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. AMENDMENT AND EXTENSION OF IRISH PEACE PROCESS CULTURAL AND 
              TRAINING PROGRAM.

    (a) Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act.--
        (1) Program participant requirements.--Section 2(a) of the 
    Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (8 
    U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(5) Program participant requirements.--An alien entering the 
    United States as a participant in the program shall satisfy the 
    following requirements:
            ``(A) The alien shall be a citizen of the United Kingdom or 
        the Republic of Ireland.
            ``(B) The alien shall be between 21 and 35 years of age on 
        the date of departure for the United States.
            ``(C) The alien shall have resided continuously in a 
        designated county for not less than 18 months before such date.
            ``(D) The alien shall have been continuously unemployed for 
        not less than 12 months before such date.
            ``(E) The alien may not have a degree from an institution 
        of higher education.''.
        (2) Extension of program.--Section 2 of the Irish Peace Process 
    Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is 
    amended--
            (A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``the third program 
        year and for the 4 subsequent years,'' and inserting ``each 
        program year,''; and
            (B) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Sunset.--
        ``(1) Effective October 1, 2008, the Irish Peace Process 
    Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 is repealed.
        ``(2) Effective October 1, 2008, section 101(a)(15)(Q) of the 
    Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(Q)) is 
    amended--
            ``(A) by striking `or' at the end of clause (i);
            ``(B) by striking `(i)' after `(Q)'; and
            ``(C) by striking clause (ii).''.
        (3) Cost-sharing.--Section 2 of the Irish Peace Process 
    Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note), as 
    amended by paragraph (2), is further amended--
            (A) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively; and
            (B) by inserting after subsection (b), the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(c) Cost-sharing.--The Secretary of State shall verify that the 
United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland continue to pay a reasonable 
share of the costs of the administration of the cultural and training 
programs carried out pursuant to this Act.''.
        (4) Technical amendments.--The Irish Peace Process Cultural and 
    Training Program Act of 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``Attorney General'' each place such term 
        appears and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security''; and
            (B) by striking ``Immigration and Naturalization Service'' 
        each place such term appears and inserting ``Department of 
        Homeland Security''.
    (b) Immigration and Nationality Act.--
        (1) Requirements for nonimmigrant status.--Section 
    101(a)(15)(Q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
    1101(a)(15)(Q)) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``Attorney General'' each place such term 
        appears and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security''; and
            (B) in clause (ii)(I)--
                (i) by striking ``35 years of age or younger having a 
            residence'' and inserting ``citizen of the United Kingdom 
            or the Republic of Ireland, 21 to 35 years of age, 
            unemployed for not less than 12 months, and having a 
            residence for not less than 18 months''; and
                (ii) by striking ``36 months)'' and inserting ``24 
            months)''.
        (2) Foreign residence requirement.--Section 212 of the 
    Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended--
            (A) by redesignating the subsection (p) as added by section 
        1505(f) of Public Law 106-386 (114 Stat. 1526) as subsection 
        (s); and
            (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(t)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person admitted 
under section 101(a)(15)(Q)(ii)(I), or acquiring such status after 
admission, shall be eligible to apply for nonimmigrant status, an 
immigrant visa, or permanent residence under this Act until it is 
established that such person has resided and been physically present in 
the person's country of nationality or last residence for an aggregate 
of at least 2 years following departure from the United States.
    ``(2) The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive the requirement 
of such 2-year foreign residence abroad if the Secretary determines 
that--
        ``(A) departure from the United States would impose exceptional 
    hardship upon the alien's spouse or child (if such spouse or child 
    is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for 
    permanent residence); or
        ``(B) the admission of the alien is in the public interest or 
    the national interest of the United States.''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.
[EX A]: Amends the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998 (IPPCTPA) and the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to revise the nonimmigrant alien eligibility qualifications for participants in the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program. Sets a minimum age of 21 (retaining the current age 35 maximum) and requires that the individual: (1) be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland; (2) have been unemployed continuously for at least 12 months; (3) have resided continuously for at least 18 months in Northern Ireland or one of designated border counties of the Republic of Ireland; and (4) not have a degree from an institution of higher education.

