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

Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Space Tourism Promotion Act of 
2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) humans have long had a yearning to travel in space and 
        experience conditions beyond Earth's atmosphere;
            (2) forty years of human space flight experience have 
        demonstrated the feasibility of safe travel to and from space 
        as well as the ability of humans to live and work in space;
            (3) the Nation's human space flight program has developed 
        technologies and operational procedures that the private sector 
        could make use of to enable American citizens to experience 
        space travel;
            (4) space tourism has the potential to become a significant 
        industry and a powerful stimulus for advances in space 
        transportation;
            (5) the Federal Government could play an important role in 
        stimulating the development of space tourism by means of 
        guaranteed loans, tax credits, expeditious establishment of a 
        straightforward and predictable regulatory structure, and 
        research and development in technologies that may enable the 
        private sector to develop operational passenger-carrying space 
        transportation systems and on-orbit habitations;
            (6) as the agency of the Federal Government primarily 
        responsible for the development of America's commercial sector, 
        the Department of Commerce, and in particular its Office of 
        Space Commercialization, should have the lead role in 
        encouraging the growth of space tourism;
            (7) as the agency of the Federal Government currently 
        responsible for regulating America's commercial space 
        transportation industry, the Federal Aviation Administration, 
        and in particular its Office of Commercial Space 
        Transportation, should have the lead role in establishing the 
        regulatory structure necessary to ensure the safety of United 
        States space tourism;
            (8) as the agency of the Federal Government responsible for 
        carrying out the major share of the Nation's civil space 
        activities, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        should continue its traditional role of conducting research and 
        development related to new space technologies and systems and 
        facilitating their transfer to the private sector;
            (9) it is an appropriate role for the Federal Government to 
        undertake measures to encourage the development of space 
        tourism in the United States; and
            (10) at the same time, it is an inappropriate role and a 
        misallocation of taxpayer-provided resources for the Federal 
        Government to compete with the private sector in the provision 
        of transportation vehicles or facilities for space tourism.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) terms that are defined in the Federal Credit Reform Act 
        of 1990 have the meaning given those terms in that Act; and
            (2) the term ``space tourism'' means travel to, from, or 
        within outer space, or to the surface of a body in space other 
        than Earth, or habitation in outer space, for the purpose of 
        recreation.

SEC. 4. LOAN GUARANTEES.

    (a) Authority.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce may guarantee up 
        to 85 percent of the value of loans for the purpose of 
        developing transportation systems, habitation facilities, or 
        other infrastructure required for space tourism.
            (2) Limitation.--The maximum aggregate amount of loan 
        commitments that may be guaranteed under this section by the 
        Secretary of Commerce at any one time shall be $2,000,000,000.
            (3) Administrative fee.--The Secretary of Commerce is 
        authorized to collect from any borrower, and to the extent 
        provided for in advance in appropriations Acts to use, an 
        amount not to exceed 0.5 percent of the amount borrowed, for 
        covering the administrative expenses and other annual costs to 
        the Department of Commerce of the loan guarantee.
    (b) Terms and Conditions.--A loan guaranteed under this section 
shall be on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of Commerce may 
prescribe.
    (c) Term of Loans.--Loans guaranteed under this section shall be 
for a term of not to exceed 20 years, or 100 percent of the useful life 
of the substantial portion of the physical assets to be financed by the 
loans, whichever is shorter, as determined by the Secretary of 
Commerce.
    (d) Lien on Interests in Assets.--Upon providing a loan guarantee 
to a borrower under this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall have 
liens which shall be superior to all other liens on assets of the 
borrower equal to 85 percent of the unpaid balance of the loan subject 
to the guarantee.
    (e) Protection.--No loan shall be guaranteed under this section 
unless the Secretary of Commerce determines that the borrower is 
responsible and that adequate provision is made for servicing the loan 
on reasonable terms and for protecting the interests of the United 
States.
    (f) Validity.--A loan guarantee under this section shall be 
conclusive evidence that such guarantee has been properly obtained, and 
that the underlying loan qualifies for such guarantee. In an action for 
fraud or material misrepresentation by the holder of a loan guaranteed 
under this section, such guarantee shall be presumed to be valid, 
legal, and enforceable.
    (g) Forbearance.--The Secretary of Commerce may approve an 
agreement, between the parties to a loan guaranteed under this section, 
that provides for forbearance for the benefit of the borrower if the 
forbearance will result in no cost to the Federal Government.
    (h) Administration and Oversight Responsibility.--The Office of 
Space Commercialization shall be responsible for the administration and 
oversight of this section on behalf of the Department of Commerce.

