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

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Center for Excellence in 
Research and Development Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Due to the end of the Cold War, the United States has 
        not recently conducted underground nuclear testing at the 
        Department of Energy facility known as the Nevada Test Site, 
        Nevada, and the United States does not plan to conduct such 
        testing in the foreseeable future.
            (2) Because the world political situation is ever-changing 
        and dangerous, it is imperative that the United States remain 
        strong militarily and continue to be a nuclear superpower.
            (3) It is imperative that portions of the Nevada Test Site 
        be maintained in a full state of readiness to ensure the 
        capability of the nuclear arsenal of the United States.
            (4) The Nevada Test Site is in a beneficial location for 
        activities suitable for research and development of emerging 
        technologies that will be important to the United States in the 
        21st century.
            (5) Technology development carried out at the Nevada Test 
        Site should include both private-sector and military projects.
            (6) The Nevada Test Site can support the stewardship of the 
        Nation's nuclear weapons stockpile, the nonproliferation of 
        nuclear weapons, and the technological competitiveness of the 
        United States by providing the environment for nuclear and non-
        nuclear test and demonstration experiments and projects for 
        government, industry, and academia.
            (7) The Nevada Test Site can provide the infrastructure to 
        support industrial and civilian tests of environmentally 
        demanding projects and programs in addition to maintaining its 
        readiness capability in support of the nuclear arsenal.
            (8) The Nevada Test Site can support the testing and 
        demonstration of environmental clean-up technologies by 
        government and industry.
            (9) The Nevada Test Site can support the testing of 
        alternative and renewable energy sources for environmentally 
        clean and economically competitive replacements for traditional 
        fossil energy sources and uses in many parts of Nevada and in 
        the United States as a whole.
            (10) The Nevada Test Site can provide support for 
        disarmament activities such as the demonstration of rocket 
        motor destruction technology and conventional munitions 
        destruction technology.
            (11) The Nevada Test Site can support non-proliferation 
        experiments in disablement, nuclear forensics, sensors, and 
        verification and monitoring.
            (12) The Nevada Test Site can support treaty-compliant 
        experiments for stockpile stewardship purposes.
            (13) The size and remoteness of the Nevada Test Site make 
        the Nevada Test Site well-suited for a multitude of activities 
        associated with the restructuring of the United States 
        military.
            (14) The Nevada Test Site can also support non-
        proliferation, counter-proliferation, and counter-terrorism 
        activities.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to ensure full operational readiness of the underground 
        nuclear testing facilities and infrastructure of the Nevada 
        Test Site;
            (2) to ensure an appropriate level of funds for such 
        readiness to be maintained;
            (3) to create a National Test and Demonstration Center of 
        Excellence at the Nevada Test Site for the promotion of 
        disarmament, demilitarization, alternative and renewable energy 
        sources, the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, counter-
        proliferation of nuclear weapons, sensor development, and 
        environmentally sensitive technologies; and
            (4) to ensure the availability of the Nevada Test Site, 
        within appropriate restrictions, for use by private-sector 
        industries seeking to make use of the inherent qualities that 
        make the Nevada Test Site the greatest outdoor laboratory in 
        the world.

