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: SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Postal Service Enhancement Act''.

                   TITLE I--RATEMAKING FLEXIBILITIES

SEC. 101. COMPETITIVE AND NONCOMPETITIVE PRODUCTS DEFINED.

    Section 102 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``and'' at the end of paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end 
of paragraph (4) and inserting a semicolon, and by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(5) `competitive product' refers to any postal product 
        which the Postal Rate Commission has determined, based on 
        appropriate economic factors prescribed by the Commission, 
        competes for business in a competitive market; and
            ``(6) `noncompetitive product' refers to any postal product 
        that is not a competitive product.''.

SEC. 102. RATES AND FEES FOR NONCOMPETITIVE PRODUCTS.

    (a) Current Ratemaking Procedures Cease To Apply With Respect to 
Competitive Products.--Section 3622(a) of title 39, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ``This section shall 
apply only in the case of noncompetitive products.''.
    (b) Prohibition on Subsidizing Competitive Products.--Section 
3622(b) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and'' 
at the end of paragraph (8), by redesignating paragraph (9) as 
paragraph (10), and by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
            ``(9) the requirement that no rate or fee for a 
        noncompetitive product shall subsidize any rate or fee for a 
        competitive product; and''.

SEC. 103. AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES FOR NONCOMPETITIVE PRODUCTS 
              INCREMENTALLY.

    Section 3624 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(e) If a request made by the Postal Service under section 3622 
proposes that one or more rates of postage or fees for postal services 
be changed incrementally, the recommended decision of the Commission 
may include provisions responsive to that proposal.''.

SEC. 104. NEGOTIATED SERVICE AGREEMENTS.

    Title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
3642 the following:
``Sec. 3643. Negotiated service agreements
    ``(a) The Postal Service may enter into negotiated service 
agreements with mail users under this section and in accordance with 
the policies of this title.
    ``(b) A negotiated service agreement may not be entered into unless 
each of the following conditions is met:
            ``(1) The agreement can reasonably be expected to result in 
        net benefits to the operation of a nationwide postal system.
            ``(2) The Postal Service remains willing and able to enter 
        into similar negotiated service agreements with other similarly 
        situated mail users (determined without regard to size).
            ``(3) Rates and fees payable during the term of the 
        negotiated service agreement are reasonably calculated to yield 
        to the Postal Service total revenues (after taking into account 
        any costs avoided, and any additional costs incurred, by the 
        Postal Service pursuant to the agreement) at least equal to the 
        revenues that would be generated over that same period of time 
        by application of the rate or rates chargeable under the 
        classification or classifications of mail service most similar 
        to the services performed under the agreement.
    ``(c) A negotiated service agreement that involves one or more 
noncompetitive products shall not become effective unless the Postal 
Rate Commission first certifies, in accordance with such expedited 
procedures as the Commission shall by regulation establish, that the 
agreement meets the requirements of this section. Certifications under 
this subsection may, notwithstanding section 3628, be appealed to any 
court of appeals of the United States.
    ``(d) For purposes of this section, the term `negotiated service 
agreement' means an agreement between a mail user and the Postal 
Service requiring performance by the mail user, the Postal Service, or 
both, of any combination of activities that, with respect to one or 
more classes of mail, differs significantly from those that would 
otherwise apply.''.

SEC. 105. COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS.

    Subchapter II of chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 3630. Competitive products
    ``(a) The Postal Service may offer competitive products under this 
section and in accordance with the policies of this title.
    ``(b) A competitive product may not be offered unless each of the 
following conditions is met:
            ``(1) The product can reasonably be expected to result in 
        net benefits to the operation of a nationwide postal system.
            ``(2) The rates or fees for the product--
                    ``(A) comply with the factors specified in section 
                3622(b); and
                    ``(B) are not subsidized by any rates or fees for 
                noncompetitive products.
    ``(c)(1) Interested parties who believe the Postal Service is 
offering a competitive product which does not conform to the policies 
set out in this title may lodge a complaint with the Postal Rate 
Commission in such form and in such manner as it may prescribe. The 
Commission may, in its discretion, hold hearings on such complaint and 
may issue an order providing for such interim relief as the Commission 
considers appropriate. The Commission shall issue an order deciding the 
complaint as expeditiously as possible.
    ``(2) The Postal Service shall comply with orders of the Commission 
under this subsection. Such orders may, notwithstanding section 3628, 
be appealed to any court of appeals of the United States.
    ``(3) Section 3662 shall not apply to complaints relating to 
competitive products.''.

