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 ``Encouraging Work Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO WORK OPPORTUNITY CREDIT AND WELFARE-TO-WORK 
              CREDIT.

    (a) Credit Made Permanent.--
            (1) Subsection (c) of section 51 of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 is amended by striking paragraph (4) (relating to 
        termination).
            (2) Section 51A of such Code is amended by striking 
        subsection (f).
    (b) Eligibility of Ex-Felons Determined Without Regard to Family 
Income.--Paragraph (4) of section 51(d) of such Code is amended by 
adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking ``, and'' at 
the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting a period, and by striking all 
that follows subparagraph (B).
    (c) Increase in Maximum Age for Eligibility of Food Stamp 
Recipients.--Clause (i) of section 51(d)(8)(A) of such Code is amended 
by striking ``25'' and inserting ``40''.
    (d) Increase in Maximum Age for Designated Community Residents.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (5) of section 51(d) of such 
        Code is amended to read as follows:
            ``(5) Designated community residents.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `designated community 
                resident' means any individual who is certified by the 
                designated local agency--
                            ``(i) as having attained age 18 but not age 
                        40 on the hiring date, and
                            ``(ii) as having his principal place of 
                        abode within an empowerment zone, enterprise 
                        community, or renewal community.
                    ``(B) Individual must continue to reside in zone or 
                community.--In the case of a designated community 
                resident, the term `qualified wages' shall not include 
                wages paid or incurred for services performed while the 
                individual's principal place of abode is outside an 
                empowerment zone, enterprise community, or renewal 
                community.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subparagraph (D) of section 
        51(d)(1) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(D) a designated community resident,''.
    (e) Clarification of Treatment of Individuals Under Individual Work 
Plans.--Subparagraph (B) of section 51(d)(6) of such Code (relating to 
vocational rehabilitation referral) is amended by striking ``or'' at 
the end of clause (i), by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) 
and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the end the following new 
clause:
                            ``(iii) an individual work plan developed 
                        and implemented by an employment network 
                        pursuant to subsection (g) of section 1148 of 
                        the Social Security Act with respect to which 
                        the requirements of such subsection are met.''.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after December 31, 
2005.

SEC. 3. CONSOLIDATION OF WORK OPPORTUNITY CREDIT WITH WELFARE-TO-WORK 
              CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 51(d) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H) 
and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(I) a long-term family assistance recipient.''.
    (b) Long-Term Family Assistance Recipient.--Subsection (d) of 
section 51 of such Code is amended by redesignating paragraphs (10) 
through (12) as paragraphs (11) through (13), respectively, and by 
inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
            ``(10) Long-term family assistance recipient.--The term 
        `long-term family assistance recipient' means any individual 
        who is certified by the designated local agency--
                    ``(A) as being a member of a family receiving 
                assistance under a IV-A program (as defined in 
                paragraph (2)(B)) for at least the 18-month period 
                ending on the hiring date,
                    ``(B)(i) as being a member of a family receiving 
                such assistance for 18 months beginning after August 5, 
                1997, and
                    ``(ii) as having a hiring date which is not more 
                than 2 years after the end of the earliest such 18-
                month period, or
                    ``(C)(i) as being a member of a family which ceased 
                to be eligible for such assistance by reason of any 
                limitation imposed by Federal or State law on the 
                maximum period such assistance is payable to a family, 
                and
                    ``(ii) as having a hiring date which is not more 
                than 2 years after the date of such cessation.''.
    (c) Increased Credit for Employment of Long-Term Family Assistance 
Recipients.--Section 51 of such Code is amended by inserting after 
subsection (d) the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Credit for Second-Year Wages for Employment of Long-Term 
Family Assistance Recipients.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to the employment of a 
        long-term family assistance recipient--
                    ``(A) the amount of the work opportunity credit 
                determined under this section for the taxable year 
                shall include 50 percent of the qualified second-year 
                wages for such year, and
                    ``(B) in lieu of applying subsection (b)(3), the 
                amount of the qualified first-year wages, and the 
                amount of qualified second-year wages, which may be 
                taken into account with respect to such a recipient 
                shall not exceed $10,000 per year.
            ``(2) Qualified second-year wages.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term `qualified second-year wages' means 
        qualified wages--
                    ``(A) which are paid to a long-term family 
                assistance recipient, and
                    ``(B) which are attributable to service rendered 
                during the 1-year period beginning on the day after the 
                last day of the 1-year period with respect to such 
                recipient determined under subsection (b)(2).
            ``(3) Special rules for agricultural and railway labor.--If 
        such recipient is an employee to whom subparagraph (A) or (B) 
        of subsection (h)(1) applies, rules similar to the rules of 
        such subparagraphs shall apply except that--
                    ``(A) such subparagraph (A) shall be applied by 
                substituting `$10,000' for `$6,000', and
                    ``(B) such subparagraph (B) shall be applied by 
                substituting `$833.33' for `$500'.''.
    (d) Repeal of Separate Welfare-to-Work Credit.--
            (1) In general.--Section 51A of such Code is hereby 
        repealed.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for subpart 
        F of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is 
        amended by striking the item relating to section 51A.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after December 31, 
2005.
[EX A]: Encouraging Work Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to consolidate and modify provisions of the work opportunity tax credit and the welfare-to-work tax credit and make the consolidated tax credit permanent. Expands eligibility for the consolidated tax credit by: (1) determining eligibility of ex-felons without regard to family income; and (2) raising the age ceiling for food stamp recipients from 25 to 40. Includes a "designated community resident" (in lieu of "high risk youth") and "long-term family assistance recipient" as members of the targeted group eligible for the consolidated tax credit. Provides for an increased tax credit for employment of long-term family assistance recipients.