SEC. 4. MAINTENANCE OF READINESS CAPABILITY OF NEVADA TEST SITE.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--The amount referred to in paragraph (2) is 
        hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy 
        for fiscal year 1995 and each fiscal year thereafter to 
        maintain the operational readiness of the underground nuclear 
        testing facilities and infrastructure of the Nevada Test Site.
            (2) Authorized amount.--The amount referred to in paragraph 
        (1) is not less than the amount appropriated to the Secretary 
        of Energy for fiscal year 1992 to maintain the operational 
        readiness of the underground nuclear testing facilities and 
        infrastructure of the Nevada Test Site.
    (b) Staffing Levels.--The Secretary of Energy shall maintain a 
staffing level at the Nevada Test Site that the Secretary considers 
sufficient to carry out activities under this Act in addition to any 
other activities conducted by the Department of Energy at the Nevada 
Test Site.
    (c) Infrastructure Assessments and Activities.--The Secretary of 
Energy, through the Nevada Test Site Operations Office, shall carry out 
any infrastructure assessments and activities necessary to accommodate 
new projects and initiatives at the Nevada Test Site.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL TEST AND DEMONSTRATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the 
Department of Energy a National Test and Demonstration Center of 
Excellence (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Center''), to be 
located at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada.
    (b) Purpose.--It shall be the purpose of the Center to promote 
disarmament, demilitarization, alternative and renewable energy 
sources, the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, counter-proliferation 
of nuclear weapons, sensor development, and environmentally sensitive 
technologies.
    (c) Activities Related to Alternative and Renewable Energy 
Sources.--The Center shall carry out the following testing and 
demonstration activities that are related to alternative and renewable 
energy sources:
            (1) The characterization of solar and geothermal resources 
        at the Nevada Test Site.
            (2) The development of alternative and renewable energy 
        sources, including, as a goal of the Center, the development 
        and completion of two 100-megawatt solar power plants by the 
        year 2000.
            (3) The conduct of a National Alternative-Fueled Vehicles 
        Program, the objective of which shall be to demonstrate the 
        regional use of natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen as 
        vehicle fuels.
    (d) Activities Related to Disarmament and Demilitarization.--The 
Center shall carry out testing and demonstration activities that are 
related to changes occurring in United States military as a result of 
the end of the Cold War, including activities--
            (1) that involve the demilitarization of large rocket motor 
        and conventional ordnance;
            (2) that assist in disarmament and demilitarization, 
        generally; and
            (3) that test and demonstrate the nonmilitary application 
        of technologies and resources the military application of which 
        has decreased or otherwise changed due to disarmament and 
        demilitarization.
    (e) Activities Related to Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship.--The 
Center shall carry out testing and demonstration activities related to 
the stewardship of the nuclear stockpile of the United States. Such 
activities shall include--
            (1) the conduct of experiments that assist in monitoring 
        compliance with international agreements on the 
        nonproliferation of nuclear weapons;
            (2) the provision of support to the Department of Energy 
        nuclear weapons complex;
            (3) the conduct of programs for the Department of Energy 
        and the Department of Defense to develop simulator technologies 
        for nuclear weapons design and effects, including advanced 
        hydrodynamic simulators, inertial confinement fusion test 
        facilities, and nuclear weapons effects simulators; and
            (4) the conduct of the stockpile stewardship program 
        established pursuant to section 3138 of the National Defense 
        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (107 Stat. 1946; Public 
        Law 103-160).
    (f) Activities Related to Nonproliferation.--The Center shall carry 
out experiments related to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, 
including experiments with respect to disablement, nuclear forensics, 
sensors, and verification and monitoring.
    (g) Activities Related to Counter-Proliferation.--The Center shall 
carry out experiments related to the counter-proliferation of nuclear 
weapons.
    (h) Activities Related to Environmental Technologies.--The Center 
shall carry out testing and demonstration activities related to the 
development of environmental technologies, including--
            (1) the demonstration of technologies concerning the 
        remediation of toxic and hazardous chemicals; and
            (2) the conduct of training activities pertaining to 
        emergency response to hazardous and toxic accidents and 
        emergencies.
    (i) Other Activities.--The Center may carry out the testing and 
demonstration of any other technology which, in the determination of 
the Secretary of Energy, is appropriate for testing and demonstration 
at the Nevada Test Site.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Except as provided in section 4, there is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for fiscal year 1997 such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
Example Output: National Center for Excellence in Research and Development Act of 1996 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Energy for FY 1995 and beyond to maintain the operational readiness of the underground nuclear testing facilities and infrastructure of the Nevada Test Site. 
Establishes within the Department of Energy a national Test and Demonstration Center of Excellence at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada, to implement testing and demonstration activities related to:  (1) certain alternative and renewable energy sources, including solar and geothermal energy, as well as natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen as components of a National Alternative-Fueled Vehicles Program; (2) certain changes in the U.S. military as a result of the end of the Cold War, including demilitarization and disarmament activities and the nonmilitary application of military technologies and resources; (3) stewardship of the Federal nuclear stockpile; (4) non-proliferation and counter-proliferation of nuclear weapons; and (5) development of certain environmental technologies, including technologies for remediation of toxic and hazardous chemicals, and activities pertaining to emergency response to hazardous and toxic accidents.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Border Security Enhancement Act of 
2006''.