Requires the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress each program year (currently, the third program year and the four subsequent years) on the number of aliens admitted under the program who have overstayed their visas.

Extends the authority of the IPPCTPA through FY 2008.

Requires the Secretary of State to verify that the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland continue to pay a reasonable share of costs for administration of IPPCTPA programs.

Amends the INA to reduce from 36 to 24 months the temporary period of the visit to the United States for participation in the program.

Denies any such person eligibility to apply for nonimmigrant status, an immigrant visa, or permanent residence until he or she has resided and been physically present in the country of nationality or last residence for an aggregate of a least two years following departure from the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive this requirement if: (1) departure from the United States would impose exceptional hardship upon the alien's spouse or child (if such spouse or child is a U.S. citizen or a lawfully resident alien); or (2) the admission of the alien is in the U.S. public or national interest.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Government Accountability Office 
Improvement Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO OBTAIN RECORDS.

    (a) Authority To Obtain Records.--Section 716 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended in subsection (a)--
            (1) by striking ``(a)'' and inserting ``(2)''; and
            (2) by inserting after the section heading the following:
    ``(a)(1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such 
agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his 
duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), 
including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In 
reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize 
the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding 
sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to 
law.''.
    (b) Interviews.--Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as 
amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of 
paragraph (2) by inserting ``and interview agency officers and 
employees'' after ``agency record''.

SEC. 3. ADMINISTERING OATHS.

    Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking 
paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
            ``(4) administer oaths to witnesses, except that, in 
        matters other than auditing and settling accounts, the 
        authority of an officer or employee to administer oaths to 
        witnesses pursuant to a delegation under paragraph (2) shall 
        not be available without the prior express approval of the 
        Comptroller General (or a designee).''.

SEC. 4. ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION.

    (a) Access to Certain Information.--Subchapter II of chapter 7 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 721. Access to certain information
    ``(a) No provision of the Social Security Act shall be construed to 
limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to 
obtain any information, to inspect any record, or to interview any 
officer or employee under section 716 of this title, including with 
respect to any information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services under part C or D of title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act.
    ``(b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the 
Comptroller General to obtain any information, to inspect any record, 
or to interview any officer or employee under section 716 of this 
title, including with respect to any information concerning any method 
or process which as a trade secret is entitled to protection.
    ``(c) No provision of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements 
Act of 1976 and the amendments made by that Act shall be construed to 
limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to 
obtain any information, to inspect any record, or to interview any 
officer or employee under section 716 of this title, including with 
respect to any information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General 
of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or the Federal 
Trade Commission for purposes of pre-merger review under section 7A of 
the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a).
    ``(d)(1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and 
procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure 
proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this 
section.
    ``(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed--
            ``(A) to alter or amend the prohibitions against the 
        disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information 
        prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable 
        laws; or
            ``(B) to affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this 
        title, including the protections against unauthorized 
        disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained 
        consistent with this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 7 of title 31, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 720 the following:

``721. Access to certain information.''.

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORTS.

    Section 719 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking the period at the 
        end and inserting ``; and'';
            (3) by adding at the end of subsection (b)(1) the 
        following:
            ``(D) for agencies subject to sections 901 to 903 and other 
        agencies designated by the Comptroller General, an assessment 
        of their overall degree of cooperation in making personnel 
        available for interview, providing written answers to 
        questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller 
        General under section 711, granting access to records, 
        providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting 
        recommendations in reports and responding to such other matters 
        as the Comptroller General deems appropriate.'';
            (4) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
            (5) in subsection (c)(3), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and'', and
            (6) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the following:
            ``(4) as soon as practicable when an agency does not, 
        within a reasonable time, respond to a request by the 
        Comptroller General regarding any matter described in 
        subsection (b)(1)(D).''.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.
[EX A]: Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties, including through bringing civil actions under this Act; (2) interview agency officers and employees to get information about agency duties, powers, activities, organization, and financial transactions; and (3) administer oaths to witnesses (currently, the Comptroller General may administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts).

Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained under this Act.

Declares that no provision of the Social Security Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain information, inspect records, or interview specified agency officers or employees, including with respect to: (1) information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Social Security Act; (2) information concerning any method or process protected as a trade secret; and (3) information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for purposes of pre-merger review under the Clayton Act. Declares that this Act shall not be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information; and (2) affect the applicability of requirements governing the availability of agency information to information obtained.

Requires the Comptroller General to: (1) report annually on the cooperation of agencies subject to the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and other agencies designated by the Comptroller General in making personnel available for interviews, providing written answers to questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller General, granting access to records, providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting report recommendations, and responding to such matters as the Comptroller General deems appropriate; and (2) report to Congress when agencies do not respond to requests regarding such matters.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``SEC Regulatory Accountability Act''.

SEC. 2. CONSIDERATION BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OF THE 
              COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ITS REGULATIONS AND CERTAIN OTHER 
              AGENCY ACTIONS.

    Section 23 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78w) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Consideration of Costs and Benefits.--
            ``(1) In general.--Before issuing a regulation under the 
        securities laws, as defined in section 3(a), the Commission 
        shall--
                    ``(A) clearly identify the nature and source of the 
                problem that the proposed regulation is designed to 
                address, as well as assess the significance of that 
                problem, to enable assessment of whether any new 
                regulation is warranted;
                    ``(B) utilize the Chief Economist to assess the 
                costs and benefits, both qualitative and quantitative, 
                of the intended regulation and propose or adopt a 
                regulation only on a reasoned determination that the 
                benefits of the intended regulation justify the costs 
                of the regulation;
                    ``(C) identify and assess available alternatives to 
                the regulation that were considered, including 
                modification of an existing regulation, together with 
                an explanation of why the regulation meets the 
                regulatory objectives more effectively than the 
                alternatives; and
                    ``(D) ensure that any regulation is accessible, 
                consistent, written in plain language, and easy to 
                understand and shall measure, and seek to improve, the 
                actual results of regulatory requirements.
            ``(2) Considerations and actions.--
                    ``(A) Required actions.--In deciding whether and 
                how to regulate, the Commission shall assess the costs 
                and benefits of available regulatory alternatives, 
                including the alternative of not regulating, and choose 
                the approach that maximizes net benefits. Specifically, 
                the Commission shall--
                            ``(i) consistent with the requirements of 
                        section 3(f) (15 U.S.C. 78c(f)), section 2(b) 
                        of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 
                        77b(b)), section 202(c) of the Investment 
                        Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-2(c)), and 
                        section 2(c) of the Investment Company Act of 
                        1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(c)), consider whether the 
                        rulemaking will promote efficiency, 
                        competition, and capital formation;
                            ``(ii) evaluate whether, consistent with 
                        obtaining regulatory objectives, the regulation 
                        is tailored to impose the least burden on 
                        society, including market participants, 
                        individuals, businesses of differing sizes, and 
                        other entities (including State and local 
                        governmental entities), taking into account, to 
                        the extent practicable, the cumulative costs of 
                        regulations; and
                            ``(iii) evaluate whether the regulation is 
                        inconsistent, incompatible, or duplicative of 
                        other Federal regulations.
                    ``(B) Additional considerations.--In addition, in 
                making a reasoned determination of the costs and 
                benefits of a potential regulation, the Commission 
                shall, to the extent that each is relevant to the 
                particular proposed regulation, take into consideration 
                the impact of the regulation on--
                            ``(i) investor choice;
                            ``(ii) market liquidity in the securities 
                        markets; and
                            ``(iii) small businesses.
            ``(3) Explanation and comments.--The Commission shall 
        explain in its final rule the nature of comments that it 
        received, including those from the industry or consumer groups 
        concerning the potential costs or benefits of the proposed rule 
        or proposed rule change, and shall provide a response to those 
        comments in its final rule, including an explanation of any 
        changes that were made in response to those comments and the 
        reasons that the Commission did not incorporate those industry 
        group concerns related to the potential costs or benefits in 
        the final rule.
            ``(4) Review of existing regulations.--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of enactment of the SEC Regulatory 
        Accountability Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
        Commission shall review its regulations to determine whether 
        any such regulations are outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, 
        or excessively burdensome, and shall modify, streamline, 
        expand, or repeal them in accordance with such review. In 
        reviewing any regulation (including, notwithstanding paragraph 
        (6), a regulation issued in accordance with formal rulemaking 
        provisions) that subjects issuers with a public float of 
        $250,000,000 or less to the attestation and reporting 
