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

Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Emergency Centers 
Establishment Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--In accordance with the requirements of this Act, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish not fewer than 6 
national emergency centers on military installations.
    (b) Purpose of National Emergency Centers.--The purpose of a 
national emergency center shall be to use existing infrastructure--
            (1) to provide temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian 
        assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an 
        emergency or major disaster;
            (2) to provide centralized locations for the purposes of 
        training and ensuring the coordination of Federal, State, and 
        local first responders;
            (3) to provide centralized locations to improve the 
        coordination of preparedness, response, and recovery efforts of 
        government, private, and not-for-profit entities and faith-
        based organizations; and
            (4) to meet other appropriate needs, as determined by the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AS NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
              CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall designate not fewer 
than 6 military installations as sites for the establishment of 
national emergency centers.
    (b) Minimum Requirements.--A site designated as a national 
emergency center shall be--
            (1) capable of meeting for an extended period of time the 
        housing, health, transportation, education, and humanitarian 
        needs of a large number of individuals affected by an emergency 
        or major disaster;
            (2) environmentally safe and shall not pose a health risk 
        to individuals who may use the center;
            (3) capable of accommodating major disaster preparedness 
        and response drills, operations, and procedures; and
            (4) easily accessible at all times, including during an 
        emergency or major disaster.
    (c) Location of National Emergency Centers.--There shall be 
established not fewer than one national emergency center in each of the 
following areas:
            (1) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency Regions I, II, and III.
            (2) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency Region IV.
            (3) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency Regions V and VII.
            (4) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency Region VI.
            (5) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency Regions VIII and X.
            (6) The area consisting of Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency Region IX.
    (d) Preference for Designation of Closed Military Installations.--
Wherever possible, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Defense, shall designate a closed military 
installation as a site for a national emergency center. If the 
Secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense jointly determine that 
there is not a sufficient number of closed military installations that 
meet the requirements of subsections (b) and (c), the Secretaries shall 
jointly designate portions of existing military installations other 
than closed military installations as national emergency centers.
    (e) Transfer of Control of Closed Military Installations.--If a 
closed military installation is designated as a national emergency 
center, not later than 180 days after the date of designation, the 
Secretary of Defense shall transfer to the Secretary of Homeland 
Security administrative jurisdiction over such closed military 
installation.
    (f) Cooperative Agreement for Joint Use of Existing Military 
Installations.--If an existing military installation other than a 
closed military installation is designated as a national emergency 
center, not later than 180 days after the date of designation, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense shall enter 
into a cooperative agreement to provide for the establishment of the 
national emergency center.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) Preliminary report.-- Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, acting jointly with the Secretary of Defense, shall 
        submit to Congress a report that contains for each designated 
        site--
                    (A) an outline of the reasons why the site was 
                selected;
                    (B) an outline of the need to construct, repair, or 
                update any existing infrastructure at the site;
                    (C) an outline of the need to conduct any necessary 
                environmental clean-up at the site;
                    (D) an outline of preliminary plans for the 
                transfer of control of the site from the Secretary of 
                Defense to the Secretary of Homeland Security, if 
                necessary under subsection (e); and
                    (E) an outline of preliminary plans for entering 
                into a cooperative agreement for the establishment of a 
                national emergency center at the site, if necessary 
                under subsection (f).
            (2) Update report.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, acting jointly with the Secretary of Defense, shall 
        submit to Congress a report that contains for each designated 
        site--
                    (A) an update on the information contained in the 
                report as required by paragraph (1);
                    (B) an outline of the progress made toward the 
                transfer of control of the site, if necessary under 
                subsection (e);
                    (C) an outline of the progress made toward entering 
                a cooperative agreement for the establishment of a 
                national emergency center at the site, if necessary 
                under subsection (f); and
                    (D) recommendations regarding any authorizations 
                and appropriations that may be necessary to provide for 
                the establishment of a national emergency center at the 
                site.
            (3) Final report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
        acting jointly with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to 
        Congress a report that contains for each designated site--
                    (A) finalized information detailing the transfer of 
                control of the site, if necessary under subsection (e);
                    (B) the finalized cooperative agreement for the 
                establishment of a national emergency center at the 
                site, if necessary under subsection (f); and
                    (C) any additional information pertinent to the 
                establishment of a national emergency center at the 
                site.
            (4) Additional reports.--The Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, acting jointly with the Secretary of Defense, may 
        submit to Congress additional reports as necessary to provide 
        updates on steps being taken to meet the requirements of this 
        Act.

SEC. 4. LIMITATIONS ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.