                TITLE I--ALIEN SMUGGLER PROSECUTION ACT

SEC. 101. EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION OF ALIEN SMUGGLERS.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Recent experience shows that alien smuggling is 
        flourishing, is increasingly violent, and is highly profitable.
            (2) Alien smuggling operations also present terrorist and 
        criminal organizations with opportunities for smuggling their 
        members into the United States practically at will.
            (3) Alien smuggling is a lucrative business. Each year, 
        criminal organizations that smuggle or traffic in persons are 
        estimated to generate $9,500,000,000 in revenue worldwide.
            (4) Alien smuggling frequently involves dangerous and 
        inhumane conditions for smuggled aliens. Migrants are 
        frequently abused or exploited, both during their journey and 
        upon reaching the United States. Consequently, aliens smuggled 
        into the United States are at significant risk of physical 
        injury, abuse, and death.
            (5) Notwithstanding that alien smuggling poses a risk to 
        the United States as a whole, uniform guidelines for the 
        prosecution of smuggling offenses are not employed by the 
        various United States attorneys. Understanding that border-area 
        United States attorneys face an overwhelming workload, a lack 
        of sufficient prosecutions by certain United States attorneys 
        has encouraged additional smuggling, and demoralized Border 
        Patrol officers charged with enforcing our anti-smuggling laws.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the 
Attorney General should adopt, not later than 3 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, uniform guidelines for the prosecution of 
smuggling offenses to be followed by each United States attorney in the 
United States.
    (c) Additional Personnel.--In each of the fiscal years 2008 through 
2013, the Attorney General shall, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, increase by not less than 20 the number of attorneys in 
the offices of United States attorneys employed to prosecute cases 
under section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1324), as compared to the previous fiscal year.

                  TITLE II--CRIMINAL ALIEN REMOVAL ACT

SEC. 201. EXPEDITED REMOVAL FOR ALIENS INADMISSIBLE ON CRIMINAL 
              GROUNDS.

    (a) In General.--Section 238(b) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1228(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Attorney General'' and inserting 
                ``Secretary of Homeland Security in the exercise of 
                discretion''; and
                    (B) by striking ``set forth in this subsection or'' 
                and inserting ``set forth in this subsection, in lieu 
                of removal proceedings under'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``paragraph (1) until 14 
        calendar days'' and inserting ``paragraph (1) or (3) until 7 
        calendar days'';
            (3) by striking ``Attorney General'' each place it appears 
        in paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland 
        Security'';
            (4) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by striking ``described in this section'' and 
                inserting ``described in paragraph (1) or (2)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the Attorney General may grant in 
                the Attorney General's discretion'' and inserting ``the 
                Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General 
                may grant, in the discretion of the Secretary or 
                Attorney General, in any proceeding'';
            (5) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as 
        paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(3) The Secretary of Homeland Security in the exercise of 
        discretion may determine inadmissibility under section 
        212(a)(2) (relating to criminal offenses) and issue an order of 
        removal pursuant to the procedures set forth in this 
        subsection, in lieu of removal proceedings under section 240, 
        with respect to an alien who--
                    ``(A) has not been admitted or paroled;
                    ``(B) has not been found to have a credible fear of 
                persecution pursuant to the procedures set forth in 
                section 235(b)(1)(B); and
                    ``(C) is not eligible for a waiver of 
                inadmissibility or relief from removal.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act but shall not 
apply to aliens who are in removal proceedings under section 240 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act as of such date.

            TITLE III--BORDER TUNNEL PREVENTION ACT OF 2006

SEC. 301. CONSTRUCTION OF BORDER TUNNEL OR PASSAGE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 27 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 554. Border tunnels and passages
    ``(a) Any person who knowingly constructs or finances the 
construction of a tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the 
international border between the United States and another country, 
other than a lawfully authorized tunnel or passage known to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security and subject to inspection by the Bureau 
of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall be imprisoned for not 
more than 20 years.
    ``(b) Any person who recklessly permits the construction or use of 
a tunnel or passage described in subsection (a) on land that the person 
owns or controls shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years.
    ``(c) Any person who uses a tunnel or passage described in 
subsection (a) to unlawfully smuggle an alien, goods (in violation of 
section 545), controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction 
(including biological weapons), or a member of a terrorist organization 
(as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi))) shall be subject to twice 
the penalty that would have otherwise been imposed had the unlawful 
activity not made use of such a tunnel or passage.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 27 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``Sec. 554. Border tunnels and passages.''.
    (c) Criminal Forfeiture.--Section 982(a)(6) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ``554,'' before ``1425,''.