        requirements of section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
        2002 (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)), the Commission shall specifically 
        take into account the large burden of such regulation when 
        compared to the benefit of such regulation.
            ``(5) Post-adoption impact assessment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Whenever the Commission adopts 
                or amends a regulation designated as a `major rule' 
                within the meaning of section 804(2) of title 5, United 
                States Code, it shall state, in its adopting release, 
                the following:
                            ``(i) The purposes and intended 
                        consequences of the regulation.
                            ``(ii) Appropriate post-implementation 
                        quantitative and qualitative metrics to measure 
                        the economic impact of the regulation and to 
                        measure the extent to which the regulation has 
                        accomplished the stated purposes.
                            ``(iii) The assessment plan that will be 
                        used, consistent with the requirements of 
                        subparagraph (B) and under the supervision of 
                        the Chief Economist of the Commission, to 
                        assess whether the regulation has achieved the 
                        stated purposes.
                            ``(iv) Any unintended or negative 
                        consequences that the Commission foresees may 
                        result from the regulation.
                    ``(B) Requirements of assessment plan and report.--
                            ``(i) Requirements of plan.--The assessment 
                        plan required under this paragraph shall 
                        consider the costs, benefits, and intended and 
                        unintended consequences of the regulation. The 
                        plan shall specify the data to be collected, 
                        the methods for collection and analysis of the 
                        data and a date for completion of the 
                        assessment. The assessment plan shall include 
                        an analysis of any jobs added or lost as a 
                        result of the regulation, differentiating 
                        between public and private sector jobs.
                            ``(ii) Submission and publication of 
                        report.--The Chief Economist shall submit the 
                        completed assessment report to the Commission 
                        no later than 2 years after the publication of 
                        the adopting release, unless the Commission, at 
                        the request of the Chief Economist, has 
                        published at least 90 days before such date a 
                        notice in the Federal Register extending the 
                        date and providing specific reasons why an 
                        extension is necessary. Within 7 days after 
                        submission to the Commission of the final 
                        assessment report, it shall be published in the 
                        Federal Register for notice and comment. Any 
                        material modification of the plan, as necessary 
                        to assess unforeseen aspects or consequences of 
                        the regulation, shall be promptly published in 
                        the Federal Register for notice and comment.
                            ``(iii) Data collection not subject to 
                        notice and comment requirements.--If the 
                        Commission has published its assessment plan 
                        for notice and comment, specifying the data to 
                        be collected and method of collection, at least 
                        30 days prior to adoption of a final regulation 
                        or amendment, such collection of data shall not 
                        be subject to the notice and comment 
                        requirements in section 3506(c) of title 44, 
                        United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
                        Paperwork Reduction Act). Any material 
                        modifications of the plan that require 
                        collection of data not previously published for 
                        notice and comment shall also be exempt from 
                        such requirements if the Commission has 
                        published notice for comment in the Federal 
                        Register of the additional data to be 
                        collected, at least 30 days prior to initiation 
                        of data collection.
                            ``(iv) Final action.--Not later than 180 
                        days after publication of the assessment report 
                        in the Federal Register, the Commission shall 
                        issue for notice and comment a proposal to 
                        amend or rescind the regulation, or publish a 
                        notice that the Commission has determined that 
                        no action will be taken on the regulation. Such 
                        a notice will be deemed a final agency action.
            ``(6) Covered regulations and other agency actions.--Solely 
        as used in this subsection, the term `regulation'--
                    ``(A) means an agency statement of general 
                applicability and future effect that is designed to 
                implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or to 
                describe the procedure or practice requirements of an 
                agency, including rules, orders of general 
                applicability, interpretive releases, and other 
                statements of general applicability that the agency 
                intends to have the force and effect of law; and
                    ``(B) does not include--
                            ``(i) a regulation issued in accordance 
                        with the formal rulemaking provisions of 
                        section 556 or 557 of title 5, United States 
                        Code;
                            ``(ii) a regulation that is limited to 
                        agency organization, management, or personnel 
                        matters;
                            ``(iii) a regulation promulgated pursuant 
                        to statutory authority that expressly prohibits 
                        compliance with this provision; and
                            ``(iv) a regulation that is certified by 
                        the agency to be an emergency action, if such 
                        certification is published in the Federal 
                        Register.''.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO OTHER REGULATORY ENTITIES.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the Public Company Accounting 
Oversight Board should also follow the requirements of section 23(e) of 
such Act, as added by this title.