SEC. 106. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) The heading for section 3622 of title 39, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 3622. Rates and fees for noncompetitive products''.
    (b) The table of sections for chapter 36 of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 3622 and 
        inserting the following:

``3622. Rates and fees for noncompetitive products.'';
            (2) by adding after the item relating to section 3629 the 
        following:

``3630. Competitive products.''; and
            (3) by inserting after the item relating to section 3642 
        the following:

``3643. Negotiated service agreements.''.

SEC. 107. SAVINGS PROVISIONS.

    (a) Postal Products; Rates and Fees.--Until otherwise provided in 
accordance with title 39, United States Code (as amended by this title 
or as deemed to have remained in effect under subsection (b), as the 
case may be)--
            (1) all postal products offered immediately before this Act 
        takes effect shall continue being offered; and
            (2) all rates and fees in effect under such title 
        immediately before this Act takes effect shall remain in 
        effect.
    (b) Proceedings Pending.--This title shall not affect any 
proceedings pending immediately before the date of enactment of this 
Act, and any such proceedings shall continue under applicable 
provisions of title 39, United States Code, as last in effect before 
such date of enactment, until completed or terminated in accordance 
therewith.

   TITLE II--NATIONAL COMMISSION ON POSTAL EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCEMENT

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``National 
Commission on Postal Efficiency and Enhancement'' (hereinafter in this 
title referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 202. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall review the present practices and 
organizational structure of the United States Postal Service, with a 
view toward identifying--
            (1) areas of inefficiency or waste; and
            (2) methods for improving operations involved in the 
        collection, processing, or delivery of mail.

SEC. 203. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 
members appointed by the President, except that of those members--
            (1) 2 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended 
        by the majority leader of the Senate; and
            (2) 2 shall be appointed from among individuals recommended 
        by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    (b) Qualifications.--An individual appointed to serve on the 
Commission shall have expertise in mail delivery, organizational 
efficiency, labor relations, or other relevant subject areas.
    (c) Initial Appointments.--It is the sense of the Congress that the 
members of the Commission should be appointed within 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Chairman.--The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated 
by the President.
    (e) Pay.--Members shall be paid at a rate to be established by the 
President, not to exceed the rate payable for level I of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 204. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--The Chairman of the Commission shall exercise the 
executive and administrative functions of the Commission, and may 
appoint such staff as may be necessary for the operation of the 
Commission.
    (b) Information From Agencies.--The Commission may secure from any 
department, agency, independent establishment, or other instrumentality 
of the United States, any information necessary to enable it to carry 
out its functions under this title. Upon receiving a request under the 
preceding sentence, the head of the instrumentality involved shall, to 
the extent authorized by law, furnish such information directly to the 
Commission.

SEC. 205. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    The Commission shall transmit to the President and the Congress, 
within 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, a report 
containing a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission, together with its recommendations for any legislation or 
administrative actions which the Commission considers appropriate.

SEC. 206. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate as of the date on which the work of 
the Commission has been completed.

     TITLE III--ENHANCED AUTHORITIES FOR THE POSTAL RATE COMMISSION

SEC. 301. ENHANCED AUTHORITIES.