    This Act does not affect--
            (1) the authority of the Federal Government to provide 
        emergency or major disaster assistance or to implement any 
        disaster mitigation and response program, including any program 
        authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or
            (2) the authority of a State or local government to respond 
        to an emergency.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $125,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to carry out this Act. Such funds shall 
remain available until expended.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Closed military installation.--The term ``closed 
        military installation'' means a military installation, or 
        portion thereof, approved for closure in 2005 under the Defense 
        Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX 
        of Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).
            (2) Emergency.--The term ``emergency'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
            (3) Major disaster.--The term ``major disaster'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 102 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5122).
            (4) Military installation.--The term ``military 
        installation'' has the meaning given such term in section 2910 
        of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A 
        of title XXIX of Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).

A: National Emergency Centers Establishment Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish at least six national emergency centers on mililtary installations to provide: (1) temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or major disaster; and (2) centralized locations for the training and coordination of federal, state, and local first responders, and to improve coordination of preparedness, response, and recovery efforts of government, private, and not-for-profit entities and faith-based organizations.

Requires the use of such centers to meet other appropriate needs determined by the Secretary.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.

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

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

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

SEC. 4. SELECTION OF APPLICANTS TO RECEIVE GRANTS.

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

SEC. 5. USES OF FUNDS.

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

SEC. 6. EARLY EDUCATION BENEFIT AGREEMENTS.

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

SEC. 7. EARLY EDUCATION START-UP GRANTS.

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

SEC. 8. REPORTS.

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

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

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

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such 
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2003 through 2007.

A: Early Education Employee Benefit Act of 2002 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make competitive matching grants to States and local governments to: (1) enter Early Education Benefit Agreements with private partners to provide part of the cost of Early Education Benefits, which reduce costs incurred by employees and union members to obtain early education (including child care, preschool, and other early childhood programs); or (2) make Early Education Start-Up Grants to assist private partners to pay part of the cost of acquiring, building, and renovating physical premises to be used as new early education facilities, if such partners subsidize attendance at those facilities for children of lower-paid employees or union members.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mercury Reduction Act of 2002''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) mercury is a persistent and toxic pollutant that 
        bioaccumulates in the environment;
            (2) according to recent studies, mercury deposition is a 
        significant public health threat in many States throughout the 
        United States;
            (3) 40 States have issued fish advisories that warn certain 
        individuals to restrict or avoid consuming mercury-contaminated 
        fish from affected bodies of water;
            (4) according to a report by the National Academy of 
        Sciences, over 60,000 children are born each year in the United 
        States at risk for adverse neurodevelopmental effects due to 
        exposure to methyl mercury in utero;
            (5) studies have documented that exposure to elevated 
        levels of mercury in the environment results in serious harm to 
        species of wildlife that consume fish;
            (6) according to the Mercury Study Report, prepared by the 
        Environmental Protection Agency and submitted to Congress in 
        1997, mercury fever thermometers contribute approximately 17 
        tons of mercury to solid waste each year;
            (7) the Governors of the New England States have endorsed a 
        regional goal of ``the virtual elimination of the discharge of 
        anthropogenic mercury into the environment'';
            (8) mercury fever thermometers are easily broken, creating 
        a potential risk of dangerous exposure to mercury vapor in 
        indoor air and risking mercury contamination of the 
        environment; and
            (9) according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
        quantity of mercury in 1 mercury fever thermometer, 
        approximately 1 gram, is enough to contaminate all fish in a 
        lake with a surface area of 20 acres.

SEC. 3. MERCURY.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 
U.S.C. 6921 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 3024. MERCURY.

