(G) medically-related accreditation;
                    ``(H) medical equipment, devices, and supplies on 
                board the air ambulance including the design, capacity, 
                and performance of such equipment;
                    ``(I) sanitation, infection control, 
                decontamination of the air ambulance bay, infectious 
                hazards, and medical universal precautions;
                    ``(J) the design and configuration of the air 
                ambulance medical compartment for the provision of 
                quality medical care that allows adequate access to the 
                patient for the purposes of resuscitation and emergency 
                procedures consistent with the medical mission, medical 
                equipment, and medical supplies by the medical 
                personnel during flight without becoming unsecured;
                    ``(K) medically-related air ambulance features and 
                capability specifications necessary and appropriate for 
                the provision of quality medical care related to--
                            ``(i) permanently installed medically-
                        related climate control system requirements 
                        capable of meeting specified temperature 
                        settings;
                            ``(ii) the use of materials in the air 
                        ambulance that are appropriate for a proper 
                        patient care environment;
                            ``(iii) providing medically appropriate 
                        care and transport to patients, including 
                        special populations, such as neonatal or 
                        pediatric patients;
                            ``(iv) ensuring sufficient electrical 
                        supply to adequately power required medical 
                        equipment without reliance on medical equipment 
                        batteries and without compromising the 
                        ambulance power to lift or fly;
                    ``(L) patient safety standards related to--
                            ``(i) loading or unloading patients; and
                            ``(ii) refueling with a patient on board;
                    ``(M) communication capabilities--
                            ``(i) between air ambulance medical 
                        personnel and public safety, emergency medical 
                        service agencies and hospitals; and
                            ``(ii) that allow for functional internal 
                        communication within the air ambulance for 
                        medical purposes; and
                    ``(N) coordination and oversight over a State`s 
                emergency medical system and the air ambulance 
                provider's participation in such system, such as 
                standards that--
                            ``(i) designate levels of medical 
                        capability, medical appropriateness, and 
                        medical staffing of air ambulances, such as 
                        medical staffing configurations for particular 
                        medical missions or the different medical-
                        related licenses or certifications required for 
                        air ambulances and air ambulance medical 
                        personnel that provide advanced life support, 
                        critical care, or specialty care;
                            ``(ii) establish medically-related dispatch 
                        and destination protocols for patients with 
                        emergency medical conditions being transported 
                        that coordinate requests for air ambulance 
                        service response based on the medical 
                        appropriateness of the air ambulance to meet 
                        the patient's need for medical care and 
                        transport to the appropriate medical 
                        institution consistent with patient condition, 
                        such as protocols for determining the 
                        appropriate--
                                    ``(I) mode of transport (ground 
                                versus air) in accordance with 
                                available evidence-based triage 
                                criteria;
                                    ``(II) available air ambulance to 
                                transport a patient in accordance with 
                                its capability to meet the patient's 
                                medical need; and
                                    ``(III) medical institution to 
                                receive the patient, such as trauma, 
                                burn, chest pain, or stroke center;
                            ``(iii) require the air ambulance provider 
                        to identify its primary service area and its 
                        service availability and any updates or changes 
                        to such area or availability for the purpose of 
                        coordination of ambulance response;
                            ``(iv) require an air ambulance operator 
                        agency to identify the medical institutions the 
                        air ambulance can reach from its base location 
                        within a specified period of time without 
                        refueling;
                            ``(v) require the air ambulance operators 
                        to provide, for the purpose of coordination of 
                        patient care and medical decision making, 
                        reasonably accurate estimated times of arrival 
                        with due consideration of safety measures, 
                        current location, and status of available air 
                        ambulances to referring entities; and
                            ``(vi) prohibit practices which may impede 
                        the proper functioning of such system, such 
                        as--
                                    ``(I) referring entities serially 
                                contacting air ambulance providers 
                                until an air ambulance provider agrees 
                                to medically-related dispatch (also 
                                known as helicopter shopping);
                                    ``(II) indicating false or 
                                inaccurate ambulance availability or 
                                estimated times of arrival to a 
                                referring entity;
                                    ``(III) exclusive agreements 
                                between hospitals and air ambulance 
                                providers or between air ambulance 
                                providers and referring entities;
                                    ``(IV) proffers of gifts by air 
                                ambulance providers to referring 
                                entities other than solely for medical 
                                education purposes; or
                                    ``(V) representations by air 
                                ambulance providers to referring 
                                entities that the air ambulance and the 
                                air ambulance medical personnel can 
                                provide a level of care beyond its 
                                scope of medical capability.
    ``(d) Limitations.--A medical or related medical care standard is 
not within the scope set forth in subsection (c) if such standard has 
the effect of--
            ``(1) superseding, or being inconsistent with, any Federal 
        operating requirement with respect to aviation safety;
            ``(2) denying licensure to an air ambulance, air ambulance 
        medical personnel, or air ambulance provider that otherwise 
        meets such standard from providing routine care and transport 
        to a patient between 2 locations within a State based solely on 
        the ambulance's base geographic location being within another 
        State;
            ``(3) preventing an air ambulance licensed in 1 State from 
        transporting a patient into or out of another state on a non-
        routine basis; or
            ``(4) impeding intrastate transport of a patient as a 
        result of the delegation by the State to a political 
        subdivision within the State of the development or oversight of 
        the standard.
    ``(e) Limitation of Scope.--The absence of any medical standard 
from subsection (c) does not create an inference that such standard is 
or is not a `law, regulation or other provision having the force and 
effect of law related to a price, route or service of an air 
carrier'.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for such chapter 
401 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``40131. Clarification of State authority over air ambulance medical 
                            standards and medical care related 
                            licensing requirements.''.
answer:

Air Ambulance Services Clarification Act - Requires that with respect to an air ambulance and the medical services provided within an air ambulance, the term "law, regulation, or other provision having the force and effect of law related to a price, route, or service of an air carrier," for federal preemption purposes, may not be construed to include any medical care-related license and certification requirements based on medical standards effectuated pursuant to a state's authority over the licensure and regulation of health care within its borders.

Describes the medical and related medical care standards to which this Act applies.