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 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.

Ex 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.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Courts of Appeals 
Modernization Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a Commission on Structural Alternatives for 
the Federal Courts of Appeals (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 5 members who 
shall be appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States.
    (b) Appointment.--The members of the Commission shall be appointed 
not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Vacancy.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
same manner as the original appointment.
    (d) Chair.--The Commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from 
among its members.
    (e) Quorum.--Three members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum.

SEC. 4. DUTIES.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) study the present division of the United States courts 
        of appeals, with particular references to the United States 
        Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and
            (2) submit to the President and Congress a report on the 
        recommendations of the Commission with respect to changes in 
        circuit boundaries or structure as may be appropriate for the 
        expeditious and effective disposition of the caseload of the 
        United States courts of appeals, consistent with fundamental 
        concepts of fairness and due process.

SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is 
not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be 
compensated at a rate equal to $300 for each day (including travel 
time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the 
duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are 
officers or employees of the United States shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that received for their services as 
officers or employees of the United States.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates not greater than those described in section 456 of title 28, 
United States Code.

SEC. 6. STAFF.

    (a) Executive Director.--The Commission may appoint an executive 
director who shall be compensated at a rate not greater than the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a position at 
GS-15 of the General Schedule for each day (including travel time) 
during which the executive director is engaged in the performance of 
the duties of the Commission.
    (b) Staff.--The Executive Director, with the approval of the 
Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of such additional 
personnel as the Executive Director determines necessary, without 
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that 
a rate of pay fixed under this subsection may not exceed the annual 
maximum rate of basic pay for a position above GS-15 of the General 
Schedule under section 5108 of title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Experts and Consultants.--The Executive Director may procure by 
contract the temporary or intermittent services of experts or 
consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates for individuals that are not greater than the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for a comparable position 
paid under the General Schedule.
    (d) Services.--The Administrative Office of the United States 
Courts shall provide administrative services, including financial and 
budgeting services, to the Commission on a reimbursable basis. The 
Federal Judicial Center shall provide necessary research services to 
the Commission on a reimbursable basis.

SEC. 7. INFORMATION.

    The Commission is authorized to request from any department, 
agency, or independent instrumentality of the United States any 
information and assistance the Commission determines necessary to carry 
out its functions under this Act. Each such department, agency, and 
independent instrumentality is authorized to provide such information 
and assistance to the extent permitted by law when requested by the 
Chair of the Commission.

SEC. 8. STUDY AND REPORT.

    (a) Study.--Not later than the 10-month period beginning on the 
date on which a quorum of the Commission is present, the Commission 
shall conclude a study on the issues described in section 4(1).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which the 
period described in subsection (a) expires, the Commission shall submit 
to the President and Congress the report described in section 4(1).

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the Commission submits 
the report described in section 8(b).

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
not to exceed $1,000,000 to carry out this Act, to remain available 
until expended.

Ex Output:
Federal Courts of Appeals Modernization Act This bill establishes a Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals to: (1) study the present division of the U.S. courts of appeals, with particular references to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and (2) submit to the President and Congress recommendations for changes in circuit boundaries or structure for the expeditious and effective disposition of the caseload of such courts. The commission shall be composed of five members appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

     This Act may be cited as the ``Fueling the U.S.A. Through 
Unlimited Reliable Energy (FUTURE) Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

     Congress finds the following:
            (1) Economic prosperity is closely linked to an affordable 
        and ample energy supply.
            (2) Environmental quality is closely linked to energy 
        production and use.
            (3) Population, worldwide economic development, energy 
        consumption, and stress on the environment are all expected to 
        increase substantially in the coming decades.
            (4) The few energy options with the potential to meet 
        economic and environmental needs for the long-term future 
        should be pursued aggressively now, as part of a balanced 
        national energy plan.
            (5) Fusion energy is an attractive long-term energy source 
        due to a virtually inexhaustible supply of fuel available to 
        all nations, its potential as a large base-load electric and 
        hydrogen energy source requiring relatively little land mass, 
        and its inherent safety and promise of minimal environmental 
        impact.
            (6) The National Research Council, the President's 
        Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, and the 
        Secretary of Energy Advisory Board have each reviewed the 
        Fusion Energy Sciences Program and each strongly supports the 
        fundamental science and creative innovation of the program and 
        has confirmed that progress toward the goal of producing 
        practical fusion energy has been excellent, although much 
        scientific and engineering work remains to be done.
            (7) Each of these reviews and the opinions of other fusion 
        scientists have stressed the need for a magnetic fusion burning 
        plasma experiment to address key scientific issues and as a 
        necessary step in the development of fusion energy.
            (8) The United States fusion research community has 
        developed a strong consensus that the first option for United 
        States involvement in a burning plasma experiment should be 
        through the international project known as ``ITER'', and, that 
        should the ITER project fail to go forward, then the 
        construction of a domestic burning plasma experiment known as 
        the Fusion Ignition Research Experiment or ``FIRE'' should be 
        pursued aggressively.
            (9) The United States scientific community has also 
        developed a corresponding consensus that the eventual success 
        of fusion power will require, concurrent with a burning plasma 
        experiment, strengthened effort in fundamental fusion science, 
        development of advanced technology, and innovation and 
        optimization of configurations for an eventual fusion 
        demonstration facility.
            (10) The Fusion Energy Sciences Program budget is 
        inadequate to support the necessary science and innovation for 
        the present generation of experiments, and cannot accommodate 
        the cost of participation in or construction of a burning 
        plasma experiment