Repeals the separate welfare-to-work tax credit.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            (2) Function.--The term ``function'' includes any duty, 
        obligation, power, authority, responsibility, right, privilege, 
        activity, or program.
            (3) Office.--The term ``office'' includes any office, 
        institute, council, unit, organizational entity, or component 
        thereof.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
            (5) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
        the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere 
        appointed under section 102.

SEC. 3. ORGANIZATION OF ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--There shall be in the Department of Commerce an 
agency known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    (b) Primary Missions.--The primary missions of the Administration 
are the following:
            (1) The provision and certification of hydrographic and 
        geodetic products and data.
            (2) The conservation and management of the Nation's coastal 
        and marine resources.
            (3) The exploration of the oceans and the Great Lakes.
            (4) To further human understanding of--
                    (A) the oceans and the Great Lakes;
                    (B) the earth's atmosphere; and
                    (C) the functional relationship of the oceans and 
                the atmosphere.
            (5) Forecasting the Nation's weather and climate.
    (c) Components.--The Secretary shall maintain within the 
Administration the following components:
            (1) The National Coast and Ocean Service.
            (2) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Service.
            (3) The National Marine Fisheries Service.
            (4) The National Weather Service.
            (5) The National Environmental Satellite and Data 
        Information Service.
            (6) The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.
            (7) Such other components as the Secretary considers 
        necessary.
    (d) Functions.--The Administration shall perform such functions as 
were vested in the Administration or any officer, employee, or office 
of the Administration immediately before the enactment of this Act, 
except as may be provided otherwise by law or by a redelegation of 
authority after that date by the President, the Secretary of Commerce, 
or any other officer of the United States who delegated such function 
to the Administration before that date or who is otherwise authorized 
to make such a redelegation.

SEC. 4. UNDER SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE.