SEC. 302. DIRECTIVE TO THE UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of 
title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the 
United States Sentencing Commission shall promulgate or amend 
sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for persons 
convicted of offenses described in section 554 of title 18, United 
States Code, as added by section 301.
    (b) Requirements.--In carrying out this section, the United States 
Sentencing Commission shall--
            (1) ensure that the sentencing guidelines, policy 
        statements, and official commentary reflect the serious nature 
        of the offenses described in section 554 of title 18, United 
        States Code, and the need for aggressive and appropriate law 
        enforcement action to prevent such offenses;
            (2) provide adequate base offense levels for offenses under 
        such section;
            (3) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances 
        that might justify exceptions, including--
                    (A) the use of a tunnel or passage described in 
                subsection (a) of such section to facilitate other 
                felonies; and
                    (B) the circumstances for which the sentencing 
                guidelines currently provide applicable sentencing 
                enhancements;
            (4) ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant 
        directives, other sentencing guidelines, and statutes;
            (5) make any necessary and conforming changes to the 
        sentencing guidelines and policy statements; and
            (6) ensure that the sentencing guidelines adequately meet 
        the purposes of sentencing set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of 
        title 18, United States Code.
Example Output: Border Security Enhancement Act of 2006 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Attorney General should adopt uniform guidelines for the prosecution of smuggling offenses.

Directs the Attorney General, subject to the availability of appropriations, to increase the number of U.S. attorneys employed to prosecute alien smuggling cases by at least 20 in each of FY2008-FY2013.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine inadmissibility based on criminal grounds under an expedited removal process for an alien who: (1) has not been admitted or paroled; (2) has not been found to have a credible fear of persecution; and (3) is not eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or relief from removal.

Authorizes the Secretary to execute an order of removal seven days (currently, 14 days) after it's issuance.

Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the knowing construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country.

Imposes a 20-year maximum prison term for such offense. Imposes a 10-year maximum prison term on any person who recklessly permits the construction or use of such a tunnel or passage on land that such person owns or controls.

Doubles penalties for persons who use such a tunnel or passage to unlawfully smuggle an alien, illegal goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction, or members of a terrorist organization.

Subjects to forfeiture any property involved in, or traceable to, the construction or financing of such a tunnel or passage.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for persons convicted of criminal offenses related to the construction or financing of such a tunnel or passage.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Advisory 
Committee Act Amendments of 2008''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Ensuring independent advice and expertise.
Sec. 3. Preventing efforts to circumvent the Federal Advisory Committee 
                            Act and public disclosure.
Sec. 4. Increasing transparency of advisory committees.
Sec. 5. Comptroller General review and reports.
Sec. 6. Definitions.
Sec. 7. Effective date.

SEC. 2. ENSURING INDEPENDENT ADVICE AND EXPERTISE.

