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

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Health Equity and Accountability 
through Research Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.

    (a) Redesignation.--
            (1) In general.--Title IV of the Public Health Service Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) in section 401(b)(24), by striking ``National 
                Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities'' and 
                inserting ``National Institute for Minority Health and 
                Health Disparities''; and
                    (B) in subpart 6 of part E--
                            (i) in the subpart heading, by striking 
                        ``Center'' and inserting ``Institute'';
                            (ii) in the headings of sections 485E and 
                        485H, by striking ``center'' and inserting 
                        ``institute''; and
                            (iii) by striking (other than in section 
                        485E(i)(1)) the term ``Center'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``Institute''.
            (2) References.--Any reference in any law, map, regulation, 
        document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
        National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities shall 
        be deemed to be a reference to the National Institute for 
        Minority Health and Health Disparities.
    (b) Duties; Authorities; Funding.--Section 485E of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287c-31) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
    ``(e) Duties of the Director.--
            ``(1) Interagency coordination of minority health and 
        health disparity activities.--With respect to minority health 
        and health disparities, the Director of the Institute shall 
        plan, coordinate, and evaluate research and other activities 
        conducted or supported by the institutes and centers of the 
        National Institutes of Health. In carrying out the preceding 
        sentence, the Director of the Institute shall evaluate the 
        minority health and health disparity activities of each of such 
        institutes and centers and shall provide for the periodic 
        reevaluation of such activities. Such institutes and centers 
        shall be responsible for providing information to the 
        Institute, including data on clinical trials funded or 
        conducted by these institutes and centers.
            ``(2) Consultations.--The Director of the Institute shall 
        carry out this subpart (including developing and revising the 
        plan and budget required by subsection (f) in consultation with 
        the heads of the institutes and centers of the National 
        Institutes of Health, the advisory councils of such institutes 
        and centers, and the advisory council established pursuant to 
        subsection (j).
            ``(3) Coordination of activities.--The Director of the 
        Institute--
                    ``(A) shall act as the primary Federal official 
                with responsibility for coordinating all research and 
                activities conducted or supported by the National 
                Institutes of Health on minority or other health 
                disparities;
                    ``(B) shall represent the health disparities 
                research program of the National Institutes of Health, 
                including the minority health and other health 
                disparities research program, at all relevant executive 
                branch task forces, committees, and planning 
                activities; and
                    ``(C) shall maintain communications with all 
                relevant agencies of the Public Health Service, 
                including the Indian Health Service, and various other 
                departments and agencies of the Federal Government to 
                ensure the timely transmission of information 
                concerning advances in minority health disparities 
                research and other health disparities research among 
                these various agencies for dissemination to affected 
                communities and health care providers.'';
            (2) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
    ``(f) Strategic Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the provisions of this 
        section and other applicable law, the Director of the 
        Institute, in consultation with the Director of NIH, the 
        Directors of the other institutes and centers of the National 
        Institutes of Health, and the advisory council established 
        pursuant to subsection (j), shall--
                    ``(A) annually review and revise a strategic plan 
                (referred to in this section as `the plan') and budget 
                for the conduct and support of all minority health 
                disparity research and other health disparity research 
                activities of the institutes and centers of the 
                National Institutes of Health that include time-based 
                targeted objectives with measurable outcomes and assure 
                that the annual review and revision of the plan uses an 
                established trans-National Institutes of Health process 
                subject to timely review, approval, and dissemination;
                    ``(B) ensure that the plan and budget establish 
                priorities among the health disparities research 
                activities that such agencies are authorized to carry 
                out;
                    ``(C) ensure that the plan and budget establish 
                objectives regarding such activities, describe the 
                means for achieving the objectives, and designate the 
                date by which the objectives are expected to be 
                achieved;
                    ``(D) ensure that all amounts appropriated for such 
                activities are expended in accordance with the plan and 
                budget;
                    ``(E) annually submit to Congress a report on the 
                progress made with respect to the plan; and
                    ``(F) create and implement a plan for the systemic 
                review of research activities supported by the National 
                Institutes of Health that are within the mission of 
                both the Institute and other institutes and centers of 
                the National Institutes of Health, including by 
                establishing mechanisms for--
                            ``(i) tracking minority health and health 
                        disparity research conducted within the 
                        institutes and centers assessing the 
                        appropriateness of this research with regard to 
                        the overall goals and objectives of the plan;
                            ``(ii) the early identification of 
                        applications and proposals for grants, 
                        contracts, and cooperative agreements 
                        supporting extramural training, research, and 
                        development, that are submitted to the 
                        institutes and centers that are within the 