    (a) In General.--There shall be at the head of the Administration 
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The Under 
Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. The Under Secretary shall be paid at the 
rate of basic pay for level III of the Executive Schedule.
    (b) Functions.--Subject to the authority, direction, and control of 
the Secretary, the Under Secretary shall perform such functions and 
exercise such powers with respect to the Administration as the 
Secretary may prescribe, including the following:
            (1) Serve as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration.
            (2) General management.
            (3) Policy development and guidance.
            (4) Budget formulation, guidance, and execution, and other 
        financial matters.
            (5) Resource requirements determination and allocation.
            (6) Program management and direction.
            (7) Environment, safety, and health operations.
            (8) Administration of contracts, real property, and 
        facilities.
            (9) Personnel, including the selection, appointment, 
        distribution, supervision, compensation, and separation of 
        personnel.
            (10) Procurement of services of experts and consultants in 
        accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.
            (11) External affairs, including legal, legislative, and 
        public affairs, and serving as liaison with other elements of 
        the Department of Commerce and with other Federal agencies, 
        State, tribal, and local governments, and the public.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE.

    (a) In General.--There shall be in the Administration an Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The Assistant 
Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. The Assistant Secretary shall be paid at the 
rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
    (b) Functions.--The Assistant Secretary--
            (1) shall perform such functions and exercise such powers 
        as the Secretary or Under Secretary may prescribe; and
            (2) shall act as Under Secretary during the absence or 
        disability of the Under Secretary or in the event of a vacancy 
        in the office of Under Secretary.

SEC. 6. DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY.

    (a) In General.--There shall be in the Administration a Deputy 
Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere. The Deputy Under Secretary 
shall be appointed by the Secretary. The position of Deputy Under 
Secretary shall be a Senior Executive Service general position as 
defined in section 3132(a)(9) of title 5, United States Code, (for 
purposes of subchapter II of chapter 31 of title 5, United States 
Code).
    (b) Functions.--Subject to the authority, direction, and control of 
the Secretary and the Under Secretary, the Deputy Under Secretary--
            (1) shall serve as an advisor to the Under Secretary and to 
        the Assistant Secretary on all program and policy issues;
            (2) shall be responsible for ensuring the timely and 
        effective implementation of the Administration policies and 
        objectives; and
            (3) in the absence or disability of the Under Secretary or 
        Assistant Secretary, or in the event of a vacancy in either 
        such position, shall act in that position.

SEC. 7. GENERAL COUNSEL.

    (a) In General.--There shall be in the Administration a General 
Counsel. The General Counsel shall be appointed by the Secretary. The 
position of General Counsel shall be a Senior Executive Service general 
position as defined in section 3132(a)(9) of title 5, United States 
Code, (for purposes of subchapter II of chapter 31 of title 5, United 
States Code).
    (b) Functions.--Subject to the authority, direction, and control of 
the Secretary and the Under Secretary, the General Counsel--
            (1) shall serve as the chief legal officer of the 
        Administration for all legal matters that arise in connection 
        with the conduct of the functions of the Administration; and
            (2) shall perform such other functions and exercise such 
        powers as the Secretary or Under Secretary may prescribe.

SEC. 8. ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATORS.

    (a) In General.--There shall be in the Administration the 
following:
            (1) An Assistant Administrator for Coastal and Ocean 
        Services.
            (2) An Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Research.
            (3) An Assistant Administrator for Fisheries.
            (4) An Assistant Administrator for Weather.
            (5) An Assistant Administrator for Environmental Satellite 
        Data and Information.
            (6) An Assistant Administrator for Program Planning and 
        Integration.
            (7) A Director of Marine and Aviation Operations and the 
        Commissioned Officer Corps.
    (b) Appointment.--Each Assistant Administrator and the Director 
referred to in subsection (a) shall be appointed by the Secretary. Each 
Assistant Administrator position shall be a Senior Executive Service 
general position as defined in section 3132(a)(9) of title 5, United 
States Code (for purposes of subchapter II of chapter 31 of title 5, 
United States Code).
    (c) Qualifications.--Each Assistant Administrator and the Director 
referred to in subsection (a) shall be an individual who is qualified 
by reason of background and experience to direct the implementation and 
administration of the functions for which they are responsible.
    (d) Functions.--Each Assistant Administrator and the Director 
referred to in subsection (a), under the authority, direction, and 
control of the Under Secretary, shall perform such functions and 
exercise such powers as the Under Secretary may prescribe.