    ``(a) Prohibition on Sale of Mercury Fever Thermometers Except by 
Prescription.--Effective beginning 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this section--
            ``(1) a person shall not sell or supply mercury fever 
        thermometers to consumers, except by prescription; and
            ``(2) with each mercury fever thermometer sold or supplied 
        by prescription, the manufacturer of the thermometer shall 
        provide clear instructions on--
                    ``(A) careful handling of the thermometer to avoid 
                breakage; and
                    ``(B) proper cleanup of the thermometer and its 
                contents in the event of breakage.
    ``(b) Thermometer Exchange Program.--The Administrator shall make 
grants to States, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, or other 
suitable entities for implementation of a national program for the 
collection of liquid mercury fever thermometers from households and 
their exchange for thermometers that do not contain mercury.
    ``(c) Management of Collected Mercury.--
            ``(1) Task force.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--There is established an 
                advisory committee to be known as the `Task Force on 
                Mercury' (referred to in this section as the `Task 
                Force').
                    ``(B) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed 
                of 5 members, of whom--
                            ``(i) 1 member shall be the Administrator, 
                        who shall serve as Chairperson of the Task 
                        Force;
                            ``(ii) 1 member shall be the Secretary of 
                        State;
                            ``(iii) 1 member shall be the Secretary of 
                        Defense;
                            ``(iv) 1 member shall be the Secretary of 
                        Energy; and
                            ``(v) 1 member shall be the Director of the 
                        National Institute of Environmental Health 
                        Sciences of the Department of Health and Human 
                        Services.
                    ``(C) Date of appointments.--The appointment of a 
                member of the Task Force shall be made not later than 
                30 days after the date of enactment of this section.
                    ``(D) Term; vacancies.--
                            ``(i) Term.--A member shall be appointed 
                        for the life of the Task Force.
                            ``(ii) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Task 
                        Force--
                                    ``(I) shall not affect the powers 
                                of the Task Force; and
                                    ``(II) shall be filled in the same 
                                manner as the original appointment was 
                                made.
                    ``(E) Meetings.--
                            ``(i) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 
                        days after the date on which all members of the 
                        Task Force have been appointed, the Task Force 
                        shall hold the initial meeting of the Task 
                        Force.
                            ``(ii) Calling of meetings.--The Task Force 
                        shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
                            ``(iii) Quorum.--A majority of the members 
                        of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum, 
                        but a lesser number of members may hold 
                        hearings.
                    ``(F) Duties.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the date of the initial meeting of the 
                        Task Force, the Task Force shall submit to 
                        Congress a report containing recommendations 
                        and suggested actions concerning--
                                    ``(I) the long-term management of 
                                surplus mercury collected from--
                                            ``(aa) mercury fever 
                                        thermometers;
                                            ``(bb) other medical and 
                                        commercial sources;
                                            ``(cc) government sources, 
                                        including mercury stored by the 
                                        Department of Defense and the 
                                        Department of Energy; and
                                            ``(dd) industrial or other 
                                        sources in the United States;
                                    ``(II) programs to test the long-
                                term durability of promising 
                                technologies for sequestration of 
                                mercury;
                                    ``(III) storage of mercury 
                                collected or sequestered under 
                                subclause (I) or (II), in a manner that 
                                ensures that there is no release of the 
                                mercury into the environment;
                                    ``(IV) reduction of the total 
                                threat posed by mercury to humans and 
                                the environment; and
                                    ``(V) reduction of the total 
                                quantity of mercury produced, used, and 
                                released on a global basis, including 
                                whether and how--
                                            ``(aa) the quantity of 
                                        virgin mercury mined from the 
                                        ground and placed in 
                                        circulation each year can be 
                                        reduced through bilateral or 
                                        international agreements or 
                                        other means;
                                            ``(bb) the quantity of 
                                        mercury intentionally used in 
                                        products, mining, and 
                                        manufacturing can be reduced 
                                        through substitution of 
                                        mercury-free alternatives that 
                                        are safer, available, and 
                                        affordable; and
                                            ``(cc) essential mercury 
                                        needs can be met through use of 
                                        stockpiles in existence on the 
                                        date of enactment of this 
                                        section rather than through use 
                                        of virgin mercury.
                            ``(ii) Consultation.--In carrying out this 
                        subparagraph, the Task Force shall consult with 
                        States, industries, and health, environmental, 
                        and consumer organizations.
                    ``(G) Hearings.--The Task Force may hold such 
                hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take 
                such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Task 
                Force considers advisable to carry out this section.
                    ``(H) Information from federal agencies.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Task Force may 
                        secure directly from a Federal agency such 
                        information as the Task Force considers 
                        necessary to carry out this section.
                            ``(ii) Provision of information.--On 
                        request of the Chairperson of the Task Force, 
                        the head of the agency shall provide the 
                        information to the Task Force.
                    ``(I) Postal services.--The Task Force may use the 
                United States mails in the same manner and under the 
                same conditions as other agencies of the Federal 
                Government.
                    ``(J) Gifts.--The Task Force may accept, use, and 
                dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
                    ``(K) Compensation of members; travel expenses.--
                            ``(i) Federal employees.--A member of the 
                        Task Force who is an officer or employee of the 
                        Federal Government shall serve without 
                        compensation in addition to the compensation 
                        received for the services of the member as an 
                        officer or employee of the Federal Government.
                            ``(ii) Travel expenses.--A member of the 
                        Task Force shall be allowed travel expenses, 
                        including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
                        rates authorized for an employee of an agency 
                        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
                        United States Code, while away from the home or 
                        regular place of business of the member in the 
                        performance of the duties of the Task Force.
                    ``(L) Staff and funding.--
                            ``(i) Determination.--The Chairperson of 
                        the Task Force shall determine the level of 
                        staff and funding that are adequate to carry 
                        out the activities of the Task Force.
                            ``(ii) Source.--The staff and funding shall 
                        be provided by and drawn equally from the 
                        resources of--
                                    ``(I) the Department of Energy;
                                    ``(II) the Department of Defense; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) the Environmental 
                                Protection Agency.
                            ``(iii) Appointment of staff.--The 
                        Chairperson may, without regard to the civil 
                        service laws (including regulations), appoint 
                        and terminate such staff as are necessary to 
                        enable the Task Force to perform the duties of 
                        the Task Force.
                            ``(iv) Compensation.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Except as 
                                provided in subclause (II), the 
                                Chairperson may fix the compensation of 
                                the staff of the Task Force that are 
                                not officers or employees of the 
                                Federal Government without regard to 
                                the provisions of chapter 51 and 
                                subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 
                                5, United States Code, relating to 
                                classification of positions and General 
                                Schedule pay rates.
                                    ``(II) Maximum rate of pay.--The 
                                rate of pay for the staff shall not 
                                exceed the rate payable for level V of 
                                the Executive Schedule under section 
                                5316 of title 5, United States Code.
                            ``(v) Detail of federal government 
                        employees.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--An employee of 
                                the Federal Government may be detailed 
                                to the Task Force without 
                                reimbursement.
                                    ``(II) Civil service status.--The 
                                detail of the employee shall be without 
                                interruption or loss of civil service 
                                status or privilege.
                            ``(vi) Procurement of temporary and 
                        intermittent services.--The Chairperson of the 
                        Task Force may procure for the purposes of the 
                        Task Force temporary and intermittent services 
                        in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, 
                        United States Code, at rates for individuals 
                        that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the 
                        annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V 
                        of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
                        that title.
                    ``(M) Termination of task force.--The Task Force 
                shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the 
                date on which the Task Force submits the report 
                required under subparagraph (F)(i).
                    ``(N) No effect on other law.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph affects the regulation of mercury under--
                            ``(i) any other provision of this subtitle; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) any other law.
            ``(2) Responsibility of the administrator for safe 
        management and storage of mercury.--In consultation with the 
        Task Force, the Administrator shall--
                    ``(A)(i) purchase or otherwise take title to the 
                mercury collected under the thermometer exchange 
                program established under subsection (b), or collected 
                from any other source;
                    ``(ii) manage (or designate a contractor to manage) 
                the mercury collected in a manner that ensures that the 
                mercury collected is not released into the environment;
                    ``(iii) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, 
                that the mercury collected under the thermometer 
                exchange program established under subsection (b), or 
                an equivalent quantity of mercury, is not reintroduced 
                into commerce; and
                    ``(iv) provide to the Task Force, for inclusion in 
                the report of the Task Force under paragraph (1)(F)(i), 
                an analysis of, and recommendations relating to, the 
                mercury collection and management activities carried 
                out under this section; and
                    ``(B)(i) identify potential mercury stabilization 
                technologies and long-term storage measures that ensure 
                minimal release of mercury into the environment; and
                    ``(ii) conduct such research, development, and 
                demonstration of the technologies and measures as the 
                Administrator determines to be appropriate.
    ``(d) Relation to Other Law.--Nothing in this section--
            ``(1) precludes any State from imposing any additional 
        requirement; or
            ``(2) diminishes any obligation, liability, or other 
        responsibility under other Federal law.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out this section (other than subsection (c)(2)(A)) 
        $20,000,000, of which--
                    ``(A) not more than 2.5 percent shall be used to 
                carry out the activities of the Task Force; and
                    ``(B) not more than 2.5 percent shall be used to 
                carry out subsection (c)(2)(B).
            ``(2) Safe management and storage.--In addition to the 
        amount authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), there 
        is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection 
        (c)(2)(A) $1,000,000 for each fiscal year.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1001 of the Solid Waste Disposal 
Act (42 U.S.C. prec. 6901) is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to subtitle C the following:

``Sec. 3024. Mercury.''.

            Passed the Senate September 5, 2002.

            Attest:

                                                  JERI THOMSON,

                                                             Secretary.

A:
Mercury Reduction Act of 2002 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to: (1) prohibit the sale or supply of mercury fever thermometers to consumers, except by prescription; and (2) require manufacturers to provide clear instructions on handling of thermometers to avoid breakage and on proper cleanup in the event of breakage.Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants for a household mercury thermometer collection and exchange program.Establishes a Task Force on Mercury to make recommendations on: (1) the long-term management of surplus mercury collected from thermometers and from medical, commercial, government, and industrial and other sources; (2) programs to test technologies for sequestration of retired mercury; (3) storage of mercury in a manner that ensures no release into the environment; (4) reduction of the total threat posed by mercury to humans and the environment; and (5) reduction of mercury produced, used, and released.Directs the Administrator, in consultation with the Task Force, to: (1) take title to mercury collected under the thermometer exchange program or from another source; (2) manage the mercury in a manner that prevents its release into the environment; (3) ensure that collected mercury is not reintroduced into commerce; (4) provide to the Task Force an analysis of, and recommendations concerning, collection and management activities under this Act; and (5) identify stabilization technologies and long-term storage measures that prevent mercury release and conduct appropriate research, development, and demonstration.Authorizes appropriations.
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