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

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mercury Pollution Reduction Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) mercury and mercury compounds are highly toxic to 
        humans, ecosystems, and wildlife;
            (2) as many as 10 percent of women in the United States of 
        childbearing age have mercury in their bloodstreams at a level 
        that could pose risks to their unborn babies, and hundreds of 
        thousands of children born annually in the United States are at 
        risk of neurological problems relating to mercury exposure in 
        utero;
            (3) the most significant source of mercury exposure to 
        people in the United States is ingestion of mercury-
        contaminated fish;
            (4) the long-term solution to mercury pollution is to 
        minimize global mercury use and releases of mercury to 
        eventually achieve reduced contamination levels in the 
        environment, rather than reducing fish consumption, since 
        uncontaminated fish represents a critical and healthy source of 
        nutrition for people worldwide;
            (5) mercury pollution is a transboundary pollutant that--
                    (A) is deposited locally, regionally, and globally; 
                and
                    (B) affects bodies of water near industrial areas, 
                such as the Great Lakes, as well as bodies of water in 
                remote areas, such as the Arctic Circle;
            (6) of the approximately 30 plants in the United States 
        that produce chlorine, only 7 use the obsolete ``mercury cell'' 
        chlor-alkali process, and 4 have not yet committed to phasing 
        out mercury use;
            (7)(A) less than 5 percent of the total quantity of 
        chlorine and caustic soda produced in the United States comes 
        from the chlor-alkali plants described in paragraph (6) that 
        use the mercury cell chlor-alkali process;
            (B) cost-effective alternatives are available and in use in 
        the remaining 95 percent of chlorine and caustic soda 
        production; and
            (C) other countries, including Japan, have already banned 
        the mercury cell chlor-alkali process;
            (8) the chlor-alkali industry acknowledges that--
                    (A) mercury can contaminate products manufactured 
                at mercury cell facilities; and
                    (B) the use of some of those products results in 
                the direct and indirect release of mercury;
            (9) despite those quantities of mercury known to have been 
        used or to be in use, neither the chlor-alkali industry nor the 
        Environmental Protection Agency is able--
                    (A) to adequately account for the disposition of 
                the mercury used at those facilities; or
                    (B) to accurately estimate current mercury 
                emissions; and
            (10) it is critically important that the United States work 
        aggressively toward the minimization of supply, demand, and 
        releases of mercury, both domestically and internationally.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    Congress declares that the United States should develop policies 
and programs that will--
            (1) reduce mercury use and emissions within the United 
        States;
            (2) reduce mercury releases from the reservoir of mercury 
        currently in use or circulation within the United States; and
            (3) reduce exposures to mercury, particularly exposures of 
        women of childbearing age and young children.

SEC. 4. USE OF MERCURY IN CHLORINE AND CAUSTIC SODA MANUFACTURING.

    (a) In General.--Title I of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 
U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 6 the 
following:

``SEC. 6A. USE OF MERCURY IN CHLORINE AND CAUSTIC SODA MANUFACTURING.

    ``(a) Definition of Chlor-alkali Facility.--In this section, the 
term `chlor-alkali facility' means a facility used for the manufacture 
of chlorine or caustic soda using a mercury cell process.
    ``(b) Prohibition.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        subsection, it shall be unlawful to manufacture chlorine or 
        caustic soda using mercury cells at any facility in the United 
        States.
            ``(2) Notice.--The owner or operator of any existing chlor-
        alkali facility shall notify the Administrator no later than 
        June 30, 2012, whether it will--
                    ``(A) replace its chlor-alkali facility with a new 
                manufacturing facility that does not use mercury; or
                    ``(B) cease operations.
            ``(3) Closure.--A chlor-alkali facility for which a closure 
        notice is filed under paragraph (2)(B) shall cease 
        manufacturing chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells no 
        later than June 30, 2013.
            ``(4) Replacement.--A chlor-alkali facility for which a 
        replacement notice is filed under paragraph (2)(A) may continue 
        to manufacture chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells 
        until all of the permitting, financing, engineering, and 
        construction of a non-mercury replacement facility is complete, 
        or June 30, 2015, whichever is earlier.
    ``(c) Export Ban.--Effective on the date of the enactment of this 
section, the export of any elemental mercury or the sale of elemental 
mercury for purposes of export, including compounds and mixtures 
containing elemental mercury, by the owner or operator of a chlor-
alkali facility is prohibited.
    ``(d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section affects the 
ability of the owner or operator of any chlor-alkali facility to store 
elemental mercury in accordance with section 5(g)(2) of the Mercury 
Export Ban Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 6939f).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) The table of contents of the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 note) is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 6 the following:

``Sec. 6A. Use of mercury in chlorine and caustic soda 
                            manufacturing.''.
    (2) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 15 of such Act are each 
amended by striking ``or 6'' and inserting ``, 6 or 6A''.
[EX A]: Mercury Pollution Reduction Act - Declares that the United States should develop policies and programs that will reduce: (1) mercury use and emissions; (2) mercury releases from the reservoir of mercury currently in use or circulation; and (3) exposures to mercury, particularly of women of childbearing age and young children.

Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit: (1) the manufacture of chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells at any facility in the United States; and (2) the export of any elemental mercury or the sale of elemental mercury for purposes of export, including compounds and mixtures containing elemental mercury, by the owner or operator of a chlor-alkali facility.

Requires the owner or operator of any existing chlor-alkali facility to notify the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) no later than June 30, 2012, on whether the owner or operator will replace its chlor-alkali facility with a new manufacturing facility that does not use mercury or cease operations. Requires a chlor-alkali facility for which a closure notice is filed to cease manufacturing chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells no later than June 30, 2013. Authorizes a chlor-alkali facility for which a replacement notice is filed to continue to manufacture chlorine or caustic soda using mercury cells until all of the permitting, financing, engineering, and construction of a non-mercury replacement facility is complete or June 30, 2015, whichever is earlier.

Provides that this Act does not affect the ability of the owner or operator of any chlor-alkali facility to store elemental mercury in accordance with the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Humanitarian Exports Leading to 
Peace Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Iraqi people suffered under a decade of war and 
        continue to suffer under a repressive regime and the most 
        comprehensive economic sanctions ever imposed on any country.
            (2) The economic sanctions have caused extraordinary 
        hardship on the people of Iraq and failed to weaken the 
        leadership of Iraq, and have undermined the institutions of 
        civil society which are necessary for democratic political 
        life.
            (3) The investigative panel established by the United 
        Nations Security Council and other independent bodies have 
        confirmed that the United Nations Oil-for-Food program has 
        failed to adequately meet the needs of the Iraqi people.
            (4) According to the United States Department of 
        Agriculture, Iraq represents a potential market for nearly 
        $1,000,000,000 in agricultural products from the United States.
            (5) The sanctions regime continues to harm the Iraqi 
        population for the crimes of its leaders and has not served 
        either the goal of the United States of punishing Iraq's 
        leaders or disarming weapons of mass destruction.
            (6) Rigorous weapons inspections and adequate provision for 
        civilian needs in Iraq are not mutually exclusive.
            (7) The devastating effect of the economic sanctions on 
        Iraq has been reported by numerous international and 
        independent bodies, including the following:
                    (A) The Center for Economic and Social Rights of 
                the United Nations documented dramatic increases in 
                malnutrition and disease, leading to the deaths of 
                hundreds of thousands of children under the age of 5 
                since 1991.
                    (B) UNICEF reported in 1995 that ``no significant 
                movement towards food security can be achieved so long 
                as the embargo remains in place''. Further, despite the 
                Oil-for-Food Program, UNICEF reported in July 1999 
                survey findings that ``Both the infant mortality rate 
                and the under-five mortality rate consistently show a 
                major increase in mortality over the 10 years preceding 
                the survey. More specifically, the results show that 
                the infant mortality rate has increased from 47 deaths 
                per 1,000 live births for the period 1984-89, to 108 
                deaths per 1,000 live births for the period 1994-99.''.
                    (C) A report authorized by the United National 
                Security Council on March 30, 1999, found that ``the 
                gravity of the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi 
                people is indisputable and cannot be overstated.''. 
                Further, it emphasized that ``Even if not all suffering 
                in Iraq can be imputed to external factors, especially 
                sanctions, the Iraqi people would not be undergoing 
                such deprivations in the absence of the prolonged 
                measures imposed by the Security Council and the 
                effects of the war''.
                    (D) UNICEF and the World Food Program found in 1997 
                that ``One out of every 4 young Iraqi children is 
                malnourished. More than 750,000 children are suffering 
                from malnutrition''.

SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE WITH IRAQ 
              TO ALLOW FOR THE EXPORT OF FOOD, MEDICINES, AND CERTAIN 
              OTHER PRODUCTS.