SEC. 5. CAPITAL GAINS EXCLUSION.

    (a) In General.--Part I of subchapter P of chapter 1 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to items specifically excluded 
from gross income) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 1203. EXCLUSION OF GAINS FOR QUALIFIED SPACE TOURISM 
              CORPORATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Gross income shall not include gain on the sale 
or exchange of any stock of a qualified space tourism corporation held 
for more than one year.
    ``(b) Qualified Space Tourism Corporation.--For purposes of 
subsection (a), the term `qualified space tourism corporation' means, 
with respect to any taxable year, a domestic corporation which is a C 
corporation if--
            ``(1) such corporation is organized exclusively for 
        providing to unrelated persons any service of space tourism (as 
        defined in section 3 of the Space Tourism Promotion Act of 
        2001), and
            ``(2) such corporation derives at least 75 percent of its 
        gross receipts from the active conduct of a trade or business 
        of providing a service described in paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Certain Purchases by Corporations of Its Own Stock.--For 
purposes of this section, rules similar to the rules of section 
1202(c)(3) shall apply.
    ``(d) Related Person.--Persons shall be treated as related to each 
other if such persons would be treated as a single employer under the 
regulations prescribed under section 52(b). In the case of a 
corporation which is a member of an affiliated group of corporations 
filing a consolidated return, such corporation shall be treated as 
providing services related to space tourism to an unrelated person if 
such services are provided to such a person by another member of such 
group.
    ``(e) Termination.--This section shall not apply to sales or 
exchanges after December 31, 2011.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for part I of 
subchapter P of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item:

                              ``Sec. 1203. Exclusion of gains for 
                                        qualified space tourism 
                                        corporations.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to sales and exchanges in taxable years beginning after December 
31, 2001.

SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGULATORY STANDARDS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
regulations to govern--
            (1) activities necessary to ensure the safe operation of 
        passenger-carrying launch and reentry vehicles and spacecraft 
        for space tourism, to the extent to which regulatory procedures 
        have not previously been established by law; and
            (2) activities related to the provision of and safe 
        operation of habitable facilities in outer space for space 
        tourism purposes.
    (b) Orbital Debris Avoidance.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall issue regulations to prevent, to the extent practicable, the 
growth of orbital debris resulting from activities associated with 
space tourism.
    (c) Legal Regime.--Activities taking place on space tourism 
habitation facilities and passenger-carrying launch and reentry 
vehicles and spacecraft for space tourism licensed or otherwise 
regulated by the Secretary of Transportation shall be governed by the 
laws of the United States.

SEC. 7. USE OF FEDERAL FACILITIES.

    (a) Prohibition Against Certain Uses of Federal Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--Launch, reentry, and space travel vehicles 
        owned by the Federal Government shall not be used for the 
        transport of any individuals other than those engaged in or 
        supporting the conduct of official business of the United 
        States or the conduct of scientific or engineering research and 
        development, except in emergency situations.
            (2) International space station.--The United States portion 
        of the International Space Station shall not be visited or 
        occupied by any individuals other than those engaged in or 
        supporting the conduct of official business of the United 
        States or the conduct of scientific or engineering research and 
        development, and those authorized by relevant international 
        agreements, except in emergency situations.
    (b) Use of Other Federal Facilities.--The use of other Federal 
facilities and infrastructure, such as launch ranges and data relay 
satellites, shall be made available to commercial entities engaged in 
space tourism on a cost-reimbursable basis to the extent that excess 
capacity exists at the time the commercial entity requests the use of 
such facilities and infrastructure.