    (a) Bar on Political Litmus Tests.--Section 9 of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading by inserting ``membership;'' 
        after ``advisory committees;'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Appointments Made Without Regard to Political Affiliation or 
Activity.--All appointments to advisory committees shall be made 
without regard to political affiliation or political activity, unless 
required by Federal statute.''.
    (b) Conflicts of Interest Disclosure.--Section 9 of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is further amended by inserting 
after subsection (b) (as added by subsection (a)) the following:
    ``(c) Conflicts of Interest Disclosure.--
            ``(1)(A) The head of each agency shall ensure that no 
        individual appointed to serve on an advisory committee that 
        reports to the agency has a conflict of interest that is 
        relevant to the functions to be performed by the advisory 
        committee, unless the head of the agency determines that the 
        need for the individual's services outweighs the potential 
        impacts of the conflict of interest.
            ``(B) If the head of the agency makes such a determination 
        with respect to an individual, nothing in this subsection is 
        intended to preclude the head of the agency from requiring the 
        recusal of the individual from particular aspects of the 
        committee's work.
            ``(C) In the case of an individual appointed as a 
        representative, the fact that an individual is associated with 
        the entity whose views are being represented by the individual 
        shall not itself be considered a conflict of interest by the 
        agency.
            ``(2) The head of each agency shall require--
                    ``(A) that each individual the agency appoints or 
                intends to appoint to serve on an advisory committee as 
                a representative inform the agency official responsible 
                for appointing the individual in writing of any actual 
                or potential conflict of interest--
                            ``(i) that exists before appointment or 
                        that arises while the individual is serving on 
                        the Committee; and
                            ``(ii) that is relevant to the functions to 
                        be performed; and
                    ``(B) that, for an individual appointed to serve on 
                an advisory committee, the conflict is publicly 
                disclosed as described in section 11.
            ``(3) Nothing in this subsection is intended to alter any 
        requirement or obligation for a special Government employee 
        under the Ethics in Government Act (5 U.S.C. App.) or other 
        applicable ethics law, including any requirement to file a 
        financial disclosure report. The head of each agency shall 
        require that each individual the agency appoints as a special 
        Government employee inform the agency in writing of any 
        conflict that exists before appointment or that arises while 
        the individual is serving on the committee to the extent any 
        financial disclosure required by the Ethics in Government Act 
        (5 U.S.C. app.) or other applicable law would not uncover the 
        conflict of interest as such term is defined in regulations 
        promulgated by the Office of Government Ethics to carry out 
        this subsection.
            ``(4) The head of each agency shall ensure that each report 
        of an advisory committee that reports to the agency is the 
        result of the advisory committee's judgment, independent from 
        the agency. Each advisory committee shall include in each 
        report of the committee a statement describing the process used 
        by the advisory committee in formulating the recommendations or 
        conclusions contained in the report.''.
    (c) Regulations.--
            (1) Regulations relating to conflicts of interest.--Not 
        later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, the Director of the Office of Government Ethics, in 
        consultation with the Administrator of General Services, shall 
        promulgate--
                    (A) regulations defining the term ``conflict of 
                interest'';
                    (B) regulations identifying the method by which 
                individuals must disclose conflicts and the period of 
                time for which a representative or special Government 
                employee, or a candidate for appointment as a 
                representative or special Government employee, shall 
                look back in time to determine whether an interest is 
                considered a conflict for the purpose of the 
                notification requirement in subsection (c) of section 9 
                of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as added by this 
                section; and
                    (C) such other regulations as the Director finds 
                necessary to carry out and ensure the enforcement of 
                such subsection (c).
            (2) Regulations implementing faca.--Section 7(c) of the 
        Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by 
        inserting after ``(c)'' the following: ``The Administrator 
        shall promulgate regulations as necessary to implement this 
        Act.''.

SEC. 3. PREVENTING EFFORTS TO CIRCUMVENT THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
              ACT AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.

    (a) De Facto Members.--Section 4 of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Treatment of Individual as Member.--An individual who is not 
a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the Federal 
Government shall be regarded as a member of a committee if the 
individual regularly attends and participates in committee meetings as 
if the individual were a member, even if the individual does not have 
the right to vote or veto the advice or recommendations of the advisory 
committee.''.
    (b) Interagency Advisory Committees.--Section 11 of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(f) Interagency Advisory Committees.--(1) Any communication 
between--
            ``(A) an interagency advisory committee established by the 
        President or the Vice President or any member or staff acting 
        on behalf of such an interagency advisory committee, and
            ``(B) any person who is not an officer or employee of the 
        Federal Government,
        shall be made available for public inspection and copying. Any 
        portion of a communication that involves a matter described in 
        section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code, or that is 
        subject to a valid constitutionally based privilege against 
        such disclosure, may be withheld from public disclosure.
    ``(2) In this subsection, the term `interagency advisory committee' 
means any committee, board, commission, council, conference, panel, 
task force, or other similar group, or any subcommittee or other 
subgroup thereof, established in the interest of obtaining advice or 
recommendations for the President or the Vice President, that is 
composed wholly of full-time, or permanent part-time, officers or 
employees of the Federal Government and includes officers or employees 
of at least two separate Federal agencies but does not include an 
advisory committee as defined in section 3(2) of this Act.
    ``(3) This subsection is not intended to apply to cabinet meetings, 
the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisors, or any 
other permanent advisory body established by statute.''.
    (c) Subcommittees.--Section 4 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(a) Application.--The provisions of this Act or of any rule, 
order, or regulation promulgated under this Act shall apply to each 
advisory committee, including any subcommittee or subgroup thereof, 
except to the extent that any Act of Congress establishing any such 
advisory committee specifically provides otherwise. Any subcommittee or 
subgroup that reports to a parent committee established under section 
9(a) is not required to comply with section 9(e). In this subsection, 
the term `subgroup' includes any working group, task force, or other 
entity formed for the purpose of assisting the committee or any 
subcommittee of the committee in its work.''.
    (d) Committees Created Under Contract.--Section 3(2) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended in the matter 
following subparagraph (C) by adding at the end the following: ``An 
advisory committee is considered to be established by an agency, 
agencies, or the President, if it is formed, created, or organized 
under contract, other transactional authority, cooperative agreement, 
grant, or otherwise at the request or direction of, an agency, 
agencies, or the President.''.
    (e) Advisory Committees Containing Special Government Employees.--
Section 4 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Special Government Employees.--Committee members appointed as 
special government employees shall not be considered full-time or part-
time officers or employees of the Federal Government for purposes of 
determining the applicability of this Act under section 3(2).''.

