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

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Northwest Straits Marine 
Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION 
              INITIATIVE ACT.

    The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act (title IV 
of Public Law 105-384; 112 Stat. 3458) is amended--
            (1) in section 402, by striking ``(in this title referred 
        to as the `Commission')'';
            (2) by striking sections 403 and 404;
            (3) by redesignating section 405 as section 410; and
            (4) by inserting after section 402 the following new 
        sections:

``SEC. 403. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) The marine waters and ecosystem of the Northwest 
        Straits in Puget Sound in the State of Washington represent a 
        unique resource of enormous environmental and economic value to 
        the people of the United States.
            ``(2) During the 20th century, the environmental health of 
        the Northwest Straits declined dramatically as indicated by 
        impaired water quality, declines in marine wildlife, collapse 
        of harvestable marine species, loss of critical marine 
        habitats, ocean acidification, and sea level rise.
            ``(3) At the start of the 21st century, the Northwest 
        Straits have been threatened by sea level rise, ocean 
        acidification, and other effects of climate change.
            ``(4) In 1998, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
        Initiative Act (title IV of Public Law 105-384) was enacted to 
        tap the unprecedented level of citizen stewardship demonstrated 
        in the Northwest Straits and create a mechanism to mobilize 
        public support and raise capacity for local efforts to protect 
        and restore the ecosystem of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(5) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
        helps the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 
        other Federal agencies with their marine missions by fostering 
        local interest in marine issues and involving diverse groups of 
        citizens.
            ``(6) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
        shares many of the same goals with the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration, including fostering citizen 
        stewardship of marine resources, general ecosystem management, 
        and protecting federally managed marine species.
            ``(7) Ocean literacy and identification and removal of 
        marine debris projects are examples of on-going partnerships 
        between the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
        and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

``SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the 
        Northwest Straits Advisory Commission established by section 
        402.
            ``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            ``(3) Northwest straits.--The term `Northwest Straits' 
        means the marine waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of 
        Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of 
        Snohomish County.

``SEC. 405. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of up to 14 
members who shall be appointed as follows:
            ``(1) One member appointed by a consensus of the members of 
        a marine resources committee established under section 408 for 
        each of the following counties of the State of Washington:
                    ``(A) San Juan County.
                    ``(B) Island County.
                    ``(C) Skagit County.
                    ``(D) Whatcom County.
                    ``(E) Snohomish County.
                    ``(F) Clallam County.
                    ``(G) Jefferson County.
            ``(2) Two members appointed by the Secretary of the 
        Interior in trust capacity and in consultation with the 
        Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission or the Indian tribes 
        affected by this title collectively, as the Secretary of the 
        Interior considers appropriate, to represent the interests of 
        such tribes.
            ``(3) One member appointed by the Governor of the State of 
        Washington to represent the interests of the Puget Sound 
        Partnership.
            ``(4) Four members appointed by the Governor of the State 
        of Washington who--
                    ``(A) are residents of the State of Washington; and
                    ``(B) are not employed by a Federal, State, or 
                local government.
    ``(b) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    ``(c) Chairperson.--The Commission shall select a Chairperson from 
among its members.
    ``(d) Meeting.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson, but not less frequently than quarterly.
    ``(e) Liaison.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting 
        through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and in 
        consultation with the Director of the Commission appointed 
        under section 407(a), shall appoint an employee of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--
                    ``(A) to serve as a liaison between the Commission 
                and the Department of Commerce; and
                    ``(B) to attend meetings and other events of the 
                Commission as a nonvoting participant.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Service of an employee as an appointee 
        under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) shall be limited to service as a liaison and 
                attendance of meetings and other events as a nonvoting 
                participant; and
                    ``(B) does not obligate the employee to perform any 
                duty of the Commission under section 406(b).