SEC. 9. CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.

    Any individual serving on the date of the enactment of this Act in 
a position provided for in this Act may continue to serve in that 
position until a successor is appointed under this Act.

SEC. 10. SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) In General.--There shall be in the Administration a Science 
Advisory Board, which shall report to the Under Secretary.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Science Advisory Board is to 
advise the Under Secretary on long-range and short-range strategies for 
research, education, and application of science to resource management 
and environmental assessment and prediction.
    (c) Members.--
            (1) In general.--The Science Advisory Board shall consist 
        of members appointed by the Under Secretary to assure a 
        balanced representation among preeminent scientists, engineers, 
        educators, industry, and science policy experts reflecting the 
        full breadth of the Administration's areas of responsibility.
            (2) Criteria for selection.--The Under Secretary shall 
        develop and apply standard criteria for the selection of 
        members of the Science Advisory Board. -
            (3) Terms.--(A) Members of the Science Advisory Board shall 
        be appointed for a 3-year term, may be reappointed once, and 
        shall serve at the discretion of the Under Secretary.
            (B) An individual serving a term as a member of the Science 
        Advisory Board on the date of enactment of this section may 
        complete that term, and may be reappointed once for another 
        term of 3 years.
            (4) Compensation and expenses.--A member of the Science 
        Advisory Board shall not be compensated for service on such 
        board, but upon request by the member may be allowed travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
        States Code.
            (5) Ethical standards.--Members of the Science Advisory 
        Board shall be subject to the ethical standards applicable to 
        special Government employees.
    (d) Chairperson.--The Under Secretary shall designate one of the 
members of the Science Advisory Board as the Chairperson of such board.
    (e) Meetings.--The Science Advisory Board shall meet at least twice 
each year, and at other times at the call of the Under Secretary or the 
Chairperson.
    (f) Administrative Support.--The Under Secretary shall provide 
administrative support to the Science Advisory Board.

SEC. 11. GENERAL AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out 
the programs and activities authorized for the Administration, the 
Secretary--
            (1) may enter into grants, contracts, or cooperative 
        agreements with Federal agencies, States, local governments, 
regional agencies, interstate agencies, or other persons; and
            (2) through the Administration, may apply for, accept, and 
        use grants or funds from such entities.
    (b) Resource Sharing Agreements.--The Secretary, in carrying out 
the functions of the Administration, and under terms and conditions 
established by the Secretary--
            (1) may enter into resource sharing agreements with States, 
        local governments, or Federal agencies to accept or provide for 
        funds and the use of personnel, services, equipment, or 
        facilities on a reimbursable, nonreimbursable, or shared basis; 
        and
            (2) may enter into resource sharing agreements with other 
        Federal agencies to accept, or provide, personnel, services, 
        equipment, facilities, or funds, or participate in interagency 
        financing with other Federal agencies, to the extent necessary 
        to fulfill the objectives of programs or activities of the 
        Administration.
    (c) Joint and Cooperative Institutes.--The Secretary may establish, 
by cooperative agreement, joint or cooperative institutes with 
qualified colleges, universities, and nonprofit research organizations 
for the purpose of collaborating on mutually agreed-upon, long-term 
research programs in the areas of oceanography, coastal ocean observing 
technology, climate change, atmosphere, meteorology, marine, coastal 
and estuarine environmental technology, fisheries, hydrography, and 
marine spill response. The Secretary shall design such research 
programs to support the authorized functions of the Administration. The 
Secretary may accept or provide facilities, personnel, equipment, other 
property, knowledge, and other scientific research resources and funds 
on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, as determined by the 
Secretary, for such institutes.

SEC. 12. PROGRAM SUPPORT.