    Section 3604 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(f)(1) Any Commissioner of the Postal Rate Commission, any 
administrative law judge appointed by the Commission under section 3105 
of title 5, and any employee of the Commission designated by the 
Commission, may administer oaths, examine witnesses, take depositions, 
and receive evidence.
    ``(2) The Chairman of the Commission, any Commissioner designated 
by the Chairman, and any administrative law judge appointed by the 
Commission under section 3105 of title 5 may, with respect to any 
proceeding conducted by the Commission under this title--
            ``(A) issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and 
        presentation of testimony, or the production of documentary or 
        other evidence in the possession, of any covered individual; 
        and
            ``(B) order the taking of depositions or responses to 
        written interrogatories by a covered individual.
    ``(3) In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena or 
order issued under this subsection, upon application by the Commission, 
the district court of the United States for the district in which the 
person to whom the subpoena or order is addressed resides or is served 
may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated 
place to testify or produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure 
to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a 
contempt thereof.
    ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `covered 
individual' means an officer or employee or agent of the Postal Service 
or of a contractor of the Postal Service.
    ``(g)(1) If the Postal Service determines that any testimony, 
document, or other matter provided pursuant to a subpoena or order 
issued under subsection (f), or otherwise provided by the Postal 
Service to the Postal Rate Commission in connection with any proceeding 
or other purpose under this title, contains information which is 
described in section 410(c) of this title, or exempt from public 
disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5, the Postal Service shall, 
at the time such matter is provided to the Commission, notify the 
Commission, in writing, of its determination (and the reasons 
therefor).
    ``(2) The Commission shall establish procedures for ensuring, where 
appropriate, the confidentiality of any information as to which it has 
been notified under paragraph (1).''.

A: (Sec. 104) Outlines conditions under which the Postal Service (Service) may enter into negotiated service agreements with mail users, including that: (1) the agreement will result in net benefits to the nationwide postal system; and (2) rates and fees payable under the agreement are calculated to yield revenues to the Service that are at least equal to revenues generated by rates chargeable for other mail services. Allows any such agreement that involves one or more noncompetitive products to be effective only after the Postal Rate Commission (Commission) first certifies that such agreement meets requirements applicable to all mail service agreements.
(Sec. 105) Outlines conditions under which the Service may offer competitive products. Provides conditions under which a party who believes that the Service is offering a competitive product which does not conform to such conditions may lodge a complaint with the Commission.
Title II: National Commission on Postal Efficiency and Enhancement
 - Establishes the National Commission on Postal Efficiency and Enhancement to review and report on the present practices and organizational structure of the Service, with a view toward identifying waste or inefficiency and improving the collection, processing, and delivery of mail.
Title III: Enhanced Authorities for the Postal Rate Commission
 - Authorizes any Commission commissioner, any administrative law judge appointed by the Commission, and any Commission employee to administer oaths, examine witnesses, take depositions, and receive evidence. Authorizes the Commission Chairman, any designated commissioner, or any Commission-appointed administrative law judge to issue subpoenas and order the taking of depositions or responses to written interrogatories.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Independent Ethics Commission Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an independent ethics 
commission within the House of Representatives to be known as the 
Independent Ethics Committee (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').
    (b) Membership and Terms of Office.--(1) The Commission shall 
consist of 9 commissioners, 4 appointed by the Speaker and 4 by the 
minority leader of the House, and one selected by the affirmative vote 
of two-thirds of the 8 appointed commissioners for a term of 5 years. 
No commissioner may serve for more than 5 years.
    (2) Commissioners shall be appointed for terms of 5 years, except 
that of the commissioners first appointed, 2 appointed by the Speaker 
and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 3-year terms and 2 appointed 
by the Speaker and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 4-year terms 
as designated by the Speaker and the minority leader at the time of 
appointment.
    (c) Qualifications.--Only former Federal judges shall be eligible 
for appointment to the Commission.
            (1) Disqualifications for appointments.--
                    (A) Lobbying.--No individual who has been a 
                lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
                of 1995 or engages in, or is otherwise employed in, 
                lobbying of the Congress or who is an agent of a 
                foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents 
                Registration Act within the 4-year period immediately 
                preceding appointment shall be eligible for appointment 
                to, or service on, the Commission.
                    (B) Incompatible office.--No member of the 
                Commission appointed under subsection (b) may be a 
                Member of the House of Representatives or Senator.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Compensation.--Members shall each be entitled to receive the 
daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay in effect for 
Level III of the Executive Schedule for each day (including travel 
time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties 
vested in the Commission.
    (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum.
    (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call a majority of 
its members.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Duties.--The Commission is authorized--
            (1) to receive, monitor, and oversee financial disclosure 
        and other reports filed by Members of the House and officers 
        and employees of the House under the Ethics in Government Act 
        of 1978, and reports filed by registered lobbyists under the 
        Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995;
            (2) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any 
        rule or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of 
        such Member, officer, or employee under House rules in the 
        performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
        responsibilities;
            (3) to present a case of probable ethics violations to the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (4) to make recommendations to the Committee on Standards 
        of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives that it 
        report to the appropriate Federal or State authorities any 
        substantial evidence of a violation by a Member, officer, or 
        employee of the House of Representatives of any law applicable 
        to the performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
        responsibilities, which may have been disclosed in an 
        investigation by the Office;
            (5) to provide information and informal guidance to 
        Members, officers and employees of the House of Representatives 
        regarding any rules and other standards of conduct applicable 
        to such individuals in their official capacities, and develop 
        and carry out periodic educational briefings for Members, 
        officers, and employees of the House of Representatives on 
        those laws, rules, regulations, or other standards; and
            (6) to give consideration to the request of any Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives for a 
        formal advisory opinion or other formal ruling, subject to the 
        review of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the 
        House of Representatives, as applicable, with respect to the 
        general propriety of any current or proposed conduct of such 
        Member, officer, or employee and, with appropriate deletions to 
        assure the privacy of the individual concerned, to publish such 
        opinion for the guidance of other Members, officers, and 
        employees of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission may for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act--
            (1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and 
        places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer 
        such oaths; and
            (2) subject to subsection (b), require, by subpoena or 
        otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and 
        the production of such books, records, correspondence, 
        memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission may 
        determine advisable.
    (b) Subpoenas.--A subpoena may be issued only with a majority of 
the Commission.
    (c) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall furnish 
information deemed necessary by the Commission to enable it to carry 
out its duties.
    (d) Referrals to the Department of Justice.--Whenever the 
Commission has reason to believe that a violation of the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995 may have occurred, that matter may be referred 
to the Department of Justice for it to investigate.
    (e) General Audits.--The Commission shall have the authority to 
conduct general audits of filings under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995.