``SEC. 406. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Goal.--The goal of the Commission is to protect and restore 
the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits 
region to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use by--
            ``(1) designing and initiating projects that are driven by 
        sound science, local priorities, community-based decisions, and 
        the ability to measure results;
            ``(2) building awareness and stewardship and making 
        recommendations to improve the health of the Northwest Straits 
        marine resources;
            ``(3) maintaining and expanding diverse membership and 
        partner organizations;
            ``(4) expanding partnerships with governments of Indian 
        tribes affected by this title and continuing to foster respect 
        for tribal cultures and treaties; and
            ``(5) recognizing the importance of economic and social 
        benefits that are dependent on marine environments and 
        sustainable marine resources.
    ``(b) Duties.--The duties of the Commission are the following:
            ``(1) To provide resources and technical support for marine 
        resources committees established under section 408.
            ``(2) To work with such marine resources committees and 
        appropriate entities of Federal and State governments and 
        Indian tribes affected by this title to develop programs to 
        monitor the overall health of the marine ecosystem of the 
        Northwest Straits.
            ``(3) To identify factors adversely affecting or preventing 
        the restoration of the health of the marine ecosystem and 
        coastal economies of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(4) To develop scientifically sound restoration and 
        protection recommendations, informed by local priorities, that 
        address such factors.
            ``(5) To assist in facilitating the successful 
        implementation of such recommendations by developing broad 
        support among appropriate authorities, stakeholder groups, and 
        local communities.
            ``(6) To develop regional projects based on such 
        recommendations to protect and restore the Northwest Straits 
        ecosystem.
            ``(7) To serve as a public forum for the discussion of 
        policies and actions of Federal, State, or local government, an 
        Indian tribe affected by this title, or the Government of 
        Canada with respect to the marine ecosystem of the Northwest 
        Straits.
            ``(8) To inform appropriate authorities and local 
        communities about the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits 
        and about issues relating to the marine ecosystem of the 
        Northwest Straits.
            ``(9) To consult with all Indian tribes affected by this 
        title to ensure that the work of the Commission does not 
        violate tribal treaty rights.
    ``(c) Benchmarks.--The Commission shall carry out its duties in a 
manner that promotes the achieving of the benchmarks described in 
subsection (f)(2).
    ``(d) Coordination and Collaboration.--The Commission shall carry 
out the duties described in subsection (b) in coordination and 
collaboration, when appropriate, with Federal, State, and local 
governments and Indian tribes affected by this title.
    ``(e) Regulatory Authority.--The Commission shall have no power to 
issue regulations.
    ``(f) Annual Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each year, the Commission shall prepare, 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Natural 
        Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Under 
        Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and make available to the 
        public an annual report describing--
                    ``(A) the activities carried out by the Commission 
                during the preceding year; and
                    ``(B) the progress of the Commission in achieving 
                the benchmarks described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Benchmarks.--The benchmarks described in this 
        paragraph are the following:
                    ``(A) Protection and restoration of marine, 
                coastal, and nearshore habitats.
                    ``(B) Prevention of loss and achievement of a net 
                gain of healthy habitat areas.
                    ``(C) Protection and restoration of marine 
                populations to healthy, sustainable levels.
                    ``(D) Protection of the marine water quality of the 
                Northwest Straits region and restoration of the health 
                of marine waters.
                    ``(E) Collection of high-quality data and promotion 
                of the use and dissemination of such data.
                    ``(F) Promotion of stewardship and understanding of 
                Northwest Straits marine resources through education 
                and outreach.

``SEC. 407. COMMISSION PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

    ``(a) Director.--The Manager of the Shorelands and Environmental 
Assistance Program of the Department of Ecology of the State of 
Washington may, upon the recommendation of the Commission and the 
Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 
appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. The employment of 
the Director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
    ``(b) Staff.--The Director may hire such other personnel as may be 
appropriate to enable the Commission to perform its duties. Such 
personnel shall be hired through the personnel system of the Department 
of Ecology of the State of Washington.
    ``(c) Administrative Services.--If the Governor of the State of 
Washington makes available to the Commission the administrative 
services of the State of Washington Department of Ecology, the 
Commission shall use such services for employment, procurement, grant 
and fiscal management, and support services necessary to carry out the 
duties of the Commission.

``SEC. 408. MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEES.