    (a) Corporate Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to provide corporate services (including 
management, administrative support, and policy development) that 
support its program activities, $95,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2004 through 2008.
    (b) Marine Operations and Maintenance.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out marine services 
activities (including ship operations, maintenance, support and 
planning) under the Act of 1947 and any other law involving those 
activities, $90,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
    (c) Facilities.--In addition to amounts authorized under section 3 
of Public Law 104-91, there are authorized to the Secretary of 
Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
to carry out activities related to maintenance, repair, safety, 
environmental compliance, and project planning and execution of 
facilities, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

SEC. 13. NOAA FLEET REPLACEMENT AND MODERNIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 603 of the NOAA Fleet Modernization Act 
(33 U.S.C. 891a) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 603. FLEET REPLACEMENT AND MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may implement a program to replace 
and modernize the NOAA fleet in accordance with a plan submitted in 
accordance with section 604.
    ``(b) NOAA Vessel Construction.--
            ``(1) Prohibition on foreign construction.--Except as 
        provided in paragraph (2), no NOAA vessel, and no major 
        component of the hull  or superstructure of a NOAA vessel, may 
be constructed in a foreign shipyard.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--The President may authorize an exception 
        to the prohibition in paragraph (1) if the President determines 
        that it is in the national security interest of the United 
        States to do so. The President shall transmit notice to the 
        Congress of any such determination. No contract may be made 
        pursuant to such an exception until the end of the 30-day 
        period beginning on the date the notice of such determination 
        is received by the Congress.''.
    (b) Fleet Modernization Plan.--Section 604 of the NOAA Fleet 
Modernization Act (33 U.S.C. 891b) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 604. FLEET MODERNIZATION PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--No later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act of 
2003, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources and the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a modernization 
plan for the NOAA fleet covering fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
    ``(b) Plan Elements.--The Plan required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            ``(1) The number of vessels proposed to be modernized or 
        replaced, the schedule for their modernization or replacement, 
        and anticipated funding requirements for such modernization and 
        replacement.
            ``(2) The number of vessels proposed to be constructed, 
        leased, or chartered.
            ``(3) The number of vessels, or days at sea, that can be 
        obtained by using the vessels of the UNOLS.
            ``(4) The number of vessels that will be made available to 
        NOAA by the Secretary of the Navy, or any other Federal 
        official, and the terms and conditions for their availability.
            ``(5) The proposed acquisition of modern scientific 
        instrumentation for the NOAA fleet, including--
                    ``(A) acoustic systems;
                    ``(B) data transmission positioning and 
                communications systems;
                    ``(C) physical, chemical, and meteorological 
                oceanographic systems; and
                    ``(D) data acquisition and processing systems.''.
    (c) Use of UNOLS Vessels.--Section 605 of the NOAA Fleet 
Modernization Act (33 U.S.C. 891c) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 605. USE OF VESSELS.

    ``In carrying out the primary missions of NOAA under section 3(b) 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act of 2003, the 
Secretary--
            ``(1) shall use excess capacity of UNOLS vessels where 
        appropriate; and
            ``(2) may enter into memoranda of agreement with the 
        operators of those vessels to carry out the requirement under 
        paragraph (1).''.
    (d) Repeals.--Sections 607, 608, 609 and 610 of the NOAA Fleet 
Modernization Act (33 U.S.C. 891e-891h) are repealed.

SEC. 14. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS.

