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

    This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Modification Research and 
Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to develop and implement a 
comprehensive and coordinated national weather modification policy and 
a national cooperative Federal and State program of weather 
modification research and development.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Weather 
        Modification Advisory and Research Board.
            (2) Executive director.--The term ``Executive Director'' 
        means the Executive Director of the Weather Modification 
        Advisory and Research Board.
            (3) Research and development.--The term ``research and 
        development'' means theoretical analysis, exploration, 
        experimentation, and the extension of investigative findings 
        and theories of scientific or technical nature into practical 
        application for experimental and demonstration purposes, 
        including the experimental production and testing of models, 
        devices, equipment, materials, and processes.
            (4) Weather modification.--The term ``weather 
        modification'' means changing or controlling, or attempting to 
        change or control, by artificial methods the natural 
        development of atmospheric cloud forms or precipitation forms 
        which occur in the troposphere.

SEC. 4. WEATHER MODIFICATION ADVISORY AND RESEARCH BOARD ESTABLISHED.

    (a) In General.--There is established in the Department of Commerce 
the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Board shall consist of 11 members 
        appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, of whom--
                    (A) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                American Meteorological Society;
                    (B) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                American Society of Civil Engineers;
                    (C) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                National Academy of Sciences;
                    (D) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                National Center for Atmospheric Research of the 
                National Science Foundation;
                    (E) at least 2 shall be representatives of the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the 
                Department of Commerce;
                    (F) at least 1 shall be a representative of 
                institutions of higher education or research 
                institutes; and
                    (G) at least 1 shall be a representative of a State 
                that is currently supporting operational weather 
                modification projects.
            (2) Tenure.--A member of the Board serves at the pleasure 
        of the Secretary of Commerce.
            (3) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled in 
        the same manner as the original appointment.
    (b) Advisory Committees.--The Board may establish advisory 
committees to advise the Board and to make recommendations to the Board 
concerning legislation, policies, administration, research, and other 
matters.
    (c) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which all members of the Board have been appointed, the Board shall 
hold its first meeting.
    (d) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair.
    (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Board shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
    (f) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Board shall select a Chair and Vice 
Chair from among its members.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE BOARD.

    (a) Promotion of Research and Development.--In order to assist in 
expanding the theoretical and practical knowledge of weather 
modification, the Board shall promote and fund research and 
development, studies, and investigations with respect to--
            (1) improved forecast and decisionmaking technologies for 
        weather modification operations, including tailored computer 
        workstations and software and new observation systems with 
        remote sensors; and
            (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather 
        modification, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding 
        operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and 
        anthropogenic effects).
    (b) Financial Assistance.--Unless the use of the money is 
restricted or subject to any limitations provided by law, the Board 
shall use amounts in the Weather Modification Research and Development 
Fund--
            (1) to pay its expenses in the administration of this Act; 
        and
            (2) to provide for research and development with respect to 
        weather modifications by grants to, or contracts or cooperative 
        arrangements with, public or private agencies.
    (c) Report.--The Board shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce 
biennially a report on its findings and research results.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE BOARD.

    (a) Studies, Investigations, and Hearings.--The Board may make any 
studies or investigations, obtain any information, and hold any 
hearings necessary or proper to administer or enforce this Act or any 
rules or orders issued under this Act.
    (b) Personnel.--The Board may employ, as provided for in 
appropriations Acts, an Executive Director and other support staff 
necessary to perform duties and functions under this Act.
    (c) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--The Board may cooperate with 
public or private agencies to promote the purposes of this Act.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Board may enter into cooperative 
agreements with the head of any department or agency of the United 
States, an appropriate official of any State or political subdivision 
of a State, or an appropriate official of any private or public agency 
or organization for conducting weather modification activities or 
cloud-seeding operations.
    (e) Conduct and Contracts for Research and Development.--The 
Executive Director, with the approval of the Board, may conduct and may 
contract for research and development activities relating to the 
purpose described in section 2.

SEC. 7. COOPERATION WITH THE WEATHER MODIFICATION OPERATIONS AND 
              RESEARCH BOARD.

    The heads of the departments and agencies of the United States and 
the heads of any other public or private agencies and institutions that 
receive research funds from the United States shall, to the extent 
possible, give full support and cooperation to the Board and to 
initiate independent research and development programs that address 
weather modifications.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--There is established within the Treasury of the 
United States the Weather Modification Research and Development Fund, 
which shall consist of amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (b) 
or received by the Board under subsection (c).
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Board for the purposes of carrying out this Act 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2015. Any sums 
appropriated under this subsection shall remain available, without 
fiscal year limitation, until expended.
    (c) Gifts.--The Board may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.

SOLUTION: Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005 - Establishes in the Department of Commerce the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board to promote and fund research and development (R&D), studies, and investigations with respect to: (1) improved forecast and decisionmaking technologies for weather modification operations, including tailored computer workstations and software and new observation systems with remote sensors; and (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather modification, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and anthropogenic effects).