                        mission of the Institute;
                            ``(iii) providing the Institute with the 
                        written descriptions and scientific peer review 
                        results of such applications and proposals;
                            ``(iv) enabling the institutes and centers 
                        to consult with the Director of the Institute 
                        prior to final approval of such applications 
                        and proposals; and
                            ``(v) reporting to the Director of the 
                        Institute all such applications and proposals 
                        that are approved for funding by the institutes 
                        and centers.
            ``(2) Certain components of plan and budget.--With respect 
        to health disparities research activities of the agencies of 
        the National Institutes of Health, the Director of the 
        Institute shall ensure that the plan and budget under paragraph 
        (1) provide for--
                    ``(A) basic research and applied research, 
                including research and development with respect to 
                products;
                    ``(B) research that is conducted by the agencies;
                    ``(C) research that is supported by the agencies;
                    ``(D) proposals developed pursuant to solicitations 
                by the agencies and for proposals developed 
                independently of such solicitations; and
                    ``(E) behavioral research and social sciences 
                research, which may include cultural and linguistic 
                research in each of the agencies.
            ``(3) Minority health disparities research.--The plan and 
        budget under paragraph (1) shall include a separate statement 
        of the plan and budget for minority health disparities 
        research.'';
            (3) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
    ``(h) Research Endowments.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Institute shall 
        carry out a program to facilitate minority health and health 
        disparities research and other health disparities research by 
        providing research endowments at--
                    ``(A) centers of excellence under section 736; and
                    ``(B) centers of excellence under section 485F.
            ``(2) Eligibility.--The Director of the Institute shall 
        provide for a research endowment under paragraph (1) only if 
        the institution involved meets the following conditions:
                    ``(A) The institution does not have an endowment 
                that is worth in excess of an amount equal to 50 
                percent of the national average of endowment funds at 
                institutions that conduct similar biomedical research 
                or training of health professionals.
                    ``(B) The application of the institution under 
                paragraph (1) regarding a research endowment has been 
                recommended pursuant to technical and scientific peer 
                review and has been approved by the advisory council 
                established pursuant to subsection (j).
                    ``(C) The institution at any time was deemed to be 
                eligible to receive a grant under section 736 and at 
                any time received a research endowment under paragraph 
                (1).''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Funding.--
            ``(1) Full funding budget.--
                    ``(A) In general.--With respect to a fiscal year, 
                the Director of the Institute shall prepare and submit 
                directly to the President, for review and transmittal 
                to Congress, a budget estimate for carrying out the 
                plan for the fiscal year, after reasonable opportunity 
                for comment (but without change) by the Secretary, the 
                Director of the National Institutes of Health, the 
                directors of the other institutes and centers of the 
                National Institutes of Health, and the advisory council 
                established pursuant to subsection (j). The budget 
                estimate shall include an estimate of the number and 
                type of personnel needs for the Institute.
                    ``(B) Amounts necessary.--The budget estimate 
                submitted under subparagraph (A) shall estimate the 
                amounts necessary for the institutes and centers of the 
                National Institutes of Health to carry out all minority 
                health and health disparities activities determined by 
                the Director of the Institute to be appropriate, 
                without regard to the probability that such amounts 
                will be appropriated.
            ``(2) Alternate budgets.--
                    ``(A) In general.--With respect to a fiscal year, 
                the Director of the Institute shall prepare and submit 
                to the Secretary and the Director of the National 
                Institutes of Health the budget estimates described in 
                subparagraph (B) for carrying out the plan for the 
                fiscal year. The Secretary and such Director shall 
                consider each of such estimates in making 
                recommendations to the President regarding a budget for 
                the plan for such year.
                    ``(B) Description.--With respect to the fiscal year 
                involved, the budget estimates referred to in 
                subparagraph (A) for the plan are as follows:
                            ``(i) The budget estimate submitted under 
                        paragraph (1).
                            ``(ii) A budget estimate developed on the 
                        assumption that the amounts appropriated will 
                        be sufficient only for--
                                    ``(I) continuing the conduct by the 
                                institutes and centers of the National 
                                Institutes of Health of existing 
                                minority health and health disparity 
                                activities (if approved for 
                                continuation), and continuing the 
                                support of such activities by the 
                                institutes and centers in the case of 
                                projects or programs for which the 
                                institutes or centers have made a 
                                commitment of continued support; and
                                    ``(II) carrying out activities that 
                                are in addition to activities specified 
                                in subclause (I), only for which the 
                                Director determines there is the most 
                                substantial need.
                            ``(iii) Such other budget estimates as the 
                        Director of the Institute determines to be 
                        appropriate.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may 
be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to carry out 
this section.''.