A: Space Tourism Promotion Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to guarantee up to 85 percent of the value of loans for developing transportation systems, habitation facilities, or other infrastructure required for space tourism.Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income gain on the sale or exchange of any stock of a qualified space tourism corporation held for more than a year.Requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to: (1) govern activities necessary to ensure the safe operation of passenger-carrying launch and reentry vehicles and spacecraft for space tourism and activities related to the provision and safe operation of habitable facilities in outer space for space tourism; and (2) prevent the growth of orbital debris resulting from activities associated with space tourism.Prohibits: (1) the use of launch, reentry, and space travel vehicles owned by the Government for the transport of any individuals other than those engaged in or supporting the conduct of official business or scientific or engineering research and development (R&D), except in emergencies; and (2) the U.S. portion of the International Space Station from being visited or occupied by any individuals other than those engaged in or supporting the conduct of such business or R&D and those authorized by relevant international agreements, except in emergencies.Requires the use of other Federal facilities and infrastructure, such as launch ranges and data relay satellites, to be made available to commercial entities engaged in space tourism on a cost-reimbursable basis to the extent that excess capacity exists.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fairness for Homeowners Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. ORIGINATIONS OF CONSUMER CREDIT TRANSACTIONS SECURED BY THE 
              CONSUMER'S PRINCIPAL DWELLING.