    The sanctions applied with respect to Iraq under the Iraq Sanctions 
Act of 1990 (sections 586-586J of the Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991 (Public Law 
101-513)) or any other provision of law shall not apply with respect to 
the export to Iraq of any food or other agricultural products 
(including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical 
instruments, or medical equipment, or with respect to travel incident 
to the sale or delivery to Iraq of food or other agricultural products 
(including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical 
instruments, or medical equipment.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION BY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

    (a) Administration by Secretary of Commerce.--The Secretary of 
Commerce shall exercise the authorities of the Export Administration 
Act of 1979, as in effect pursuant to the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act, to carry out section 3, except that--
            (1) the Secretary may not require a license for the export 
        of any of the items to which section 3 applies; but
            (2) the Secretary shall require persons exporting such 
        items to notify the Secretary of such exports.
    (b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Commerce shall issue such 
regulations as are necessary to carry out section 3.

SEC. 5. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    Section 906(a)(1) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export 
Enhancement Act of 2000 (title IX of H.R. 5426 of the 106th Congress, 
as enacted into law by section 1(a) of Public Law 106-387) is amended 
by inserting ``(other than Iraq)'' after ``government of a country''.

SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the United States Government 
should take all necessary steps to end the suffering of innocent 
populations, primarily children and the elderly, by allowing the free 
flow of humanitarian aid to Iraq without threat of prosecution. Such 
steps should include, but not be limited to, using its position as a 
permanent member of the United Nations Security Council--
            (1) to lift the economic sanctions on Iraq so as to allow 
        exports and travel referred to in section 3; and
            (2) to recommend a ban on transfers of weapons to Iraq by 
        countries that are members of the United Nations.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall transmit to the Congress a report that sets 
forth--
            (1) the extent (expressed in volume and dollar amounts) of 
        sales to Iraq of food and other agricultural products 
        (including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical 
        instruments, and medical equipment, since the enactment of this 
        Act;
            (2) the impact the exports have had on food security in 
        Iraq;
            (3) a description of the types and end users of the goods 
        so exported;
            (4) whether there has been any indication that any 
        medicines, medical supplies, medical instruments, or medical 
        equipment exported to Iraq since the enactment of this Act--
                    (A) have been diverted by the Government of Iraq or 
                any other third party from the intended recipients; or
                    (B) have been used for any unintended 
                nonhumanitarian or dual-use purposes; and
            (5) what steps the United States has taken through the 
        United Nations, with the cooperation of Security Council 
        members, to--
                    (A) lift nonmilitary sanctions on Iraq, including 
                actions described in section 6; or
                    (B) impose a strict regional arms control regime 
                pursuant to Article 14 of Security Council Resolution 
                687.
[EX A]: Humanitarian Exports Leading to Peace Act of 2001 - Declares that certain sanctions prohibiting trade with Iraq under the Iraq Sanctions Act of 1990 or any other provision of law shall not apply with respect to the export of any food or other agricultural products (including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical instruments, or medical equipment, or with respect to travel incident to the sale or delivery of such items.Directs the Secretary of Commerce to exercise the authorities of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (as in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) to carry out this Act; except that the Secretary may not require a license for the export of humanitarian assistance, but shall require persons to notify the Secretary when exporting such assistance.Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to repeal a specified section prohibiting the export to Iraq of agricultural commodities (including the financing of their sale), medicine, or medical devices, and travel (effectively allowing the export of such commodities and travel to such country).Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Government should take all necessary steps to end the suffering of innocent populations, primarily children and the elderly, by allowing the free flow of humanitarian aid to Iraq without threat of prosecution. Urges the U.S. Government to use its position as a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council to lift the economic sanctions on Iraq so as to allow such exports and travel there, and to recommend a ban on transfers of weapons to such country by countries that are members of the UN.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Quiet Communities Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that:
            (1) Approximately 28,000,000 people of the United States 
        are afflicted with hearing loss, and it has been estimated that 
        10,000,000 of these hearing impairments are at least partially 
        attributable to damage from exposure to noise.
            (2) For millions of people of the United States, noise from 
        aircraft, vehicular traffic, and a variety of other sources is 
        a constant source of torment. Millions of people of the United 
        States are exposed to noise levels that can lead to sleep loss, 
        psychological and physiological damage, and work disruption.
            (3) Chronic exposure to noise has been linked to an 
        increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, learning deficits 
        in children, stress, and a diminished quality of life.
            (4) Sleep deprivation and task interruptions caused by 
        excessive noise can result in untold costs to society through 
        diminished worker productivity.
            (5) Under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), the 
        Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.), and the 
        Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-609; 92 Stat. 
        3079), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
        established an Office of Noise Abatement and Control. Before 
        the termination of the Office, the duties of the Office 
        included--
                    (A) the promulgation of noise emission standards;
                    (B) the enforcement of relevant product labeling 
                requirements;
                    (C) the facilitation of the development of low 
                emission products;
                    (D) the coordination of Federal noise reduction 
                programs;
                    (E) the provision of assistance to State and local 
                abatement efforts; and
                    (F) the promotion of noise education and research.
            (6) Funding for the Office was terminated in 1982 and no 
        funds have been provided since that year.
            (7) Noise abatement programs throughout the United States 
        lie dormant because--
                    (A) funding for the enforcement of regulations 
                promulgated under the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 
                U.S.C. 4901 et seq.) was terminated, although the 
                Administrator remains legally responsible for the 
                enforcement of the regulations; and
                    (B) the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 
                et seq.) prohibits State and local governments from 
                regulating noise sources in many situations.
            (8) As population growth and air and vehicular traffic 
        continue to increase, noise pollution is likely to become an 
        even greater problem in the future. The health and welfare of 
        the people of the United States demands that the Administrator, 
        as the head of the lead Federal agency for the protection of 
        public health and welfare, once again assume a role in 
        combating noise pollution.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of Noise 
        Abatement and Control.