Output: Health Equity and Accountability through Research Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to rename the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities as the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities. Revises and expands the duties of the Director of such Institute relating to coordination of research activities conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and review of a strategic plan and budget for minority health disparity research.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Paycheck Fairness Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Women have entered the workforce in record numbers.
            (2) Even in the 1990's, women earn significantly lower pay 
        than men for work on jobs that require equal skill, effort, and 
        responsibility and that are performed under similar working 
        conditions. These pay disparities exist in both the private and 
        governmental sectors. In many instances, the pay disparities 
        can only be due to continued intentional discrimination or the 
        lingering effects of past discrimination.
            (3) The existence of such pay disparities--
                    (A) depresses the wages of working families who 
                rely on the wages of all members of the family to make 
                ends meet;
                    (B) prevents the optimum utilization of available 
                labor resources;
                    (C) has been spread and perpetuated, through 
                commerce and the channels and instrumentalities of 
                commerce, among the workers of the several States;
                    (D) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in 
                commerce;
                    (E) constitutes an unfair method of competition in 
                commerce;
                    (F) leads to labor disputes burdening and 
                obstructing commerce and the free flow of goods in 
                commerce;
                    (G) interferes with the orderly and fair marketing 
                of goods in commerce; and
                    (H) in many instances, may deprive workers of equal 
                protection on the basis of sex in violation of the 5th 
                and 14th amendments.
            (4)(A) Artificial barriers to the elimination of 
        discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex 
        continue to exist more than 3 decades after the enactment of 
        the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) 
        and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.).
            (B) Elimination of such barriers would have positive 
        effects, including--
                    (i) providing a solution to problems in the economy 
                created by unfair pay disparities;
                    (ii) substantially reducing the number of working 
                women earning unfairly low wages, thereby reducing the 
                dependence on public assistance; and
                    (iii) promoting stable families by enabling all 
                family members to earn a fair rate of pay;
                    (iv) remedying the effects of past discrimination 
                on the basis of sex and ensuring that in the future 
                workers are afforded equal protection on the basis of 
                sex; and
                    (v) ensuring equal protection pursuant to Congress' 
                power to enforce the 5th and 14th amendments.
            (5) With increased information about the provisions added 
        by the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and wage data, along with more 
        effective remedies, women will be better able to recognize and 
        enforce their rights to equal pay for work on jobs that require 
        equal skill, effort, and responsibility and that are performed 
        under similar working conditions.
            (6) Certain employers have already made great strides in 
        eradicating unfair pay disparities in the workplace and their 
        achievements should be recognized.