SEC. 5. INVESTIGATIONS AND INTERACTION WITH THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON 
              STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) Notification.--Whenever the Commission determines that there 
are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation--
            (1) the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards 
        of Official Conduct of this determination;
            (2) the applicable committee may overrule the determination 
        of the Commission if, within 10 legislative days--
                    (A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote 
                of two-thirds of the full committee votes to overrule 
                the determination of the Commission;
                    (B) the committee issues a public report detailing 
                its reasoning for overruling the Commission;
                    (C) the vote of each member of the committee on 
                such roll-call vote is included in the report;
                    (D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their 
                own report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with 
                the majority vote; and
                    (E) if the committee votes to overrule the 
                determination of the Commission pursuant to 
                subparagraph (B), the Commission may publish and make 
                available to the general public a report detailing the 
                reasons that the Commission concluded there were 
                sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation.
    (b) Conducting Investigations.--(1) If the Commission determines 
that there are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation and his 
determination is not overruled under subsection (a)(5), the Commission 
shall conduct an investigation to determine if probable cause exists 
that a violation occurred.
    (2) As part of an investigation, the Commission may--
            (A) administer oaths;
            (B) issue subpoenas;
            (C) compel the attendance of witnesses and the production 
        of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony; and
            (D) take the deposition of witnesses.
    (3) If a person disobeys or refuses to comply with a subpoena, or 
if a witness refuses to testify to a matter, he may be held in contempt 
of Congress.
    (c) Presentation of Case to House Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct.--(1) If the Commission determines, upon conclusion of 
an investigation, that probable cause exists that an ethics violation 
has occurred, the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct of the House of Representatives of this determination.
    (2) The committee may overrule the determination of the Commission 
if, within 10 legislative days--
            (A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote of two-
        thirds of the full committee votes to overrule the 
        determination of the Commission;
            (B) the committee issues a public report detailing its 
        reasoning for overruling the Commission;
            (C) the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-
        call vote is included in the report; and
            (D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their own 
        report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with the 
        majority vote.
    (3) If the committee votes to overrule the determination of the 
Commission pursuant to paragraph (2), the Commission may publish and 
make available to the general public a report detailing the reasons 
that he concluded there were sufficient grounds to present such case to 
the committee.
    (4)(A) If the Commission determines there is probable cause that an 
ethics violation has occurred and the Commission's determination is not 
overruled, the Commission shall present the case and evidence to the 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives to hear and make a determination pursuant to its rules.
    (B) The committee shall vote upon whether the individual who is the 
subject of the investigation has violated any rules or other standards 
of conduct applicable to that individual in his official capacity. Such 
votes shall be a roll-call vote of the full committee, a quorum being 
present. The committee shall issue a public report which shall include 
the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-call vote. 
Dissenting members may issue their own report detailing their own 
reasons for disagreeing with the majority vote.
    (d) Sanctions.--Whenever the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct of the House of Representatives finds that an ethics violation 
has occurred the Commission shall recommend appropriate sanctions to 
the committee and whether a matter should be referred to the Department 
of Justice for investigation.