    (a) In General.--The Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 129 the following new section:
``Sec. 129A. Originations of consumer credit transactions secured by 
              the consumer's principal dwelling
    ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions shall apply:
            ``(1) Fully indexed rate.--The term `fully indexed rate' 
        equals the index rate prevailing at the time a consumer credit 
        transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling is 
        originated, plus the margin that will apply after the 
        expiration of an introductory interest rate.
            ``(2) Mortgage broker.--The term `mortgage broker' means 
        any person who is defined as a mortgage broker under applicable 
        State law.
    ``(b) Requirements for Originators.--
            ``(1) Ability to pay.--
                    ``(A) In general.--No creditor or mortgage broker 
                may make, provide, or arrange for any consumer credit 
                transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling 
                without verifying the consumer's reasonable ability to 
                pay the scheduled payments of the following, as 
                applicable: principal; interest; real estate taxes; 
                homeowner's insurance, assessments, and mortgage 
                insurance premiums.
                    ``(B) Variable interest rate.--In the case of any 
                consumer credit transaction secured by a consumer's 
                principal dwelling for which the applicable annual 
                percentage rate may vary over the life of the credit, 
                the reasonable ability to pay shall be determined, for 
                purposes of this paragraph, on the basis of a fully 
                indexed rate plus 200 basis points and a repayment 
                schedule which achieves full amortization over the life 
                of the extension of credit.
                    ``(C) Verification of consumer income and financial 
                resources.--In the case of any consumer credit 
                transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling, 
                the income and financial resources of the consumer 
                shall be verified for purposes of this paragraph by tax 
                returns, payroll receipts, bank records, or other 
                similarly reliable documents.
                    ``(D) Other criteria.--No provision of this 
                paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting reliance on 
                criteria other than a consumer's income and financial 
                resources to establish the reasonable ability of the 
                consumer to repay any consumer credit transaction 
                secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, to the 
                extent such other criteria are also verified through 
                reasonably reliable methods and documentation.
                    ``(E) Consumer statement is insufficient proof.--A 
                statement by a consumer of the consumer's income or 
                financial resources shall not be sufficient to 
                establish the existence of any income or financial 
                resources when verifying the reasonable ability of the 
                consumer to repay any consumer credit transaction 
                secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, for 
                purposes of this paragraph.
            ``(2) Prohibition on steering.--No creditor or mortgage 
        broker may make, provide, or arrange for any consumer credit 
        transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling that is 
        of a lower investment grade if--
                    ``(A) the consumer's credit score; or
                    ``(B) comparable underwriting data, in any case in 
                which the creditor or mortgage broker does not utilize 
                credit scoring or a credit score for the consumer is 
                unavailable,
        indicates that the borrower may qualify for a consumer credit 
        transaction, available from or through the creditor or mortgage 
        broker, that is of a higher investment grade.
            ``(3) Prohibition on prepayment penalties for arms.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of any consumer 
                credit transaction secured by a consumer's principal 
                dwelling that provides for variable rates of interest 
                on the credit extended under the transaction, the 
                transaction may not contain terms under which a 
                consumer must pay a prepayment penalty for paying all 
                or part of the principal before the date on which the 
                principal is due.
                    ``(B) Exclusion for jumbo mortgages.--Subparagraph 
                (A) shall not apply to any consumer credit transaction 
                secured by a consumer's principal dwelling the 
                principal amount (as defined in subsection (c)(2)) of 
                which exceeds the maximum dollar amount limitation (for 
                a residence of the applicable size) on the amount of 
                the principal obligation of a mortgage for a 1- to 4-
                family residence that may be purchased by the Federal 
                Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as then in effect 
                pursuant to section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan 
                Mortgage Corporation Act.
    ``(c) Limitation on Financed Points, Charges, and Fees.--
            ``(1) In general.--No creditor or mortgage broker may, in 
        connection with any consumer credit transaction secured by the 
        consumer's principal dwelling, include in the principal amount 
        of such transaction any portion of any qualified finance charge 
        in excess of the amount which is equal to 5 percent of the 
        principal amount of the transaction.
            ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        following definitions shall apply:
                    ``(A) Qualified finance charge.--The term 
                `qualified finance charge' means the sum of--
                            ``(i) the finance charge as determined 
                        under section 106, minus any interest and time 
                        price differential; and
                            ``(ii) all compensation paid to a mortgage 
                        broker from any source in connection with this 
                        transaction.
                    ``(B) Principal amount.--The term `principal 
                amount' means--
                            ``(i) in the case of any consumer credit 
                        transaction under an open end credit plan 
                        secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, 
                        the maximum amount of credit that may be 
                        extended under the terms of such plan as 
                        determined without taking into account any 
                        amount included in determining the finance 
                        charge under section 106; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of any other consumer 
                        credit transaction secured by a consumer's 
                        principal dwelling, the amount financed (as 
                        defined in section 138(a)(2)).
            ``(3) Prohibition on excessive finance charges.--No 
        creditor or mortgage broker may, in connection with any 
        consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal 
        dwelling, impose or receive any amount included in determining 
        the qualified finance charge for such transaction that exceeds 
        the amount which is equal to 5 percent of the principal amount 
        of the transaction.
            ``(4) Exception.--This subsection shall not apply to any 
        consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal 
        dwelling that is ensured or guaranteed by the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs, or the Farmers Home Administration.
    ``(d) Mortgage Broker Duties of Agency.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any mortgage broker acting to obtain or 
        arrange for any consumer credit transaction secured by the 
        consumer's principal dwelling shall be considered to have an 
        agency relationship with the consumer in all cases by operation 
        of law and shall comply with the following duties:
                    ``(A) Mortgage brokers shall act in the consumer's 
                best interest and in the utmost good faith toward each 
                consumer and shall not compromise a consumer's right or 
                interest in favor of another's right or interest, 
                including a right or interest of the mortgage broker.
                    ``(B) A mortgage broker shall not accept, give, or 
                charge any undisclosed compensation or realize any 
                undisclosed remuneration, either through direct or 
                indirect means, that inures to the benefit of the 
                mortgage broker on an expenditure made for the 
                consumer.
                    ``(C) Mortgage brokers shall carry out all lawful 
                instructions given by the consumer.
                    ``(D) Mortgage brokers shall disclose to consumers 
                all material facts of which the mortgage broker has 
                knowledge which might reasonably affect the consumer's 
                rights, interests, or ability to receive the consumer's 
                intended benefit from the consumer credit transaction, 
                but not facts which are reasonably susceptible to the 
                knowledge of the consumer.
                    ``(E) Mortgage brokers shall use reasonable care in 
                performing duties.
                    ``(F) Mortgage brokers shall account to a consumer 
                for all the consumer's money and property received as 
                agent.
            ``(2) Scope.--The duty of agency between mortgage broker 
        and consumer applies when the mortgage broker is acting in the 
        capacity of mortgage broker providing mortgage brokerage 
        services with respect to any consumer credit transaction 
        secured by the consumer's principal dwelling for which the 
        broker is not the creditor.
            ``(3) Rules of construction.--
                    ``(A) Fees for services rendered.--No provision of 
                this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting a 
                mortgage broker from contracting for or collecting a 
                fee for services rendered which had been disclosed to 
                the consumer in advance of the provision of such 
                services.
                    ``(B) Duty of broker.--No provision of this 
                subsection shall be construed as requiring a mortgage 
                broker--
                            ``(i) to obtain or arrange for any consumer 
                        credit transaction secured by the consumer's 
                        principal dwelling on behalf of a consumer that 
                        contains terms or conditions not available to 
                        the mortgage broker in the mortgage broker's 
                        usual course of business; or
                            ``(ii) to obtain or arrange for any 
                        consumer credit transaction secured by the 
                        consumer's principal dwelling from a creditor 
                        with whom the mortgage broker does not have a 
                        business relationship.
    ``(e) Independent Verification of Consumer Counseling Before 
Refinancing Special Mortgages.--
            ``(1) In general.--No creditor or mortgage broker may make, 
        provide, or arrange for any consumer credit transaction secured 
        by the consumer's principal dwelling all or a portion of the 
        proceeds of which are used to fully or partially pay off a 
        special mortgage unless the borrower has obtained a written 
        certification from an authorized independent loan counselor 
        that the borrower has received counseling on the advisability 
        of the transaction.
            ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
        following definitions shall apply:
                    ``(A) Special mortgage.--The term `special 
                mortgage' means any consumer credit transaction secured 
                by the consumer's principal dwelling that was 
                originated, subsidized, funded, or guaranteed by or 
                through a State, tribal, or local government, or 
                nonprofit organization, that bears 1 or more of the 
                following nonstandard payment terms which substantially 
                benefit the consumer:
                            ``(i) Payments vary with income.
                            ``(ii) Payments of principal or interest 
                        are not required or can be deferred under 
                        specified conditions.
                            ``(iii) Principal or interest is forgivable 
                        under specified conditions.
                            ``(iv) Either no interest or an annual 
                        interest rate of 2 percent or less is charged 
                        in connection with the loan.
                    ``(B) Authorized loan counselor.--The term 
                `authorized independent loan counselor' means any 
                nonprofit, third-party individual or organization 
                providing homebuyer education programs, foreclosure 
                prevention services, mortgage loan counseling, or 
                credit counseling that is certified by the Secretary of 
                Housing and Urban Development, or certified by any 
                State housing agency or nonprofit organization 
                designated by such Secretary, for such purposes.
    ``(f) Minimum Financial Requirements for Mortgage Brokers.--No 
mortgage broker may obtain or arrange for any consumer credit 
transaction secured by the consumer's principal dwelling unless at all 
times the mortgage broker--
            ``(1) maintains a minimum net worth, net of intangibles, of 
        at least $500,000, as determined in accordance with generally 
        accepted accounting principles; or
            ``(2) maintains a surety bond or irrevocable letter of 
        credit in the amount of $50,000.
    ``(g) Enforcement.--For purposes of providing a cause of action for 
any failure by a mortgage broker to comply with any requirement imposed 
under this section, section 130(a) shall be applied with respect to any 
such failure--
            ``(1) by substituting `mortgage broker' for `creditor' each 
        place such term appears in such section; and
            ``(2) by treating all qualified finance charges (as defined 
        in subsection (c)(2)(A)) incurred in the origination of any 
        consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal 
        dwelling as actual damages sustained by the consumer as a 
        result of the failure.
    ``(h) Exclusion of Reverse Mortgages.--This section shall not apply 
with respect to any consumer mortgage transaction that constitutes a 
reverse mortgage.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Truth in Lending Act 
is amended--
            (1) in section 103 (u) (15 U.S.C. 1602(u)), by striking 
        ``and the disclosures required by section 129(a)'' and 
        inserting ``and the provisions of section 129 and 129A''; and
            (2) in section 130 (15 U.S.C. 1640), by inserting ``or 
        129A'' after section 129 each place such term appears.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 2 of the 
Truth in Lending Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 129 the following new item:

``129A. Originations of consumer credit transactions secured by the 
                            consumer's principal dwelling.''.

A: Fairness for Homeowners Act of 2007 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit any creditor or mortgage broker from making, providing, or arranging for any consumer credit transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling without verifying the consumer's reasonable ability to make the scheduled payments of principal, interest (including variable interest), real estate taxes, homeowner's insurance, assessments, and mortgage insurance premiums.

Prescribes criteria for determining the reasonable ability to make such payments.

Prohibits steering (arranging for a lower investment grade credit transaction if the consumer qualifies for a higher investment grade transaction) and prepayment penalties for adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) that are not jumbo mortgages.

Limits financed points, finance charges, and fees to 5% of a transaction's principal, unless the transaction is ensured or guaranteed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Farmers Home Administration.

Specifies duties of agency for mortgage brokers acting to obtain or arrange for any consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal dwelling.

Requires creditors and mortgage brokers to obtain independent verification that a borrower seeking to refinance a special mortgage has received counseling on the transaction's advisability. Defines "special mortgage" as one that: (1) was originated, subsidized, funded, or guaranteed by or through a state, tribal, or local government, or nonprofit organization; and (2) bears one or more specified nonstandard payment terms which substantially benefit the consumer.

Prescribes minimum financial requirements for mortgage brokers.

Excludes reverse mortgages from coverage by this Act.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Change Center and 
Clearinghouse Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) There are 26.8 million small business concerns in the 
        United States, and they are the backbone of the American 
        economy. However, small business concerns face overwhelming 
        obstacles in addressing climate change issues, such as reducing 
        their carbon footprint while balancing business needs to remain 
        economically competitive.
            (2) The United States Government is the largest purchaser 
        of goods and services in the world and plays a large role in 
        influencing the overall business marketplace. In 2006, the 
        United States Government spent over $417 billion on goods and 
        services in 8.3 million separate contract actions. Small 
        business concerns won approximately $80 billion in contracts 
        which is about 21.5 percent of the remaining prime contracts.
            (3) The Small Business Act of 1953 specified that small 
        business concerns should be given every opportunity to compete 
        fairly for the award of Federal contracts. Congress has long 
        recognized the value of small business concerns because they 
        are important sources of job creation and economic growth; 
        however, small business concerns are typically disadvantaged in 
        competing against large firms.
            (4) The United States Environmental Protection Agency has 
        created a directory to help small business concerns access 
        financial services by State or service type (i.e. loans, 
        consulting, credit, etc.) to help small business concerns 
        achieve energy efficiency through their Energy Star Small 
        Business--Financial Resources Directory.
            (5) The fusion of a powerful purchasing mechanism with 
        green business practices provides a small business concern with 
        significant incentives and opportunities for market penetration 
        of environmentally preferable products, for the development of 
        green services, and for the adoption of green practices in 
        their own facilities.
            (6) Many small business concerns have taken the first step 
        in incorporating sustainable practices into their own business, 
        however small business concerns face obstacles in comparing the 
        cost, performance, and life cycle environmental impacts of 
        alternatives. Most small business concerns do not have the 
        scientific and technical capability to fully assess the issues 
        and choices to address the impact of climate change. In 
        addition, small business concerns offering green products and 
        services often face barriers to market acceptance of 
        environmentally preferable products and services when competing 
        with products or service practices that have long-standing 
        market penetration.
            (7) It is vital for the competitiveness of the United 
        States that small business concerns, including small, minority-
        owned, women-owned, historically underutilized businesses 
        (HUBZones), and veteran-owned small business concerns be 
        provided greater opportunity to become a procurement source for 
        goods and services to Federal agencies. It is also critical 
        that small business concerns be encouraged to develop and 
        supply environmentally sound products and services.
            (8) By utilizing new energy efficient technologies and 
        whole building design practices, small business concerns can 
        save in long-term operating costs, become more competitive, 
        improve the productivity and health of employees, and reduce 
        their carbon footprint.
            (9) In the National Small Business Association's 2006 
        energy survey, the majority of owners of small business 
        concerns said they have been affected by rising energy prices 
        and that reducing energy costs would increase profitability. At 
        the same time, over half of these entrepreneurs have not 
        invested in energy efficient programs for their small business 
        concerns.
            (10) There are many ways to increase energy efficiency. For 
        example, an owner of a small business concern who replaces 
        twenty 100-watt incandescent bulbs with 27-watt compact 
        fluorescent bulbs would pay $400 up-front, but save $980 over 
        one year.
            (11) Today, buildings account for more than a third of the 
        carbon emissions in the United States. Whole building design 
        practices, also known as green buildings, have a positive 
        effect on the reduction of green house gases and the health of 
        the environment, increase production of workers, and improve 
        the water supply for communities. Studies have shown--
                    (A) a 2 to 16 percent increase in productivity in 
                buildings that incorporate whole building design 
                practices; and
                    (B) that an up-front investment of 2 percent in 
                whole building design practices, on average, results in 
                life cycle savings of 20 percent of the total 
                construction costs.
            (12) Some of the tools that a small business concern could 
        use to design are--
                    (A) green roofs, vegetated roof systems that 
                passively perform no less than eight highly beneficial 
                and cost-saving functions;
                    (B) daylighting, because people respond, 
                concentrate, and think better with diffuse, full-
                spectrum light provided by the sun;
                    (C) on-site renewable energy, produced from fuels 
                that have a stable, predictable supply such as solar, 
                wind, biomass, and ground sources;
                    (D) natural ventilation, which can replace all or 
                part of mechanical ventilation systems, improving 
                indoor air quality and occupant comfort; and
                    (E) integrated design, the method by which the 
                design team identifies systems early in the process to 
                provide a coordinated implementation of efficiency and 
                building methods, realizing an exponential gain in 
                savings and comfort.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