SEC. 4. INCREASING TRANSPARENCY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

    (a) Information Requirement.--Section 11 of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section designation and heading and 
        inserting the following:

``SEC. 11. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.'';

            (2) by redesignating subsection (a) as subsection (d) and 
        in that subsection--
                    (A) by inserting the following subsection heading: 
                ``Availability of Paper Copies of Transcripts.--''; and
                    (B) by inserting after ``duplication,'' the 
                following: ``paper'';
            (3) by striking ``(b)'' and inserting ``(e) Agency 
        Proceeding Defined.--''; and
            (4) by inserting before subsection (d), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2), the following new subsections:
    ``(a) In General.--With respect to each advisory committee, the 
head of the agency to which the advisory committee reports shall make 
publicly available in accordance with subsection (b) the following 
information:
            ``(1) The charter of the advisory committee.
            ``(2) A description of the process used to establish and 
        appoint the members of the advisory committee, including the 
        following:
                    ``(A) The process for identifying prospective 
                members.
                    ``(B) The process of selecting members for balance 
                of viewpoints or expertise.
                    ``(C) A justification of the need for 
                representative members, if any.
            ``(3) A list of all current members, including, for each 
        member, the following:
                    ``(A) The name of any person or entity that 
                nominated the member.
                    ``(B) The reason the member was appointed to the 
                committee.
                    ``(C) Whether the member is designated as a special 
                government employee or a representative.
                    ``(D) In the case of a representative, the 
                individuals or entity whose viewpoint the member 
                represents.
                    ``(E) Any conflict of interest relevant to the 
                functions to be performed by the committee.
            ``(4) A list of all members designated as special 
        government employees for whom written certifications were made 
        under section 208(b) of title 18, United States Code, a summary 
        description of the conflict necessitating the certification, 
        and the reason for granting the certification.
            ``(5) A summary of the process used by the advisory 
        committee for making decisions.
            ``(6) Transcripts or audio or video recordings of all 
        meetings of the committee.
            ``(7) Any written determination by the President or the 
        head of the agency to which the advisory committee reports, 
        pursuant to section 10(d), to close a meeting or any portion of 
        a meeting and the reasons for such determination.
            ``(8) Notices of future meetings of the committee.
            ``(9) Any additional information considered relevant by the 
        head of the agency to which the advisory committee reports.
    ``(b)  Manner of Disclosure.--
            ``(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the head of an 
        agency shall make the information required to be disclosed 
        under this section available electronically on the official 
        public internet site of the agency at least 15 calendar days 
        before each meeting of an advisory committee. If the head of 
        the agency determines that such timing is not practicable for 
        any required information, he shall make the information 
        available as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours 
        before the next meeting of the committee. An agency may 
        withhold from disclosure any information that would be exempt 
        from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
            ``(2) The head of an agency shall make available 
        electronically, on the official public internet site of the 
        agency, a transcript or audio or video recording of each 
        advisory committee meeting not later than 30 calendar days 
        after the meeting.
    ``(c) Provision of Information by Administrator of General 
Services.--The Administrator of General Services shall provide, on the 
official public internet site of the General Services Administration, 
electronic access to the information made available by each agency 
under this section.''.
    (b) Charter Filing.--Section 9(e) of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.), as redesignated by section 2, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``with (1) the Administrator,'' and all 
        that follows through ``, or'' and inserting ``(1) with the 
        Administrator and'';
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (I);
            (3) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon at the 
        end of subparagraph (J); and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
            ``(K) the authority under which the committee is 
        established;
            ``(L) the estimated number of members and a description of 
        the expertise needed to carry out the objectives of the 
        committee;
            ``(M) a description of whether the committee will be 
        composed of special government employees, representatives, or 
        members from both categories; and
            ``(N) whether the committee has the authority to create 
        subcommittees and if so, the agency official authorized to 
        exercise such authority.''.