SEC. 3. ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT OF EQUAL PAY REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Required Demonstration for Affirmative Defense.--Section 
6(d)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(1)) 
is amended by striking ``(iv) a differential'' and all that follows 
through the period and inserting the following: ``(iv) a differential 
based on a bona fide factor other than sex, such as education, training 
or experience, except that this clause shall apply only if--
                            ``(I) the employer demonstrates that--
                                    ``(aa) such factor--
                                            ``(AA) is job-related with 
                                        respect to the position in 
                                        question; or
                                            ``(BB) furthers a 
                                        legitimate business purpose, 
                                        except that this item shall not 
                                        apply where the employee 
                                        demonstrates that an 
                                        alternative employment practice 
                                        exists that would serve the 
                                        same business purpose without 
                                        producing such differential and 
                                        that the employer has refused 
                                        to adopt such alternative 
                                        practice; and
                                    ``(bb) such factor was actually 
                                applied and used reasonably in light of 
                                the asserted justification; and
                            ``(II) upon the employer succeeding under 
                        subclause I, the employee fails to demonstrate 
                        that the differential produced by the reliance 
                        of the employer on such factor is itself the 
                        result of discrimination on the basis of sex by 
                        the employer.
        ``An employer that is not otherwise in compliance with this 
        paragraph may not reduce the wages of any employee in order to 
        achieve such compliance.''.
    (b) Application of Provisions.--Section 6(d)(1) of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ``The provisions of this subsection shall apply to 
applicants for employment if such applicants, upon employment by the 
employer, would be subject to any provisions of this section.''.
    (c) Elimination of Establishment Requirement.--Section 6(d) of the 
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``, within any establishment in which such 
        employees are employed,''; and
            (2) by striking ``in such establishment'' each place it 
        appears.
    (d) Nonretaliation Provision.--Section 15(a)(3) of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 215(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or has'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``has''; and
            (2) by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, or 
        has inquired about, discussed, or otherwise disclosed the wages 
        of the employee or another employee, or because the employee 
        (or applicant) has made a charge, testified, assisted, or 
        participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, 
        hearing, or action under section 6(d)''.
    (e) Enhanced Penalties.--Section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards 
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(b)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after the first sentence the following: 
        ``Any employer who violates section 6(d) shall additionally be 
        liable for such compensatory or punitive damages as may be 
        appropriate, except that the United States shall not be liable 
        for punitive damages.'';
            (2) in the sentence beginning ``An action to'', by striking 
        ``either of the preceding sentences'' and inserting ``any of 
        the preceding sentences of this subsection'';
            (3) in the sentence beginning ``No employees shall'', by 
        striking ``No employees'' and inserting ``Except with respect 
        to class actions brought to enforce section 6(d), no 
        employee'';
            (4) by inserting after the sentence referred to in 
        paragraph (3), the following: ``Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of Federal law, any action brought to enforce section 
        6(d) may be maintained as a class action as provided by the 
        Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.''; and
            (5) in the sentence beginning ``The court in''--
                    (A) by striking ``in such action'' and inserting 
                ``in any action brought to recover the liability 
                prescribed in any of the preceding sentences of this 
                subsection''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period the following: 
                ``, including expert fees''.
    (f) Action by Secretary.--Section 16(c) of the Fair Labor Standards 
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(c)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by inserting ``or, in the case of a violation 
                of section 6(d), additional compensatory or punitive 
                damages,'' before ``and the agreement''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period the following: 
                ``, or such compensatory or punitive damages, as 
                appropriate'';
            (2) in the second sentence, by inserting before the period 
        the following: ``and, in the case of a violation of section 
        6(d), additional compensatory or punitive damages'';
            (3) in the third sentence, by striking ``the first 
        sentence'' and inserting ``the first or second sentence''; and
            (4) in the last sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``commenced in the case'' and 
                inserting ``commenced--
            ``(1) in the case'';
                    (B) by striking the period and inserting 
                ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) in the case of a class action brought to enforce 
        section 6(d), on the date on which the individual becomes a 
        party plaintiff to the class action''.