    The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by 
redesignating section 37 as section 38, and by inserting after section 
36 the following:

``SEC. 38. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Small 
Business Administration an office to be known as the Office of 
Environment, Energy, and Climate Change headed by an Assistant 
Administrator for Environment, Energy, and Climate Change, who shall be 
appointed by, and report to, the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration.
    ``(b) Duties.--The Office of Environment, Energy, and Climate 
Change shall--
            ``(1) oversee and administer the Climate Change Center and 
        Clearinghouse established under subsection (c);
            ``(2) promote energy efficiency efforts for small business 
        concerns;
            ``(3) promote efforts to reduce energy costs of small 
        business concerns; and
            ``(4) oversee efforts by small business concerns to develop 
        renewable energy technologies.
    ``(c) Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Office of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change an office to 
        be known as the Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse 
        (hereinafter in this section referred to as the `Center').
            ``(2) Duties of the center.--The Center shall--
                    ``(A) provide scientific, economic, and technical 
                information to small business concerns on--
                            ``(i) assessing and managing the technical, 
                        economic, and business impacts of climate 
                        change; and
                            ``(ii) cost savings and revenue gains made 
                        possible through carbon credit trading 
                        opportunities and Federal and State renewable 
                        energy and energy efficiency tax relief 
                        programs, purchase incentives, and rebate 
                        programs;
                    ``(B) ensure that the information described in 
                subparagraph (A) is available to small business 
                concerns by--
                            ``(i) placing the information on a website 
                        accessible by small business concerns; and
                            ``(ii) developing and carrying out 
                        nationwide workshops for small business 
                        concerns, with such workshops recorded and made 
                        available to small business concerns on a 
                        website and, if practicable, broadcast live on 
                        the internet;
                    ``(C) coordinate any efforts which are undertaken 
                by the Department of Energy's Ombudsman, the 
                Environmental Protection Agency's Small Business 
                Ombudsman, the National Institute of Standards and 
                Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the 
                Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement 
                Ombudsman, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged 
                Business Utilization within each Federal agency having 
                procurement powers, and other appropriate Federal 
                departments and agencies to provide technical, 
                scientific, and engineering support to small business 
                concerns for the purpose of maintaining competitiveness 
                while--
                            ``(i) developing green products or 
                        services;
                            ``(ii) implementing green business 
                        practices; or
                            ``(iii) reducing the amount of pollution 
                        produced by the small business concern;
                    ``(D) develop a baseline study--
                            ``(i) that provides a broad analysis that 
                        aggregates small business energy consumption 
                        and emissions;
                            ``(ii) that includes, but is not limited 
                        to, an analysis of the energy consumption and 
                        greenhouse gas emissions from processes, 
                        practices, and product developments of small 
                        business concerns;
                            ``(iii) the development of which the Center 
                        shall coordinate with similar efforts 
                        undertaken by other Federal agencies; and
                            ``(iv) which upon completion is made 
                        available to the public on a website.
                    ``(E) raise awareness among small business concerns 
                of the information, technical support, and network 
                opportunities made available through the Energy Star 
                Program to reduce energy waste and energy costs;
                    ``(F) develop a carbon footprint website that 
                contains--
                            ``(i) educational and technical information 
                        on how small business concerns can reduce their 
                        carbon footprint;
                            ``(ii) links to tools and information 
                        relating to carbon footprints available on 
                        other websites; and
                            ``(iii) a carbon footprint calculator which 
                        can calculate a rough estimate of a small 
                        business concern's carbon emissions based on, 
                        but not limited to, the concern's electricity 
                        usage, heating fuel usage, and fleet mileage; 
                        and
                    ``(G) develop a marketing plan and coordinate with 
                the Office of Small Business Development Centers to 
                raise awareness among small business concerns of the 
                Center's duties and available resources.
            ``(3) Duties of the heads of departments and agencies.--The 
        head of each Federal department or agency shall provide 
        information to the Center, upon request, unless otherwise 
        prohibited by law.
    ``(d) Interagency Working Group.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall establish an 
        interagency working group, which shall be co-chaired by the 
        Assistant Administrator for Environment, Energy, and Climate 
        Change and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency and shall include representatives from--
                    ``(A) the National Institute of Standards and 
                Technology;
                    ``(B) the Department of Energy;
                    ``(C) the Department of Transportation;
                    ``(D) the Office of Small Business Development 
                Centers;
                    ``(E) small business concerns; and
                    ``(F) any additional agency that the President may 
                designate.
            ``(2) Advisors.--The co-chairs of the interagency working 
        group may appoint representatives from environmental groups and 
        groups concerned with climate change to advise the working 
        group.
            ``(3) Duties.--The interagency working group shall--
                    ``(A) establish goals and priorities for the 
                Center; and
                    ``(B) provide for interagency coordination, 
                including budget coordination, of activities undertaken 
                by the Center.
    ``(e) Definitions.--
            ``(1) Green products or services and green business 
        practices.--The Administrator of the Small Business 
        Administration shall, in consultation with the Environmental 
        Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, and 
        other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, specify a 
        detailed definition for the terms `green products or services' 
        and `green business practices' for purposes of this section.
            ``(2) Greenhouse gas.--For purposes of this section, the 
        term `greenhouse gas' means--
                    ``(A) carbon dioxide;
                    ``(B) methane;
                    ``(C) nitrous oxide;
                    ``(D) hydrofluorocarbons;
                    ``(E) perfluorocarbons; or
                    ``(F) sulfur hexafluoride.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.''.

