instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Scientifically Identifying the Need 
for Critical Habitat Act''.

SEC. 2. DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE CRITICAL HABITAT.

    Section 4(a)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1533(a)(3)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(A) may designate any habitat of a species that is 
        determined under paragraph (1) to be an endangered species or 
        threatened species as critical habitat of such species; and ''.

SEC. 3. SOUND SCIENCE.

    (a) Best Scientific and Commercial Data Available.--
            (1) In general.--Section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 
        1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532) is amended--
                    (A) by amending the section heading to read as 
                follows:

``SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. '';

                    (B) by striking ``For the purposes of this Act--'' 
                and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this Act:''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Use of Certain Data.--In any case in which the Secretary is 
required by this Act to use the best scientific and commercial data 
available, the Secretary, in evaluating comparable data, shall give 
greater weight to scientific or commercial data that is empirical or 
has been field-tested or peer-reviewed.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of contents in the 
        first section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
        prec. 1531) is amended by striking the item relating to section 
        3 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 3. Definitions and general provisions.''.
    (b) Use of Sound Science in Listing.--Section 4(b) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
            ``(9) Establishment of criteria for scientific studies to 
        support listing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations that establish criteria that must be met for 
        scientific and commercial data to be used as the basis of a 
        determination under this section that a species is an 
        endangered species or a threatened species.
            ``(10) Field data.--
                    ``(A) Requirement.--The Secretary may not determine 
                that a species is an endangered species or a threatened 
                species unless the determination is supported by data 
                obtained by observation of the species in the field.
                    ``(B) Data from landowners.--The Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) accept and acknowledge receipt of 
                        data regarding the status of a species that is 
                        collected by an owner of land through 
                        observation of the species on the land; and
                            ``(ii) include the data in the rulemaking 
                        record compiled for any determination that the 
                        species is an endangered species or a 
                        threatened species.''.
    (c) Use of Sound Science in Recovery Planning.--Section 4(f) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(6)(A) The Secretary shall identify and publish in the Federal 
Register with the notice of a proposed regulation pursuant to paragraph 
(5)(A)(i) a description of additional scientific and commercial data 
that would assist in the preparation of a recovery plan and--
            ``(i) invite any person to submit the data to the 
        Secretary; and
            ``(ii) describe the steps that the Secretary plans to take 
        for acquiring additional data.
    ``(B) Data identified and obtained under subparagraph (A)(i) shall 
be considered by the recovery team and the Secretary in the preparation 
of the recovery plan in accordance with section 5.''.

SEC. 4. PEER REVIEW.

    Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Independent Scientific Review Requirements.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Action.--The term `action' means--
                            ``(i) the determination that a species is 
                        an endangered species or a threatened species 
                        under subsection (a);
                            ``(ii) the determination under subsection 
                        (a) that an endangered species or a threatened 
                        species be removed from any list published 
                        under subsection (c)(1);
                            ``(iii) the development of a recovery plan 
                        for a threatened species or endangered species 
                        under subsection (f); and
                            ``(iv) the determination that a proposed 
                        action is likely to jeopardize the continued 
                        existence of a listed species and the proposal 
                        of any reasonable and prudent alternatives by 
                        the Secretary under section 7(b)(3).
                    ``(B) Qualified individual.--The term `qualified 
                individual' means an individual with expertise in the 
                biological sciences--
                            ``(i) who through publication of peer-
                        reviewed scientific literature or other means, 
                        has demonstrated scientific expertise on the 
                        species or a similar species or other 
                        scientific expertise relevant to the decision 
                        of the Secretary under subsection (a) or (f);
                            ``(ii) who does not have, or represent any 
                        person with, a conflict of interest with 
                        respect to the determination that is the 
                        subject of the review;
                            ``(iii) who is not a participant in any 
                        petition or proposed or final determination 
                        before the Secretary; and
                            ``(iv) who has no direct financial 
                        interest, and is not employed by any person 
                        with a direct financial interest, in opposing 
                        the action under consideration.
            ``(2) List of independent scientific reviewers.--The 
        Secretary shall solicit recommendations from the National 
        Academy of Sciences and develop and maintain a list of 
        qualified reviewers to participate in independent scientific 
        review actions.
            ``(3) Appointment of independent scientific reviewers.--(A) 
        Before any action shall become final, the Secretary shall 
        appoint randomly, from among the list prepared in accordance 
        with this section, 3 qualified individuals who shall review and 
        report to the Secretary on the scientific information and 
        analyses on which the proposed action is based.
            ``(B) The selection and activities of the referees selected 
        pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
            ``(C) Reviewers shall be compensated for conducting the 
        independent review.
            ``(4) Opinion of peer reviewers.--Independent reviewers 
        shall provide the Secretary, within 3 months, their opinion 
        regarding all relevant scientific information and assumptions 
        relating to the taxonomy, population models, and supportive 
        biological and ecological information for the species in 
        question.
            ``(5) Final determination.--If the referees have made a 
        recommendation on a proposed action, the Secretary shall 
        evaluate and consider the information that results from the 
        independent scientific review and include in the final 
        determination--
                    ``(A) a summary of the results of the independent 
                scientific review; and
                    ``(B) in a case in which the recommendation of a 
                majority of the referees who conducted the independent 
                scientific review is not followed, an explanation as to 
                why the recommendation was not followed.
            ``(6) Public notice.--The report of the peer reviewers 
        shall be included in the official record of the proposed action 
        and shall be available for public review prior to the close of 
        the comment period on the proposed action.''.