Establishes within the U.S. Treasury the Weather Modification Research and Development Fund. Directs the Board, unless the use of the money is restricted or subject to any limitations provided by law, to use amounts in the Fund to: (1) pay its expenses in the administration of this Act; and (2) provide for R&D with respect to weather modifications by grants to, or contracts or cooperative arrangements with, public or private agencies.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Depressed Smaller Cities Improvement 
Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON DEPRESSED SMALLER CITIES.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established an interagency task 
force to be known as the Interagency Task Force on Depressed Smaller 
Cities (in this Act referred to as the ``Task Force'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force shall be composed of 9 
        members as follows:
                    (A) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
                or the Secretary's delegate.
                    (B) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, or 
                the Secretary's delegate.
                    (C) The Attorney General of the United States, or 
                the Attorney General's delegate.
                    (D) The Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's 
                delegate.
                    (E) 5 members appointed by the Speaker of the House 
                of Representatives, not later than the expiration of 
                the 6-month period beginning on the date of the 
                enactment of this Act, who shall be public officials of 
                depressed smaller cities.
            (2) Geographical diversity.--No 2 members appointed under 
        paragraph (1)(E) may be residents of the same State.
    (c) Terms.--Members of the Task Force shall be appointed for the 
life of the Task Force. Any vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled 
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall be the chairperson of the Task Force.
    (e) Prohibition of Compensation.--Members of the Task Force shall 
not receive pay or other compensation on account of their service on 
the Task Force.
    (f) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Task Force shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE.

    (a) Study.--The Task Force shall carry out a study of the problems 
affecting depressed smaller cities, including problems involving crime, 
the environment, housing, labor and unemployment, education, health, 
and poverty. The study shall examine and analyze Federal, State, and 
local programs to alleviate such problems, the coordination or lack of 
coordination among such programs, and the effectiveness and efficiency 
of such programs, and shall determine the proper scope and extent of 
Federal assistance and programs to reduce the problems affecting such 
cities. In conducting the study, the Task Force shall consult with 
officials of local governments to obtain and provide advice regarding 
measures that may be implemented before the completion of the study to 
alleviate such problems and to coordinate the ongoing efforts of the 
local governments with the various Federal agencies.
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) Annual reports.--
                    (A) In general.--The Task Force shall submit a 
                report to the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban 
                Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
                Senate, not less than annually until the termination of 
                the Task Force under section 5.
                    (B) Contents.--Each report shall describe the 
                activities of the Task Force during the previous year 
                in conducting the study under subsection (a) and the 
                findings and determinations of the Task Force resulting 
                from the study. Each report shall also--
                            (i) identify the most pervasive problems 
                        affecting depressed smaller cities and the 
                        extent of such problems;
                            (ii) describe any efforts to alleviate such 
                        problems that the Task Force considers to have 
                        been effective and efficient;
                            (iii) identify the immediate and long-term 
                        needs of such cities in alleviating such 
                        problems;
                            (iv) identify any existing Federal programs 
                        that may be useful to such cities in 
                        alleviating such problems;
                            (v) include an agenda of actions to be 
                        taken to alleviate such problems, which 
                        describes the priorities of such actions; and
                            (vi) include recommendations of the Task 
                        Force for actions and legislation by the 
                        Federal Government to assist State and local 
                        governments to alleviate the problems affecting 
                        depressed smaller cities.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than the termination of the 
        Task Force under section 5, the Task Force shall submit to the 
        Committees referred to in paragraph (1)(A) a final report 
        describing the study conducted by the Task Force, the 
        activities of the Task Force, and the findings, conclusions, 
        and recommendations of the Task Force upon the completion of 
        the study.
    (c) Meetings.--To carry out the study under subsection (a) and 
prepare the reports under subsection (b), the Task Force shall meet not 
less than quarterly in each year.

SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF DEPRESSED SMALLER CITIES.

    For purposes of this Act, the term ``depressed smaller city'' means 
any unit of general local government that, as determined by the Task 
Force for the most recent 12-month period for which statistics are 
available, is classified as a municipality by the United States Bureau 
of the Census, has a population of less than 50,000 and more than 
5,000, and meets any 3 of the following 5 criteria:
            (1) Unemployment.--The total rate of unemployment for the 
        unit of general local government (as determined by appropriate 
        available data) is 12 percent or more.
            (2) Crime rate.--For the unit of general local government, 
        the ratio of the aggregate number of violent crimes in the unit 
        (according to statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of 
        Investigation) to the population of the unit, is 5 percent or 
        greater.
            (3) Lack of municipal health facilities.--The unit of 
        general local government does not own or operate any municipal 
        health facilities.
            (4) Income level.--The median annual household income for 
        households residing in the unit of general local government (as 
        determined by the Bureau of the Census of the Department of 
        Commerce) does not exceed $15,000.
            (5) Environmental problems.--The unit of general local 
        government has substantial environmental problems resulting 
        from industrial activities, as determined by the Task Force.