    ``(a) In General.--The government of each of the counties referred 
to in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of section 405(a)(1) may establish 
a marine resources committee that--
            ``(1) complies with the requirements of this section; and
            ``(2) receives from such government the mission, direction, 
        expert assistance, and financial resources necessary--
                    ``(A) to address issues affecting the marine 
                ecosystems within its county; and
                    ``(B) to work to achieve the benchmarks described 
                in section 406(f)(2).
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each marine resources committee 
        established pursuant to this section shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) members with relevant scientific expertise; 
                and
                    ``(B) members that represent balanced 
                representation, including representation of--
                            ``(i) local governments, including planning 
                        staff from counties and cities with marine 
                        shorelines;
                            ``(ii) affected economic interests, such as 
                        ports and commercial fishers;
                            ``(iii) affected recreational interests, 
                        such as sport fishers; and
                            ``(iv) conservation and environmental 
                        interests.
            ``(2) Tribal members.--With respect to a county referred to 
        in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of section 405(a)(1), each 
        Indian tribe with usual and accustomed fishing rights in the 
        waters of such county and each Indian tribe with reservation 
        lands in such county, may appoint one member to the marine 
        resources committee for such county. Such member may be 
        appointed by the respective tribal authority.
            ``(3) Chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each marine resources committee 
                established pursuant to this section shall select a 
                chairperson from among members by a majority vote of 
                the members of the committee.
                    ``(B) Rotating position.--Each marine resources 
                committee established pursuant to this section shall 
                select a new chairperson at a frequency determined by 
                the county charter of the marine resources committee to 
                create a diversity of representation in the leadership 
                of the marine resources committee.
    ``(c) Duties.--The duties of a marine resources committee 
established pursuant to this section are the following:
            ``(1) To assist in assessing marine resource problems in 
        concert with governmental agencies, tribes, and other entities.
            ``(2) To assist in identifying local implications, needs, 
        and strategies associated with the recovery of Puget Sound 
        salmon and other species in the region of the Northwest Straits 
        listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 
        et seq.) in coordination with Federal, State, and local 
        governments, Indian tribes affected by this title, and other 
        entities.
            ``(3) To work with other entities to enhance the scientific 
        baseline and monitoring program for the marine environment of 
        the Northwest Straits.
            ``(4) To identify local priorities for marine resource 
        conservation and develop new projects to address those needs.
            ``(5) To work closely with county leadership to implement 
        local marine conservation and restoration initiatives.
            ``(6) To coordinate with the Commission on marine ecosystem 
        objectives.
            ``(7) To educate the public and key constituencies 
        regarding the relationship between healthy marine habitats, 
        harvestable resources, and human activities.

``SEC. 409. NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Commission and the 
Director of the State of Washington Department of Ecology, or his or 
her designee, may enter into an agreement with an organization 
described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
establish a nonprofit foundation to support the Commission and the 
marine resources committees established under section 408 in carrying 
out their duties under this Act.
    ``(b) Designation.--The foundation authorized by subsection (a) 
shall be known as the `Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation'.
    ``(c) Receipt of Grants.--The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation may, if eligible, apply for, accept, and use grants awarded 
by Federal agencies, States, local governments, regional agencies, 
interstate agencies, corporations, foundations, or other persons to 
assist the Commission and the marine resources committees in carrying 
out their duties under this Act.
    ``(d) Transfer of Funds.--The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation may transfer funds to the Commission or the marine resources 
committees to assist them in carrying out their duties under this 
Act.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 7, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to define "Northwest Straits" as the marine waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of Snohomish County, Washington.

Sets forth the membership of the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, to appoint an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to serve as a liaison between the Commission and the Department of Commerce and to attend the Commission's meetings and events as a nonvoting participant. States the goal of the Commission as the protection and restoration of the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits region in Washington to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use. Enumerates the duties of the Commission and establishes benchmarks for its work. Requires the Commission to submit annual reports to Congress and the Under Secretary on its activities and its progress in achieving specified benchmarks.

Authorizes the Manager of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program of Washington's Department of Ecology, upon the recommendation of the Commission and the Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, to appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. Requires the Director to be confirmed by the Commission.

Provides for the establishment of marine resources committees in specified counties of Washington.