A:
Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act to establish: (1) the Office of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change within the Small Business Administration (SBA); and (2) the Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse within such Office.

Requires the Office to: (1) oversee and administer the Center; (2) promote energy efficiency efforts for, and efforts to reduce energy costs of, small businesses; and (3) oversee efforts by small businesses to develop renewable energy technologies.

 Requires the Center to: (1) provide information to small businesses on assessing and managing the impacts of climate change and on cost savings and revenue gains possible through carbon credit trading opportunities and federal and state renewable energy and energy efficiency tax relief programs, purchase incentives, and rebate programs; (2) ensure that such information is provided to small businesses on an accessible website and through nationwide workshops; (3) coordinate federal agency efforts to provide support to small businesses for the purpose of maintaining competitiveness while developing green products or services, implementing green business practices, or reducing pollution; (4) develop a baseline study that provides a broad analysis that aggregates small business energy consumption and emissions; (5) raise awareness among small businesses of the information, technical support, and network opportunities made available through the Energy Star Program to reduce energy waste and energy costs; (6) develop a carbon footprint website that contains information on how small business concerns can reduce their carbon footprint, links to other carbon footprint websites, and a calculator for obtaining an estimate of a small business's carbon emissions based on electricity usage, heating fuel usage, and fleet mileage; and (7) develop a marketing plan.

Directs: (1) the President to establish an interagency working group to establish goals and priorities for the Center and to provide for interagency coordination of Center activities; and (2) the Administrator of SBA to specify a detailed definition for the terms "green products or services" and "green business practices."
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