SEC. 5. IMPROVED RECOVERY PLANNING.

    (a) Use of Information Provided by States.--Section 7(b)(1) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Use of state information.--In conducting a 
                consultation under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary 
                shall actively solicit and consider information from 
                the State agency in each affected State.''.
    (b) Opportunity to Participate in Consultations.--Section 7(b)(1) 
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) (as 
amended by subsection (a)) is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
                    ``(D) Opportunity to participate in 
                consultations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In conducting a 
                        consultation under subsection (a)(2), the 
                        Secretary shall provide any person who has 
                        sought authorization or funding from a Federal 
                        agency for an action that is the subject of the 
                        consultation, the opportunity to--
                                    ``(I) before the development of a 
                                draft biological opinion, submit and 
                                discuss with the Secretary and the 
                                Federal agency information relevant to 
                                the effect of the proposed action on 
                                the species and the availability of 
                                reasonable and prudent alternatives (if 
                                a jeopardy opinion is to be issued) 
                                that the Federal agency and the person 
                                can take to avoid violation of 
                                subsection (a)(2);
                                    ``(II) receive information, on 
                                request, subject to the exemptions 
                                specified in section 552(b) of title 5, 
                                United States Code, on the status of 
                                the species, threats to the species, 
                                and conservation measures, used by the 
                                Secretary to develop the draft 
                                biological opinion and the final 
                                biological opinion, including the 
                                associated incidental taking 
                                statements; and
                                    ``(III) receive a copy of the draft 
                                biological opinion from the Federal 
                                agency and, before issuance of the 
                                final biological opinion, submit 
                                comments on the draft biological 
                                opinion and discuss with the Secretary 
                                and the Federal agency the basis for 
                                any finding in the draft biological 
                                opinion.
                            ``(ii) Explanation.--If reasonable and 
                        prudent alternatives are proposed by a person 
                        under clause (i) and the Secretary does not 
                        include the alternatives in the final 
                        biological opinion, the Secretary shall explain 
                        to the person why those alternatives were not 
                        included in the opinion.
                            ``(iii) Public access to information.--
                        Comments and other information submitted to, or 
                        received from, any person (pursuant to clause 
                        (i)) who seeks authorization or funding for an 
                        action shall be maintained in a file for that 
                        action by the Secretary and shall be made 
                        available to the public (subject to the 
                        exemptions specified in section 552(b) of title 
                        5, United States Code).''.
answer:
Scientifically Identifying the Need for Critical Habitat Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to change from mandatory to discretionary the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to designate critical habitat of an endangered or threatened species.

Directs the Secretary, when required by the Act to use the best scientific and commercial data available, in evaluating comparable data to give greater weight to such data that is empirical or has been field-tested or peer-reviewed.

Specifies requirements for the use of sound science in the listing of endangered or threatened species such as: (1) the establishment of criteria for scientific studies to support the listing; (2) use of data obtained by observation of the species in the field; and (3) use of data from landowners who have observed such species on their land. Requires the use of sound science in the preparation of a recovery plan for an endangered or threatened species.

Sets forth requirements for: (1) peer review before certain action can become final with respect to endangered or threatened species; and (2) use of information provided by States affected by such species or their habitat for recovery plans.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Broadband Opportunity and 
Affordability Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The adoption of broadband service results in enhanced 
        economic development and public safety for communities across 
        the Nation, improved health care and educational opportunities, 
        and a better quality of life for all Americans.
            (2) Continued progress in the adoption of broadband service 
        is vital to ensuring that the United States remains competitive 
        and continues to create business opportunities and job growth.
            (3) The price of broadband service is a barrier to adoption 
        for low-income households and can be an impediment to full 
        participation in the emerging broadband economy.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPAND LIFELINE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE BROADBAND 
              SERVICE.