Authorizes the Director of the Commission and the Director of the State of Washington Department of Ecology to establish the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Foundation as a nonprofit foundation to support the Commission and the marine resources committees established by this Act.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Hydropower Act''.

SEC. 2. CLOSED-LOOP PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.

    Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 34. CLOSED-LOOP PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.

    ``(a) Expedited Licensing Process for Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--As provided in this section, the 
        Commission may issue and amend licenses and preliminary 
        permits, as appropriate, for closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects.
            ``(2) Rule.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue a rule 
        establishing an expedited process for issuing and amending 
        licenses and preliminary permits for closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects under this section.
            ``(3) Interagency task force.--In establishing the 
        expedited process under this section, the Commission shall 
        convene an interagency task force, with appropriate Federal and 
        State agencies and Indian tribes represented, to coordinate the 
        regulatory processes associated with the authorizations 
        required to construct and operate closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects.
            ``(4) Length of process.--The Commission shall ensure that 
        the expedited process under this section will result in final 
        decision on an application for a license by not later than 2 
        years after receipt of a completed application for such 
        license.
    ``(b) Dam Safety.--Before issuing any license for a closed-loop 
pumped storage project, the Commission shall assess the safety of 
existing dams and other structures related to the project (including 
possible consequences associated with failure of such structures).
    ``(c) Exemptions From Other Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In issuing or amending a license or 
        preliminary permit pursuant to the expedited process 
        established under this section, the Commission may grant an 
        exemption from any other requirement of this part with respect 
        to any part of the closed-loop pumped storage project (not 
        including any dam or other impoundment).
            ``(2) Consultation.--In granting an exemption under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall consult with the United 
        States Fish and Wildlife Service and the State agency 
        exercising administration over the fish and wildlife resources 
        of the State in which the closed-loop pumped storage project is 
        or will be located, in the manner provided by the Fish and 
        Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
            ``(3) Terms and conditions.--In granting an exemption under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall include in any such 
        exemption--
                    ``(A) such terms and conditions as the Fish and 
                Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
                and the State agency described in paragraph (2) each 
                determine are appropriate to prevent loss of, or damage 
                to, fish and wildlife resources and to otherwise carry 
                out the purposes of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
                Act; and
                    ``(B) such terms and conditions as the Commission 
                deems appropriate to ensure that such closed-loop 
                pumped storage project continues to comply with the 
                provisions of this section and terms and conditions 
                included in any such exemption.
            ``(4) Fees.--The Commission, in addition to the 
        requirements of section 10(e), shall establish fees which shall 
        be paid by an applicant for a license for a closed-loop pumped 
        storage project that is required to meet terms and conditions 
        set by fish and wildlife agencies under paragraph (3). Such 
        fees shall be adequate to reimburse the fish and wildlife 
        agencies referred to in paragraph (3) for any reasonable costs 
        incurred in connection with any studies or other reviews 
        carried out by such agencies for purposes of compliance with 
        this section. The fees shall, subject to annual appropriations 
        Acts, be transferred to such agencies by the Commission for use 
        solely for purposes of carrying out such studies and shall 
        remain available until expended.
    ``(d) Transfers.--Notwithstanding section 5, and regardless of 
whether the holder of a preliminary permit for a closed-loop pumped 
storage project claimed municipal preference under section 7(a) when 
obtaining the permit, the Commission may, to facilitate development of 
a closed-loop pumped storage project--
            ``(1) add entities as joint permittees following issuance 
        of a preliminary permit; and
            ``(2) transfer a license in part to one or more 
        nonmunicipal entities as co-licensees with a municipality, if 
        the municipality retains majority ownership of the project for 
        which the license was issued.
    ``(e) Interagency Communications.--Interagency cooperation in the 
preparation of environmental documents under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to an 
application for a license for a closed-loop pumped storage project 
submitted pursuant to this section, and interagency communications 
relating to licensing process coordination pursuant to this section, 
shall not--
            ``(1) be considered to be ex parte communications under 
        Commission rules; or
            ``(2) preclude an agency from participating in a licensing 
        proceeding under this part.
    ``(f) Developing Abandoned Mines for Pumped Storage.--
            ``(1) Workshop.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall hold a workshop 
        to explore potential opportunities for development of closed-
        loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites.
            ``(2) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue guidance 
        to assist applicants for licenses or preliminary permits for 
        closed-loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites.
    ``(g) Qualifying Criteria for Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall establish criteria 
        that a pumped storage project shall meet in order to qualify as 
        a closed-loop pumped storage project eligible for the expedited 
        process established under this section.
            ``(2) Inclusions.--In establishing the criteria under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall include criteria requiring 
        that the pumped storage project--
                    ``(A) cause little to no change to existing surface 
                and groundwater flows and uses; and
                    ``(B) is unlikely to adversely affect species 
                listed as a threatened species or endangered species 
                under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.''.