SEC. 4. TRAINING.

    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of 
Federal Contract Compliance Programs, subject to the availability of 
funds appropriated under section 9(b), shall provide training to 
Commission employees and affected individuals and entities on matters 
involving discrimination in the payment of wages.

SEC. 5. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH.

    The Secretary of Labor shall conduct studies and provide 
information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public 
concerning the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men 
and women, including--
            (1) conducting and promoting research to develop the means 
        to correct expeditiously the conditions leading to the pay 
        disparities;
            (2) publishing and otherwise making available to employers, 
        labor organizations, professional associations, educational 
        institutions, the media, and the general public the findings 
resulting from studies and other materials, relating to eliminating the 
pay disparities;
            (3) sponsoring and assisting State and community 
        informational and educational programs;
            (4) providing information to employers, labor 
        organizations, professional associations, and other interested 
        persons on the means of eliminating the pay disparities;
            (5) recognizing and promoting the achievements of 
        employers, labor organizations, and professional associations 
        that have worked to eliminate the pay disparities; and
            (6) convening a national summit to discuss, and consider 
        approaches for rectifying, the pay disparities.

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EMPLOYER RECOGNITION PROGRAM.

    (a) Guidelines.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall develop 
        guidelines to enable employers to evaluate job categories based 
        on objective criteria such as educational requirements, skill 
requirements, independence, working conditions, and responsibility, 
including decisionmaking responsibility and de facto supervisory 
responsibility.
            (2) Use.--The guidelines developed under paragraph (1) 
        shall be designed to enable employers voluntarily to compare 
        wages paid for different jobs to determine if the pay scales 
        involved adequately and fairly reflect the educational 
        requirements, skill requirements, independence, working 
        conditions, and responsibility for each such job with the goal 
        of eliminating unfair pay disparities between occupations 
        traditionally dominated by men or women.
            (3) Publication.--The guidelines shall be developed under 
        paragraph (1) and published in the Federal Register not later 
        than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Employer Recognition.--
            (1) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subsection to 
        emphasize the importance of, encourage the improvement of, and 
        recognize the excellence of employer efforts to pay wages to 
        women that reflect the real value of the contributions of such 
        women to the workplace.
            (2) In general.--To carry out the purpose of this 
        subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall establish a program 
        under which the Secretary shall provide for the recognition of 
        employers who, pursuant to a voluntary job evaluation conducted 
        by the employer, adjust their wage scales (such adjustments 
        shall not include the lowering of wages paid to men) using the 
        guidelines developed under subsection (a) to ensure that women 
        are paid fairly in comparison to men.
            (3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary of Labor may 
        provide technical assistance to assist an employer in carrying 
        out an evaluation under paragraph (2).
    (c) Regulations.--The Secretary of Labor shall promulgate such 
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR PAY EQUITY IN THE 
              WORKPLACE.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Robert Reich National 
Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace, which shall be evidenced by a 
medal bearing the inscription ``Robert Reich National Award for Pay 
Equity in the Workplace''. The medal shall be of such design and 
materials, and bear such additional inscriptions, as the Secretary of 
Labor may prescribe.
    (b) Criteria for Qualification.--To qualify to receive an award 
under this section a business shall--
            (1) submit a written application to the Secretary of Labor, 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require, including at a minimum 
        information that demonstrates that the business has made 
        substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and 
        women, and deserves special recognition as a consequence; and
            (2) meet such additional requirements and specifications as 
        the Secretary of Labor determines to be appropriate.
    (c) Making and Presentation of Award.--
            (1) Award.--After receiving recommendations from the 
        Secretary of Labor, the President or the designated 
        representative of the President shall annually present the 
        award described in subsection (a) to businesses that meet the 
        qualifications described in subsection (b).
            (2) Presentation.--The President or the designated 
        representative of the President shall present the award under 
        this section with such ceremonies as the President or the 
        designated representative of the President may determine to be 
        appropriate.
    (d) Business.--In this section, the term ``business'' includes--
            (1)(A) a corporation, including a nonprofit corporation;
            (B) a partnership;
            (C) a professional association;
            (D) a labor organization; and
            (E) a business entity similar to an entity described in any 
        of subparagraphs (A) through (D);
            (2) an entity carrying out an education referral program, a 
        training program, such as an apprenticeship or management 
        training program, or a similar program; and
            (3) an entity carrying out a joint program, formed by a 
        combination of any entities described in paragraph (1) or (2).