    Section 254(j) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(j)) 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(j) Lifeline Assistance.--
            ``(1) Impact of section on lifeline assistance program.--
        Except as provided in paragraph (2), nothing in this section 
        shall affect the collection, distribution, or administration of 
        the Lifeline program.
            ``(2) Pilot program to expand lifeline program to include 
        broadband service.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
        enactment of the Broadband Opportunity and Affordability Act, 
        the Commission shall implement a 2-year pilot program to expand 
        the Lifeline program to reduce the cost of broadband service 
        for low-income consumers that will--
                    ``(A) apply to such broadband service as the 
                Commission may determine to be appropriate for purposes 
                of the pilot program;
                    ``(B) provide such levels of support as the 
                Commission may determine to be appropriate for such 
                purposes;
                    ``(C) be available to such consumers as the 
                Commission may determine to be appropriate for such 
                purposes under such eligibility criteria as the 
                Commission may determine to be appropriate for such 
                purposes; and
                    ``(D) reimburse broadband service providers for 
                each customer served, subject to prior authorization 
                from the Commission to participate in the pilot 
                program.
            ``(3) Criteria for pilot program.--In developing the pilot 
        program required by paragraph (2), the Commission shall 
        consider--
                    ``(A) whether State matching funds must be provided 
                as a condition of eligibility for low-income households 
                within a State;
                    ``(B) the prevailing market rate for broadband 
                service and the prevailing speed of broadband service 
                adopted by households, using information that the 
                Commission routinely collects or that is publicly 
                available; and
                    ``(C) how to ensure that the program is neutral as 
                to the types of technology used to provide broadband 
                service in order to promote competition from broadband 
                service providers to qualify for participation in the 
                pilot program.
            ``(4) Status report.--After the pilot program has been 
        operational for 18 months, the Commission shall submit a report 
        to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on 
        Energy and Commerce on the status of the pilot program.
            ``(5) Lifeline program defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `Lifeline program' means the service described in section 
        54.401(a) of the Commission's regulations (47 C.F.R. 
        54.401(a)).''.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF LINK UP PROGRAM REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Within 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall initiate a notice 
of inquiry with public notice and opportunity for comment, to 
determine--
            (1) whether the Link Up program could be expanded to reduce 
        the cost of initiating broadband service through providing 
        support for computer ownership;
            (2) what equipment would be supported by such an expansion;
            (3) how much support would be available with such an 
        expansion; and
            (4) the eligibility criteria for consumers to qualify for 
        such an expansion.
    (b) Report.--The Commission shall submit a report to the Senate 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce containing the 
Commission's findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the 
inquiry.
    (c) Link Up Program Defined.--In this section, the term ``Link Up 
program'' means the service described in section 54.411(a) of the 
Commission's regulations (47 U.S.C. 54.411(a)).
answer:
Broadband Opportunity and Affordability Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement a two-year pilot program to expand the Lifeline program to reduce the cost of broadband service for low-income consumers.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 
2005''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