    (a) Pay Rate of Deputy Under Secretary.--Section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
        Atmosphere.''.
    (b) Reorganization Plan Number 4 of 1970.--
            (1) Repeal.--Reorganization Plan Number 4 of 1970 (5 App. 
        U.S.C.) is repealed.
            (2) Relationship to administration functions.--Subparagraph 
        (A) shall not affect the functions of the Administration under 
        section 3(d) of this Act.
            (3) Notice of reprogramming.--Section 403 of Public Law 
        102-567 (106 Stat. 4291) is amended by striking ``$250,000 or 
        5'' and inserting ``$500,000 or 10''.
[EX A]: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act of 2003 - Re-establishes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Department of Commerce, headed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere who will serve as the Administrator of NOAA.Establishes within NOAA: (1) the National Coast (sic) and Ocean Service; (2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Service; (3) the National Marine Fisheries Service; (4) the National Weather Service; (5) the National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service; (6) the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations; and (7) such other components as the Secretary considers necessary.Establishes within NOAA the positions of: (1) Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; (2) Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere; (3) General Counsel; and (4) Assistant Administrators for the Services and a Director of Marine and Aviation Operations and the Commissioned Officer Corps.Establishes within NOAA a Science Advisory Board.Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with agencies, States, local governments, or other persons and apply for, accept, and use grants or funds from such entities; (2) enter into resource sharing agreements with States, local governments, or Federal agencies; and (3) establish joint or cooperative institutes with qualified entities.Amends the NOAA Fleet Modernization Act to authorize the Secretary to implement a program to replace and modernize the NOAA fleet. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress a modernization plan for the NOAA fleet covering FY 2004 through 2008.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Potassium iodide long has been shown to have prevented 
        radiation-induced thyroid diseases with negligible side 
        effects.
            (2) The American Thyroid Association and a broad array of 
        other experts on radiation protection and thyroid cancers have 
        consistently recommended making potassium iodide available for 
        use in the case of a radiological catastrophe. The experience 
        of the Chernobyl accident in 1985 and its aftermath have 
        confirmed the safety and efficacy of potassium iodide in 
        preventing radiation-induced thyroid cancers.
            (3) Despite the clear and compelling evidence that 
        potassium iodide is a safe, effective, and inexpensive means of 
        preventing radiation-induced thyroid cancers, the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission and its staff have, through their 
        inaction, delayed the stockpiling and distribution of this 
        substance for the last 22 years.
            (4) The safety and efficacy of potassium iodide was 
        formally established as a matter of Federal policy when, on 
        December 15, 1978, the Food and Drug Administration concluded 
        that potassium iodide is a safe and effective means by which to 
        block uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland in a 
        radiological catastrophe, and approved its over-the-counter 
        sale.
            (5) In November 1979, after the Three Mile Island accident 
        revealed shortages in availability of potassium iodide and the 
        Presidents Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island 
        criticized the Federal Government's failure to stockpile it, 
        the Nuclear Regulatory Commission first declared that it would 
        require potassium iodide stockpiling ``a necessary part of an 
        acceptable State emergency response plan'' in the event of a 
        future nuclear accident. Despite this statement, the Commission 
        failed to take prompt action to make potassium iodide 
        available.
            (6) On September 27, 1982, the Nuclear Regulatory 
        Commission staff recommended that the Commission approve a 
        policy endorsing use of potassium iodide as a ``useful 
        protective action''. However, on October 15, 1982, the 
        Commission staff reversed itself, noting that the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency had dropped plans to stockpile a 
        large quantity of potassium iodide and stating that the staff 
        now planned to prepare a new paper that would recommend against 
        stockpiling and distribution of potassium iodide on cost-
        benefit grounds.
            (7) On November 22, 1982, public briefing of the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission, the staff inexplicably argued against 
        stockpiling of potassium iodide on cost-benefit grounds, 
        suggesting that even though potassium iodide is inexpensive, it 
        would be even cheaper in the long run to treat radiation-
        induced thyroid cancers than to prevent them.
            (8) On July 24, 1985, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        issued a national policy on potassium iodide which reversed the 
        Commission's previous support for stockpiling and distribution. 
        Referring to the Commission staff's ``cost-benefit analysis'', 
        it rejected the notion of distributing potassium iodide as 
        ``not worthwhile''.
            (9) On June 16, 1989, a Nuclear Energy Commission employee 
        filed a Differing Professional Opinion challenging the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission's potassium iodide policy.
            (10) On March 29, 1994, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        staff recommended to the Commission that stockpiling potassium 
        iodide in the vicinity of nuclear power plants ``appears 
        prudent'' and urged a new policy of purchasing potassium iodide 
        and encouraging the States to establish stockpiles. However, a 
        deadlocked 2-2 vote by the Commission prevented adoption of the 
        proposed new policy.
            (11) On September 9, 1995, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        employee filed, as a private citizen, a petition for rulemaking 
        asking the Commission to require that potassium iodide be 
        included in State emergency plans.
            (12) On June 16, 1997, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        staff proposed a draft policy statement to the Commission which 
        would make potassium iodide available at Federal expense to 
        those States who request it, while also stating that there is 
        ``no new information'' warranting a change in existing policy--
        despite the experience from the Chernobyl accident regarding 
        the effectiveness of potassium iodide in preventing thyroid 
        cancers.
            (13) On March 31, 1998, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        staff recommended to the Commission that it deny the petition 
        for rulemaking filed by one of its employees in a private 
        capacity, on the basis of spurious arguments about the 
        purported side effects of potassium iodide and the potential 
        for liability relating to such purported side effects.
            (14) On April 9, 1998, the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency wrote the Commission to point  out ``misleading'' 
characterizations being made about its position on potassium iodide by 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff and a nuclear industry trade 
association.
            (15) On July 1, 1998, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        announced that it had voted 3-1 to reject the recommendation by 
        the staff and grant the petition for rulemaking and to require 
        States to consider potassium iodide, along with evacuation and 
        sheltering, in emergency planning for nuclear power plant 
        accidents. Despite this action, no rulemaking was immediately 
        forthcoming.
            (16) In January 2001, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        finally revised a portion of its emergency response regulations 
        to require that consideration be given to including potassium 
        iodide as a protective measure for the general public to 
        supplement sheltering and evacuation in the event of a severe 
        nuclear power plant accident. In doing so, the Commission found 
        that potassium iodide is ``a reasonable, prudent, and 
        inexpensive supplement to evacuation and sheltering for 
        specific local conditions''.
            (17) On October 16, 2001, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
        stated that while it had decided to fund the initial purchases 
        of potassium iodide as a supplemental measure, it had not 
        formulated a concrete plan for its distribution, preferring 
        instead to leave it to the States to decide whether to make 
        potassium iodide available to its citizens.
            (18) The events of September 11, 2001, have underscored the 
        need to undertake immediate measures to protect the public 
        against other possible terrorist attacks, including terrorist 
        attacks against nuclear power plants. Such preparations must 
        include the immediate establishment of a uniform national 
        policy to be established with respect to the stockpiling and 
        distribution of potassium iodide, rather than deferring to the 
        States on the question of whether it should be stockpiled. In 
        order to establish such a uniform national policy, the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission and all other applicable Federal agencies 
        must remove all further obstacles to the immediate stockpiling 
        and distribution of potassium iodide on a national basis.