SEC. 6. PROCEDURAL RULES.

    (a) Majority Approval.--No report or recommendation relating to the 
official conduct of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of 
Representatives shall be made by the Commission, and no investigation 
of such conduct shall be undertaken by the Commission, unless approved 
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission.
    (b) Investigations.--Except in the case of an investigation 
undertaken by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission may 
undertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of an 
individual Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives 
only--
            (1) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, 
        made by or submitted to a Member of the House of 
        Representatives and transmitted to the Commission by such 
        Member, or
            (2) upon receipt of a complaint from the chairman of the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
        Representatives, in writing and under oath, made by that 
        committee.
    (c) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall 
be undertaken by the Commission of any alleged violation of a law, 
rule, regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of 
the alleged violation.
    (d) Disclosure.--No information or testimony received, or the 
contents of a complaint or the fact of its filing, shall be publicly 
disclosed by any member of the Commission or staff of the Commission 
unless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the 
Commission.

SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff 
as the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties. The 
Commission shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and minority 
leader and shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay 
payable for Level III of the Executive Schedule.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF 
              THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) House Rules Amendments.--Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives is amended as follows:
            (1) In paragraph (a), strike subparagraphs (1), (2), and 
        (3), and redesignate subparagraphs (4), (5), and (6), as 
        subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.
            (2)(A) Paragraph (b)(1) is amended by striking ``(A)'', by 
        striking ``a resolution, report, recommendation, or'' and 
        inserting ``an'', and by striking ``, or, except as provided in 
        subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation'', and by striking 
        subdivision (B).
            (B) Paragraph (b) is further amended by striking 
        subparagraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) and by redesignating 
        subparagraphs (6) and (7) as subparagraphs (2) and (3), 
        respectively.
            (3) Strike paragraphs (j) (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), and 
        (q).
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of 
1989 (2 U.S.C. 29d) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d).

SEC. 9. ACTION ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) Printing of Reports in Congressional Record.--Upon receipt by 
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives of any report of the Commission, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives shall have the report printed in the 
Congressional Record.
    (b) House Consideration of Independent Ethics Commission 
Recommendations.--Within 14 calendar days after a report referred to in 
subsection (a) is printed in the Congressional Record, that portion of 
the report recommending action by the House of Representatives 
respecting any alleged violation, by a Member, officer, or employee of 
the House of Representatives, of any law, rule, regulation, or other 
standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member, officer, 
or employee in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
responsibilities shall be introduced (by request) in the House by the 
Speaker of the House, for himself and the minority leader of the House 
in the form of a resolution. This resolution shall constitute a 
question of privilege under rule IX of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives. Any Member favoring the resolution may call it up as a 
question of privilege but only on the third day after the calendar date 
upon which such Member announces to the House his intention to do so.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect upon the date of its enactment, except 
that sections 3, 4, and 8 shall not take effect immediately prior to 
noon January 3, 2009.

A: Independent Ethics Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes within the House of Representatives an Independent Ethics Commission composed only of former federal judges.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicaid and SCHIP Abuse Prevention 
Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. SCHIP AND MEDICAID GROSS INCOME ELIGIBILITY CEILING.