                  ``SUBCHAPTER IV--OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

``Sec. 561. Outreach activities: coordination of activities within the 
              Department
    ``(a) The Secretary shall establish and maintain procedures for 
ensuring the effective coordination of the outreach activities of the 
Department between and among the following:
            ``(1) The Office of the Secretary.
            ``(2) The Office of Public Affairs.
            ``(3) The Veterans Health Administration.
            ``(4) The Veterans Benefits Administration.
            ``(5) The National Cemetery Administration.
    ``(b) The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) annually review the procedures in effect under 
        subsection (a) for the purpose of ensuring that those 
        procedures meet the requirements of that subsection; and
            ``(2) make such modifications to those procedures as the 
        Secretary considers appropriate in light of such review in 
        order to better achieve that purpose.
``Sec. 562. Outreach activities: cooperative activities with States; 
              grants to States for improvement of outreach
    ``(a) It is the purpose of this section to provide for assistance 
by the Secretary to the States in carrying out programs within their 
respective jurisdiction that offer a high probability of improving 
outreach and assistance to veterans, and to the spouses, children, and 
parents of veterans, so as to ensure that such individuals are fully 
informed about, and assisted in applying for, any veterans' and 
veterans-related benefits and programs (including State veterans' 
programs) for which they may be eligible.
    ``(b) The Secretary shall ensure that, as a condition of the 
provision of assistance by the Secretary under this section, that such 
assistance is provided for outreach and assistance under State and 
county veteran service programs referred to in subsection (a) in 
locations--
            ``(1) that have relatively large concentrations of 
        populations of veterans and other individuals referred to in 
        subsection (a); or
            ``(2) that are experiencing growth in the population of 
        veterans and other individuals referred to in subsection (a).
    ``(c) The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and 
arrangements with State veterans agencies in order to carry out, 
coordinate, improve, or otherwise enhance outreach by the Department 
and the States (including outreach with respect to State veterans' 
programs).
    ``(d)(1) The Secretary may make grants to State veterans agencies 
in order to achieve the following purposes:
            ``(A) To carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise 
        enhance outreach, including activities pursuant to cooperative 
        agreements and arrangements under subsection (c).
            ``(B) To carry out, coordinate, improve, or otherwise 
        enhance activities to assist in the development and submittal 
        of claims for veterans' and veterans-related benefits, 
        including activities pursuant to cooperative agreements and 
        arrangements under subsection (c).
    ``(2) A State veterans agency receiving a grant under this 
subsection shall use the grant amount for purposes described in 
paragraph (1) by--
            ``(A) awarding a portion of such grant amount to local 
        governments of that State that provide veterans outreach 
        services, to be awarded on the basis of the number of veterans 
        residing in the jurisdiction of that local government;
            ``(B) awarding a portion of such grant amount to local 
        governments in that State seeking to establish a program of 
        outreach services; and
            ``(C) using the remainder for outreach activities of that 
        State veterans agency.
    ``(3) No portion of the amount of a grant to a State under this 
subsection may be used at the State level for the purpose of 
administering those funds.
    ``(4) Federal funds provided to a State by a grant under this 
subsection may not be used to provide more than 50 percent of the total 
cost of such State and local government activities and shall be used to 
expand existing outreach programs and services, not to supplant 
existing State and local funding. The Secretary shall allocate funds to 
the States for grants under this subsection on the basis of the veteran 
population of the respective States.
    ``(5)(A) In a case in which a unit of local government does not 
have a veteran services program, funds from a grants under this 
subsection may be used to establish such a program.
    ``(B) In a case in which a unit of local government does not have 
such a program and does not seek to establish such a program through 
assistance from a grant amount under this subsection, the State 
veterans agency may use funds available under this subsection to 
provide outreach services for that local government jurisdiction.
    ``(C) In the case of a State in which State and local government 
veteran service programs do not seek to receive a grant amount under 
this subsection, the funds for that State shall be reallocated to those 
States in which local government veteran service programs exist and 
have chosen to seek to receive a grant amount under this subsection.
    ``(6) Funds made available through a grant under this subsection 
may be used for education and training for State and local government 
employees who provide (or when trained will provide) veterans outreach 
services in order for those employees to obtain accreditation in 
accordance with procedures approved by the Secretary and, for employees 
so accredited, for purposes of continuing education.
    ``(7) In this subsection, the term `State veterans agency' means 
the element of the government of a State that has responsibility for 
programs and activities of that State government relating to veterans 
benefits.
``Sec. 563. Outreach activities: funding
    ``(a) Amounts for the outreach activities of the Department under 
this subchapter shall be budgeted and appropriated through a separate 
appropriation account.
    ``(b) In the budget justification materials submitted to Congress 
in support of the Department budget for any fiscal year (as submitted 
with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31), 
the Secretary shall include a separate statement of the amount 
requested to be appropriated for that fiscal year for the account 
specified in subsection (a).
``Sec. 564. Definition of outreach
    ``For purposes of this subchapter, the term `outreach' means the 
act or process of taking steps in a systematic manner to provide 
information, services, and benefits counseling to veterans, and the 
survivors of veterans, who may be eligible to receive benefits under 
the laws administered by the Secretary to ensure that those individuals 
are fully informed about, and assisted in applying for, any benefits 
and programs under such laws for which they may be eligible.
``Sec. 565. Authorization of appropriations
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 
purposes of carrying out this subchapter, including the making of 
grants under section 562(d) of this title, the amount of $25,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new items:
                  ``subchapter iv--outreach activities
``561. Outreach activities: coordination of activities within the 
                            Department.
``562. Outreach activities: cooperative activities with States; grants 
                            to States for improvement of outreach.
``563. Outreach activities: funding.
``564. Definition of outreach.
``565. Authorization of appropriations.''.
answer:

Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish, maintain, and modify as necessary procedures for ensuring the effective coordination of outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs between and among the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Public Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration.

Directs the Secretary to ensure that state and local outreach assistance is provided in locations that: (1) have relatively large concentrations of veterans; or (2) are experiencing growth in veteran populations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to state veterans agencies for state and local outreach services.