SEC. 4. REESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE.

    (a) Reestablishment.--The Administrator shall reestablish within 
the Environmental Protection Agency the Office.
    (b) Duties.--The Office shall--
            (1) promote the development of effective State and local 
        noise control programs by providing States with technical 
        assistance and grants to develop the programs, including the 
        purchase of equipment for local communities;
            (2) carry out a national noise control research program to 
        assess the impacts of noise from varied noise sources on mental 
        and physical health;
            (3) carry out a national noise environmental assessment 
        program--
                    (A) to identify trends in noise exposure and 
                response, ambient levels, and compliance data; and
                    (B) to determine the effectiveness of noise 
                abatement actions, including actions for areas around 
                major transportation facilities (such as highways, 
                railroad facilities, and airports);
            (4) develop and disseminate information and educational 
        materials about the mental and physical effects of noise and 
        the most effective means for noise control to the public 
        through the use of materials for school curricula, volunteer 
        organizations, radio and television programs, publications, and 
        other means, as determined by the Administrator;
            (5) develop educational and training materials and 
        programs, including national and regional workshops, to support 
        State and local noise abatement and control programs;
            (6) establish regional technical assistance centers which 
        use the capabilities of university and private organizations to 
        assist State and local noise control programs;
            (7) assess of the effectiveness of the Noise Control Act of 
        1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.); and
            (8) carry out other activities, as determined by the 
        Administrator.
    (c) Preferred Approaches.--In carrying out duties described in 
subsection (b), the Office shall emphasize noise abatement approaches 
that rely on--
            (1) local and State activities;
            (2) market incentives; and
            (3) coordination with other public and private agencies.
    (d) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall enter into one or 
        more contracts or other agreements with independent scientists 
        who have expertise in noise measurements, noise effects, and 
        noise abatement techniques to carry out a study of airport 
        noise.
            (2) Contents.--The study described in paragraph (1) shall 
        examine--
                    (A) the selection of noise measurement 
                methodologies by the Federal Aviation Administration;
                    (B) the threshold of noise at which humans 
                experience health impacts; and
                    (C) the effectiveness of noise abatement programs 
                at airports throughout the United States.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to 
        Congress a report that describes--
                    (A) the results of the study described in paragraph 
                (1); and
                    (B) specific recommendations for new measures to 
                mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on communities 
                located near airports.
            (4) Funding.--The study described in paragraph (1) shall be 
        carried out with funds made available to the Office under 
        section 6.

SEC. 5. QUIET COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GRANTS.

    Section 14(c)(1) of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 
4913(c)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) establishing and implementing training 
                programs on the use of noise abatement equipment; and
                    ``(F) implementing noise abatement plans;''.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$21,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021.
[EX A]:
Quiet Communities Act of 2016 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control; and (2) arrange for independent scientists who have expertise in noise measurements, noise effects, and noise abatement techniques to carry out a study of airport noise. The Quiet Communities Program must include: (1) establishing and implementing training programs on the use of noise abatement equipment, and (2) implementing noise abatement plans.