SEC. 4. ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISION RELATING TO OTHER REGULATORY ENTITIES.

    A rule adopted by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board or any 
national securities association registered under section 15A of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-3) shall not take effect 
unless the Securities and Exchange Commission determines that, in 
adopting such rule, the Board or association has complied with the 
requirements of section 23(e) of such Act, as added by section 2, in 
the same manner as is required by the Commission under such section 
23(e).

            Passed the House of Representatives May 17, 2013.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.
[EX A]:
SEC Regulatory Accountability Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), before issuing a regulation under the securities laws, to: (1) identify the nature and source of the problem that the proposed regulation is designed to address in order to assess whether any new regulation is warranted; (2) use the SEC Chief Economist to assess the costs and benefits of the intended regulation and adopt it only upon a reasoned determination that its benefits justify the costs; (3) identify and assess the available alternatives that were considered; and (4) ensure that any regulation is accessible, consistent, written in plain language, and easy to understand. Requires the SEC to: (1) consider whether the rulemaking will promote efficiency, competition, and capital formation; (2) consider the impact of the regulation upon investor choice, market liquidity, and small business; (3) explain in its final rule the nature of comments received concerning the proposed rule or rule change; and (4) respond to those comments, explaining any changes made in response and the reasons that it did not incorporate industry group concerns regarding potential costs or benefits. Requires the SEC to: (1) review periodically its existing regulations to determine if they are outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome; and (2) modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them. Requires the SEC, whenever it adopts or amends a major rule, to state in its adopting release: (1) the purposes and intended consequences of the regulation, (2) the post-implementation quantitative and qualitative metrics to measure the economic impact of the regulation and the extent to which it has accomplished the stated purposes, (3) the assessment plan that will be used under the supervision of the Chief Economist to assess whether the regulation has achieved those purposes, and (4) any foreseeable unintended or negative consequences.  Requires the assessment plan to: (1) consider the costs, benefits, and intended and unintended consequences of the regulation; (2) specify the data to be collected, the methods for its collection and analysis, and an assessment completion date; and (3) analyze jobs added or lost as a result of the regulation, differentiating between public and private sector jobs. Waives notice and comment requirements for the data collection if the SEC has published its assessment plan for notice and comment at least 30 days before adoption of a final regulation or amendment.  (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board should also follow the requirements set forth by this Act. (Sec. 4) Prohibits a rule adopted by either the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board or any registered national securities association from taking effect unless the SEC determines that, in adopting such rule, such entities have complied with the requirements of this Act.