SEC. 2. RULEMAKING.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 19 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
U.S.C. 2015 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 241 the 
following new section:
    ``Sec. 242. Potassium Iodide.--Not later than 6 months after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall--
            ``(1) ensure that stockpiles of potassium iodide tablets 
        sufficient to provide adequate protection to the population 
        have been established in individual homes and at public 
        facilities such as schools and hospitals within 50 miles of a 
        nuclear power plant;
            ``(2) ensure that stockpiles of potassium iodide tablets 
        sufficient to provide adequate protection to the population 
        have been established at public facilities such as schools and 
        hospitals within the area between 50 and 200 miles of a nuclear 
        power plant;
            ``(3) establish a plan to provide for the utilization of 
        the stockpiles described in paragraphs (1) and (2) by 
        individuals located within 200 miles of a nuclear power plant 
        in the event of a release of radionuclides, other than a 
        release of amounts having no significant public health 
        consequences; and
            ``(4) transmit to the Congress a report--
                    ``(A) on whether stockpiles have been established 
                as required by paragraphs (1) and (2); and
                    ``(B) on the utilization plan required under 
                paragraph (3).''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents of chapter 
19 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 241 the following new item:

``Sec. 242. Potassium iodide.''.
[EX A]:
Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to instruct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure establishment, in individual homes and at public facilities within 50 miles of nuclear power plants, of stockpiles of potassium iodide tablets sufficient to provide adequate protection to the affected population.