SEC. 3. OBLIGATION FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL CHARGES.

    Section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803(e)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(5) Any obligation of a licensee for payment of annual charges 
under this subsection shall commence when the construction of the 
applicable facility commences.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 12, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act (Sec.2)This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish an expedited licensing process for issuing and amending licenses and preliminary permits for closed-loop pumped storage projects (in which the upper and lower reservoirs do not impound or directly withdraw water from navigable waters, or that are not continuously connected to a naturally flowing water feature). In establishing the expedited process, FERC shall convene an interagency task force with appropriate federal and state agencies and Indian tribes to coordinate the regulatory process associated with the authorizations required to construct and operate closed-loop pumped storage projects. FERC must assess the safety of existing dams and other structures related to the project before issuing any license for a closed-loop storage project. FERC must hold a workshop to explore potential opportunities for development of storage projects at abandoned mine sites. FERC must also establish criteria that a project shall meet to qualify as a closed-loop pumped storage under this bill, including requiring that the project cause little to no change to existing surface and groundwater flows and uses and that the project is unlikely to adversely affect species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. (Sec.3)Licensees are not required to pay an annual charge for administrative expenses until construction commences.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Summer Travel Delay Prevention 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Flight delays and cancellations hit all time highs at 
        major airports nationwide during the summer of 2007, when--
                    (A) 20 percent more passengers were affected by 
                flight delays than were affected during the previous 
                summer;
                    (B) nearly 621,000 flights were delayed, an 
                increase of 15 percent compared with approximately 
                539,000 delayed flights in the summer of 2006;
                    (C) such delays lasted an average of 60 minutes, a 
                7 percent increase from the average length of flight 
                delays in the previous summer;
                    (D) flight cancellations increased to 48,000, from 
                37,000 in the summer of 2006, affecting nearly 
                3,200,000 passengers; and
                    (E) on board tarmac delays lasting at least 1 hour 
                increased by 25 percent compared with the summer of 
                2006, affecting over 2,000,000 passengers.
            (2) The Inspector General of the Department of 
        Transportation--
                    (A) identified the New York area as 1 of 3 
                saturation points across the country that impacted 
                delays nationwide;
                    (B) reported that the biggest airspace bottlenecks 
                during the summer of 2007 were at the 3 major New York 
                area airports and the surrounding airspace, accounting 
                for more than \1/3\ of the flight delays nationwide; 
                and
                    (C) after analyzing the likelihood of having more 
                or less delays at 5 of the busiest airports based on 
                current traffic and existing systems, determined that 
                the significant increase in the peak travel schedule at 
                LaGuardia Airport in the summer 2008 has the potential 
                to worsen delay conditions.
            (3) The 3 airports in the New York area, Kennedy Airport 
        (JFK), LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty Airport--
                    (A) are the 3 worst airports across the country in 
                terms of on-time arrivals, with only 59 percent of 
                flights arriving on time at JFK and LaGuardia;
                    (B) are anticipated to experience massive delays in 
                the summer of 2008; and
                    (C) have a ripple effect on the national airspace 
                system.
            (4) Between October 2006 and July 2007 at JFK, average 
        daily operations increased by 23 percent and arrival delays of 
        more than 1 hour increased by 114 percent, to more than 2,300.
            (5) The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that the 
        number of passengers on commercial aircraft will increase by 36 
        percent between 2007 and 2015, to a total of 1,000,000,000 
        passenger trips.
            (6) Next generation air traffic control technology has the 
        ability to significantly improve congestion problems, but the 
        Federal Aviation Administration has repeatedly delayed its 
        implementation, currently estimated to take place in 2025, 11 
        years later than originally predicted.
            (7) In addition to technology improvements, proven tools 
        are available to reduce airspace congestion and address the 
        massive delays.
            (8) During the Thanksgiving holidays in 2007, military 
        airspace off the East Coast was opened for commercial use, 
        significantly reducing holiday delays and congestion by 
        creating an additional lane for traffic.
            (9) Empowering a director to oversee and coordinate 
        operations in congested airspace has effectively reduced delays 
        in South Florida, where some air carriers improved arrival 
        performance by 44 percent and reduced delays lasting more than 
        90 minutes by 69 percent.