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW AND REPORTS.

    (a) Review.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
review compliance by agencies with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
as amended by this Act, including whether agencies are appropriately 
appointing advisory committee members as either special government 
employees or representatives.
    (b) Report.--The Comptroller General shall submit to the committees 
described in subsection (c) two reports on the results of the review, 
as follows:
            (1) The first report shall be submitted not later than one 
        year after the date of promulgation of regulations under 
        section 2.
            (2) The second report shall be submitted not later than 
        five years after such date of promulgation of regulations.
    (c) Committees.--The committees described in this subsection are 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 3 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(5) The term `representative' means an individual who is 
        not a full-time or part-time employee of the Federal Government 
        and who is appointed to an advisory committee to represent the 
        views of an entity or entities outside the Federal Government.
            ``(6) The term `special Government employee' has the same 
        meaning as in section 202(a) of title 18, United States 
        Code.''.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, except as otherwise provided in section 2(c)(1).

            Passed the House of Representatives June 24, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.
Example Output:
Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Advisory Committee Act to require appointments to advisory committees to be made without regard to political affiliation or activity, unless otherwise required by federal statute. Directs each agency head to: (1) ensure that no individual who has a conflict of interest is appointed unless the need for the individual's services outweighs the potential impacts of the conflict; (2) require that each individual to be appointed inform the agency of any actual or potential conflict that exists before the appointment or that arises while the individual is serving; and (3) ensure that advisory committee reports are the result of the committee's judgment, independent from the agency.

Declares that: (1) this Act is not intended to preclude agency heads from requiring the recusal of individuals with conflicts from particular aspects of the committee's work; and (2) an individual representative's association with the entity whose views are being represented shall not itself be considered to be a conflict of interest.

Requires: (1) the public disclosure of any conflict of interest; (2) the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to promulgate regulations defining "conflict of interest" and identifying the method for disclosure and the period back in time an interest is considered a conflict; and (3) the Administrator of General Services to promulgate regulations to implement the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

(Sec. 3) Regards an individual who is not a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the federal government as a member of a committee if the individual regularly attends and participates in committee meetings as if the individual were a member, even if the individual does not have the right to vote or veto the committee's advice or recommendations.

(Sec. 4) Requires public disclosure of: (1) any communication between an interagency advisory committee established by the President or the Vice President and a person who is not a federal officer or employee; (2) charters of advisory committees; (3) the process used to establish and appoint committee members; (4) specified information about current members; (5) each committee's decision-making process; (6) transcripts or recordings of committee meetings; (7) determinations to close meetings; and (8) notices of future committee meetings. Requires agency heads to make such information available electronically 15 days before each meeting (or 30 days after for meeting transcripts or recordings). Authorizes an agency to withhold from disclosure any information that would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Requires the Administrator of General Services to provide electronic access to such information on the General Services Administration's (GSA's) Internet site.

Requires committee charters to include: (1) the authority under which the committee is established; (2) the estimated number of members and a description of the expertise needed to carry out the committee's objectives; (3) a description of whether the committee will be composed of special government employees, representatives, or members from both categories; and (4) whether the committee has the authority to create subcommittees and, if so, the agency official authorized to exercise such authority.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Comptroller General to review and report on agency compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, including whether agencies are appropriately appointing advisory committee members as either special government employees or representatives.