    (a) Application of SCHIP Eligibility Ceiling.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2110 of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1397jj) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(1)--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of 
                        subparagraph (B);
                            (ii) by striking the period at the end of 
                        subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following 
                        new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) whose gross family income (as defined in 
                subsection (c)(9)) does not exceed 250 percent of the 
                poverty line.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
                following new paragraph:
            ``(9) Gross family income.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                term `gross family income' means, with respect to an 
                individual, gross income (as defined by the Secretary 
                in regulations) for the members of the individual's 
                family. For purposes of the previous sentence, in 
                defining `gross income' the Secretary shall, to the 
                maximum extent practicable, include income from 
                whatever source, other than amounts deducted under 
                section 62(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                    ``(B) Income disregards authorized.--A State may 
                provide, through a State plan amendment and with the 
                approval of the Secretary, for the disregard from gross 
                family income of one or more amounts so long as the 
                total amount of such disregards for a family does not 
                exceed $250 per month, or $3,000 per year.''.
            (2) Denial of federal matching payments for state schip 
        expenditures for individuals with gross family income above 250 
        percent of the poverty line.--Section 2105(c) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(c)) is amended by adding at the 
        end the following new paragraph:
            ``(8) Denial of payments for expenditures for child health 
        assistance for individuals whose gross family income exceeds 
        250 percent of the poverty line.--No payment may be made under 
        this section, for any expenditures for providing child health 
        assistance or health benefits coverage under a State child 
        health plan under this title, including under a waiver under 
        section 1115, with respect to an individual whose gross family 
        income (as defined in section 2110(c)(9)) exceeds 250 percent 
        of the poverty line.''.
            (3) Conforming amendment to maintenance of effort.--Section 
        2105(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(d)(1)) is amended by 
        inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, 
        unless such income standards were adopted in order to comply 
        with the requirements of section 1939''.
    (b) Medicaid Gross Income Eligibility Ceiling.--
            (1) In general.--Title XIX of the Social Security Act is 
        amended by redesignating section 1939 as section 1940 and by 
        inserting after section 1940 the following new section:

``SEC. 1939. INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMITATION.

    ``Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no individual 
with gross family income (as defined in section 2110(c)(9)) that 
exceeds 250 percent of the poverty line shall be eligible to receive 
medical assistance under a State plan under this title, including under 
a waiver under section 1915 or 1115.''.
            (2) Denial of federal matching payments for state 
        expenditures for medical assistance for individuals whose gross 
        family income exceeds 250 percent of the federal poverty 
        line.--Section 1903(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(i)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (22) by striking ``or'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (23) by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (23) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(24) if a State fails to comply with the provisions of 
        section 1939, with respect to amounts expended by a State for 
        medical assistance for individuals to whom the income 
        eligibility limitation under such section applies.''.
            (3) Medicaid state plan requirements.--Section 1902(a) of 
        such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (69) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (70) by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (70) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(71) provide that the State complies with the 
        requirements of section 1939.''.
            (4) Conforming amendment relating to income eligibility.--
        Section 1903(f)(1)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(f)(1)(A)) is 
        amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
        following: ``, if such payments are not otherwise prohibited 
        under subsection (i)(24),''.
    (c) Effective Date; Transition.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments 
        made by this section shall apply to payments made for items and 
        services furnished on or after the first day of the first 
        calendar quarter beginning more than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Transition.--The amendments made by--
                    (A)(i) subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to an 
                individual who was receiving, or was determined 
                eligible to receive, child health assistance or health 
                benefits coverage under a State child health plan under 
                title XXI of the Social Security Act, including under a 
                waiver under section 1115 of such Act, as of the day 
                before the date of the enactment of this Act, until 
                such date as the individual is determined ineligible 
                using income standards or methodologies in place as of 
                the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; 
                and
                    (ii) subsection (a)(2) shall not apply to payment 
                for items and services furnished to an individual 
                described in clause (i);
                    (B)(i) subsection (b)(1) shall not apply to an 
                individual who was receiving, or was determined 
                eligible to receive, medical assistance or health 
                benefits coverage under a State plan under title XIX of 
                the Social Security Act, including under a waiver under 
                section 1115 of such Act, as of the day before the date 
                of the enactment of this Act, until such date as the 
                individual is determined ineligible using income 
                standards or methodologies in place as of the day 
                before the date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (ii) subsection (b)(2) shall not apply to payment 
                for items and services furnished to an individual 
                described in clause (i).

A:
Medicaid and SCHIP Abuse Prevention Act of 2008 - Amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to place a ceiling on an invidiual's eligibility for Medicaid and SCHIP benefits at a gross family income that is not more than 250% of the poverty level.
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