SEC. 8. COLLECTION OF PAY INFORMATION BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT 
              OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.

    Section 709 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-8) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f)(1) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of 
this subsection, the Commission shall--
            ``(A) complete a survey of the data that is currently 
        available to the Federal Government relating to employee pay 
        information for use in the enforcement of Federal laws 
        prohibiting pay discrimination and, in consultation with other 
        relevant Federal agencies, identify additional data collections 
        that will enhance the enforcement of such laws; and
            ``(B) based on the results of the survey and consultations 
        under subparagraph (A), issue regulations to provide for the 
        collection of pay information data from employers as described 
        by the sex, race, and national origin of employees.
    ``(2) In implementing paragraph (1), the Commission shall have as 
its primary consideration the most effective and efficient means for 
enhancing the enforcement of Federal laws prohibiting pay 
discrimination. For this purpose, the Commission shall consider factors 
including the imposition of burdens on employers, the frequency of 
required reports (including which employers should be required to 
prepare reports), appropriate protections for maintaining data 
confidentiality, and the most effective format for the data collection 
reports.''.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.

Output: Paycheck Fairness Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to revise remedies for and enforcement of prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages (such FLSA prohibitions are also known as the Equal Pay Act). 
(Sec. 3) Amends FLSA to provide for enhanced enforcement of equal pay requirements, adding a nonretaliation requirement.  Increases penalties for such violations.  Provides for the Secretary of Labor to seek additional compensatory or punitive damages in such cases. 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to train EEOC employees and affected individuals and entities on matters involving wage discrimination. 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, including convening a national summit and carrying out other specified activities. 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop guidelines for employer evaluations of job categories based on objective criteria, to be used voluntarily by employers to compare wages for different jobs to determine if pay scales adequately and fairly reflect each job's educational and skill requirements, independence, working conditions, and responsibility, in order to eliminate unfair pay disparities between occupations traditionally dominated by men or women; and (2) establish a program to recognize employers who use such guidelines to ensure that women are paid fairly in comparison to men without lowering men's wages.  Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance for employers to carry out such evaluations. 
(Sec. 7) Establishes the Robert Reich National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace, which shall be evidenced by a medal.  Sets forth criteria for specified types of entities to receive such an award. 
(Sec. 8) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should: (1) take appropriate steps to increase the amount of information available with respect to wage disparities; and (2) consider ways to collect such information that maximize its utility, protect individual privacy, and minimize reporting burdens. 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. CREDIT FOR INTEREST ON EDUCATION LOANS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to nonrefundable 
personal credits) is amended by inserting after section 22 the 
following new section:

``SEC. 23. INTEREST ON EDUCATION LOANS.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual, there 
shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter 
for the taxable year an amount equal to 15 percent of the interest paid 
by the taxpayer during the taxable year on any qualified education 
loan.
    ``(b) Maximum Credit.--The credit allowed by subsection (a) for the 
taxable year shall not exceed $300.
    ``(c) Limitation on Taxpayers Eligible for Credit.--No credit shall 
be allowed by this section to an individual for the taxable year if a 
deduction under section 151 with respect to such individual is allowed 
to another taxpayer for the taxable year beginning in the calendar year 
in which such individual's taxable year begins.
    ``(d) Limit on Period Credit Allowed.--
            ``(1) Taxpayer and taxpayer's spouse.--Except as provided 
        in paragraph (2), a credit shall be allowed under this section 
        only with respect to interest paid on any qualified education 
        loan during the first 48 months (whether or not consecutive) in 
        which interest payments are required. For purposes of this 
        paragraph, any loan and all refinancings of such loan shall be 
        treated as 1 loan.
            ``(2) Dependent.--If the qualified education loan was used 
        to pay education expenses of an individual other than the 
        taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse, a credit shall be allowed 
        under this section for any taxable year with respect to such 
        loan only if--
                    ``(A) a deduction under section 151 with respect to 
                such individual is allowed to the taxpayer for such 
                taxable year, and
                    ``(B) such individual is at least a half-time 
                student with respect to such taxable year.
    ``(e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Qualified education loan.--The term `qualified 
        education loan' means any indebtedness incurred to pay 
        qualified higher education expenses--
                    ``(A) which are incurred on behalf of the taxpayer, 
                the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent of the taxpayer,
                    ``(B) which are paid or incurred within a 
                reasonable period of time before or after the 
                indebtedness is incurred, and
                    ``(C) which are attributable to education furnished 
                during a period during which the recipient was at least 
                a half-time student.
        Such term includes indebtedness used to refinance indebtedness 
        which qualifies as a qualified education loan. The term 
        `qualified education loan' shall not include any indebtedness 
        owed to a person who is related (within the meaning of section 
        267(b) or 707(b)(1)) to the taxpayer.
            ``(2) Qualified higher education expenses.--The term 
        `qualified higher education expenses' means the cost of 
        attendance (as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1087ll, as in effect on the day before 
        the date of the enactment of this Act) of the taxpayer, the 
        taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent of the taxpayer at an 
        eligible educational institution. For purposes of the preceding 
        sentence, the term `eligible educational institution' has the 
        same meaning given such term by section 135(c)(3), except that 
        such term shall also include an institution conducting an 
        internship or residency program leading to a degree or 
        certificate awarded by an institution of higher education, a 
        hospital, or a health care facility which offers postgraduate 
        training.
            ``(3) Half-time student.--The term `half-time student' 
        means any individual who would be a student as defined in 
        section 151(c)(4) if `half-time' were substituted for `full-
        time' each place it appears in such section.
            ``(4) Dependent.--The term `dependent' has the meaning 
        given such term by section 152.
    ``(f) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Denial of double benefit.--No credit shall be allowed 
        under this section for any amount for which a deduction is 
        allowable under any other provision of this chapter.
            ``(2) Marital status.--Marital status shall be determined 
        in accordance with section 7703.''
    (b) Optional Deduction for Interest on Education Loans.--Paragraph 
(2) of section 163(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining 
personal interest) is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of 
subparagraph (D), by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph 
(F), and by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(E) any interest paid on a qualified education 
                loan (as defined in section 23(e)) during the period 
                described in section 23(d), unless a credit or 
                deduction is taken with respect to such interest under 
                any other provisions of this chapter, and''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such subpart A 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 22 the 
following new item:

                              ``Sec. 23. Interest on education loans.''
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to any qualified education loan (as defined in section 23(e) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by this section) incurred 
on, before, or after July 1, 1993, but only with respect to any loan 
interest payment due after June 30, 1993, and before the termination of 
the period described in section 23(d)(1) of such Code.


Output: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for interest paid or incurred on any qualified education loan during the first 48 months (whether or not consecutive) for which interest payments are required to be made.  Limits such credit to $300. 
Allows such tax credit to parents only if the dependent is a student and a personal exemption is claimed for such dependent student. 
Excludes interest paid on education loans from the definition of "personal interest" (thus, allowing a deduction to be taken) unless a credit or deduction with respect to such interest is taken.