SEC. 3. PLAN FOR SHARING MILITARY AND SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE.

    The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of 
Defense, shall develop--
            (1) a plan to open up special use airspace for additional 
        lanes of air traffic at specific choke points during the summer 
        of 2008; and
            (2) a permanent plan to share the military airspace off the 
        eastern coast of the United States, which--
                    (A) creates a corridor for commercial flights 
                seeking to avoid inclement weather or excessive air 
                traffic; and
                    (B) provides for immediate reclamation of such 
                airspace by the Department of Defense in the event of a 
                national emergency.

SEC. 4. NEW YORK INTEGRATION OFFICE.

    (a) Budget Authority.--The Director of the New York Integration 
Office of the Federal Aviation Administration is authorized to transfer 
any amounts appropriated for the operations of such office to any 
function that the Director determines to be necessary to carry out any 
flight delay reduction project involving the airspace in the New York-
New Jersey region.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Federal Aviation Administration such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the New York Integration 
Office, including hiring necessary support staff.

SEC. 5. AVIATION TRAVELER TASK FORCE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) While aircraft safety should be a top priority for the 
        Federal Aviation Administration and air carriers, compliance 
        with Federal safety regulations should not come at the expense 
        of passenger convenience.
            (2) One of the chief complaints of customers left stranded 
        during April 2008 by massive cancellations was the lack of 
        notification about the status of their flights.
            (3) Commercial air flight cancellations were announced with 
        little advance notice, causing many travelers to discover that 
        their flight was cancelled after they arrived at the airport.
            (4) Air carriers have also reduced the number of flights on 
        their schedules, which has frustrated consumers' attempts to 
        find replacement flights on other air carriers.
    (b) Establishment.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish an Aviation Traveler Task Force, 
comprised of Federal Aviation Administration employees and 
representatives of the commercial aviation industry.
    (c) Functions.--The Aviation Traveler Task Force shall--
            (1) clarify interpretations of safety directives issued by 
        the Federal Aviation Administration with which air carriers 
        will soon need to comply;
            (2) develop contingency plans in the event that additional 
        aircraft--
                    (A) are found to be out of compliance with such 
                safety directives; and
                    (B) need to be grounded;
            (3) generate ideas for the best way to notify passengers on 
        a massive scale that their flights have been cancelled; and
            (4) design a notification system to alert passengers of 
        potential service disruptions.
    (d) Inspection Plans.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall ensure that any standardized plan to perform 
inspections of commercial aircraft includes a plan to reduce groundings 
and other consequences resulting from such inspections.


Output: Summer Travel Delay Prevention Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop: (1) a plan for opening up to commercial flights special use airspace for additional lanes of air traffic at specific choke points; and (2) a permanent plan for sharing military airspace off the eastern U.S. coast by such flights.

Authorizes the Director of the New York Integration Office of the FAA to transfer appropriated amounts for Office operations to flight delay reduction projects in airspace over the New York-New Jersey region.

Requires the FAA Administrator to establish an Aviation Traveler Task Force to: (1) clarify interpretations of FAA safety directives with which air carriers will soon need to comply; (2) develop contingency plans in the event that additional aircraft do not comply with such safety directives and need to be grounded; and (3) design a notification system to alert passengers of potential service disruptions.