SEC. 3. PLAN FOR FUSION EXPERIMENT.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Priority for international burning plasma project.--The 
        Secretary of Energy (in this Act referred to as ``the 
        Secretary'') is authorized to undertake full scientific and 
        technological cooperation in the international burning plasma 
        project known as ITER.
            (2) Alternative project.--If at any time during the 
        negotiations on the ITER project, the Secretary determines that 
        construction and operation of the ITER project is unlikely or 
        infeasible, the Secretary shall send to Congress, as part of 
        the budget request for the following year, a plan for 
        implementing the domestic burning plasma experiment known as 
        FIRE, including costs and schedules for such a plan. The 
        Secretary shall refine such plan in full consultation with the 
        Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee and shall also 
        transmit such plan to the National Research Council for review.
    (b) United States Policy With Respect to Fusion Energy Science.--
            (1) Declaration of policy.--It shall be the policy of the 
        United States to develop the scientific, engineering, and 
        commercial infrastructure necessary to ensure that the United 
        States is competitive with other nations in providing fusion 
        energy for its own needs and the needs if other nations, 
        including, by demonstrating electric power or hydrogen 
        production for the United States energy grid utilizing fusion 
        energy at the earliest date possible.
            (2) Fusion energy plan.--Within 6 months of the date of 
        enactment of this act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress 
        a plan for carrying out the policy set forth in paragraph (1), 
        including cost estimates, proposed budgets, potential 
        international partners, and specific programs for implementing 
        such policy.
                    (A) Requirements of plan.--Such plan shall also 
                ensure that--
                            (i) existing fusion research facilities are 
                        more fully utilized;
                            (ii) fusion science, technology, theory, 
                        advanced computation, modeling, and simulation 
                        are strengthened;
                            (iii) new magnetic and inertial fusion 
                        research facilities are selected based on 
                        scientific innovation, cost effectiveness, and 
                        their potential to advance the goal of 
                        practical fusion energy at the earliest date 
                        possible;
                            (iv) such facilities that are selected are 
                        funded at a cost-effective rate;
                            (v) communication of scientific results and 
                        methods between the fusion energy science 
                        community and the broader scientific and 
                        technology communities is improved;
                            (vi) inertial confinement fusion facilities 
                        are utilized to the extent practicable for the 
                        purpose of inertial fusion energy research and 
                        development; and
                            (vii) attractive alternative inertial and 
                        magnetic fusion energy approaches are more 
                        fully explored.
                    (B) Report on fusion materials and technology 
                project.--In addition, the plan required by this 
                section shall also address the status of, and to the 
                degree possible, the costs and schedules for--
                            (i) the design and implementation of 
                        international or national facilities for the 
                        testing of fusion materials; and
                            (ii) the design and implementation of 
                        international or national facilities for the 
                        testing and development of key fusion 
                        technologies.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) The term ``ITER'' refers to the international fusion 
        research project whose design is complete and whose location 
        and financing is currently being negotiated between Japan, 
        Europe, the Russian Federation, Canada, China, and the United 
        States.
            (2) The term ``FIRE'', refers to the Fusion Ignition 
        Research Experiment, the fusion research experiment for which 
        design work has been supported by the Department of Energy in 
        the as a possible alternative burning plasma experiment in the 
        event that the ITER project fails to move forward.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) for participation in the ITER project (or development 
        of the Fire project) under section 3(a) of this Act--
                    (A) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    (D) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    (E) $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) for the Fusion Energy Sciences Program in addition to 
        the sums under paragraph (1) of this section--
                    (A) $335,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) $349,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) $362,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    (D) $377,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    (E) $393,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

Ex Output:

Fueling the U.S.A. Through Unlimited Reliable Energy (FUTURE) Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to undertake full scientific and technological cooperation in the international burning plasma project (ITER).Directs the Secretary to: (1) send an implementation plan to Congress for a domestic burning plasma experiment (FIRE) if at any time during the negotiations on the ITER project, the Secretary determines that construction and operation of the ITER project is unlikely or infeasible; and (2) transmit to Congress a plan for implementing a policy for developing the scientific, engineering, and commercial infrastructure necessary to ensure that the United States is competitive with other nations in providing fusion energy for its own needs and the needs of other nations, including by demonstrating electric power or hydrogen production for the U.S. energy grid utilizing fusion energy at the earliest date possible.