SEC. 5. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate upon the expiration of the 3-year 
period beginning on the date of the appointment of the entire 
membership of the Task Force under section 2(b).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$750,000, which shall be available during fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 
1997.

SOLUTION: Depressed Smaller Cities Improvement Act of 1993 - Establishes the Interagency Task Force on Depressed Smaller Cities to study problems affecting depressed smaller cities and to determine the proper scope and extent of Federal assistance and programs to reduce the problems affecting such cities. 
Authorizes appropriations.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Election Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION.

    There is established a commission to be known as the Election 
Administration Commission (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall--
            (1) develop, update, and adopt, by vote of the Commission, 
        not less often than every 4 years, voluntary engineering and 
        procedural performance standards for voting systems used in 
        Federal, State, and local elections;
            (2) advise States regarding compliance with the 
        requirements of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 
        Handicapped Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee et seq.) and compliance with 
        other Federal laws regarding accessibility of registration 
        facilities and polling places, and develop, update, and adopt, 
        by vote of the Commission, not less often than every 4 years, 
        voluntary procedures for maintaining and enhancing the 
        accessibility of registration facilities, polling places, and 
        voting methods for voters, including disabled voters;
            (3) have primary responsibility to carry out Federal 
        functions under title I of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
        Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff et seq.) as the 
        Presidential designee;
            (4) develop, update, and adopt, by vote of the Commission, 
        not less often than every 4 years, recommendations for 
        voluntary procedures for maintaining and enhancing the 
        administration of Federal, State, and local elections;
            (5) carry out the provisions of section 9 of the National 
        Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-7) regarding 
        mail voter registration;
            (6) make available information regarding the Federal 
        election system to the public and media;
            (7) assemble and make available bipartisan panels of 
        election professionals to assist any State election official, 
        upon request, in review of election or vote counting procedures 
        in Federal, State, and local elections; and
            (8) compile and make available to the public the official 
        certified results of Federal elections and statistics regarding 
        national voter registration and turnout.
    (b) Study of Election Administration.--Beginning on the date that 
is 1 day after the date on which all the members are initially 
appointed to the Commission, the Commission shall make periodic 
studies, which shall be made available to the public, of issues related 
to the administration of elections, such as procedures which represent 
the best practices in election administration, including--
            (1) election technology and systems and ballot design;
            (2) voter registration, and verification and maintenance of 
        voter rolls;
            (3) access to polling places;
            (4) alternative voting methods; and
            (5) the accuracy and security of election procedures and 
        vote counts.
    (c) Grant Program.--
            (1) Grant authority.--
                    (A) In general.--Not less often than once each 
                calendar year, the Commission shall solicit and review 
                applications from State and local governments for 
                grants to improve and modernize the administration of 
                elections using procedures consistent with voluntary 
                recommendations adopted by the Commission.
                    (B) Award.--The Commission shall, by vote, award 
                grants to State and local governments that submit 
                applications.
            (2) State and local applications.--State and local 
        governments shall submit applications to the Commission for 
        grants under paragraph (1) in such time and such manner and 
        containing such information as the Commission shall by 
        regulation require.
            (3) Use of funds.--
                    (A) Matching funds.--The Commission shall ensure 
                that any State or local government receiving a grant 
                under this subsection shall expend State or local funds 
                in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the 
                amount of the grant awarded.
                    (B) Audit.--A State or local government receiving a 
                grant under this subsection shall agree that any funds 
                under the grant are subject to audit whenever the 
                Commission, by vote, requests an audit.
            (4) Amount of grant; time.--
                    (A) Amount of grant.--The Commission shall award 
                grants under this subsection for each fiscal year in an 
                aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 or such 
                greater amount as may be appropriated for such fiscal 
                year.
                    (B) Time to allocate.--The Commission shall begin 
                review of applications for grants under this subsection 
                on the date which is 1 year after all members of the 
                Commission are initially appointed.
            (5) Appropriations.--Funds appropriated for a fiscal year 
        to the Commission to award grants under this subsection that 
        are not used for such purpose shall be returned to the Treasury 
        by the end of such year.
    (d) Report.--The Commission shall annually submit a report 
regarding the activities of the Commission to the Committee on House 
Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Rules and Administration of the Senate.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 4 
        members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
        consent of the Senate.
            (2) Party affiliation.--Not more than 2 of the 4 members 
        appointed under paragraph (1) may be members of the same party.
            (3) Qualifications.--Members appointed under paragraph (1) 
        shall be chosen on the basis of experience with and knowledge 
        of State and local election administration, integrity, 
        impartiality, and good judgment, and members shall be 
        individuals who, at the time appointed to the Commission, are 
        not elected or appointed officers or employees in the executive 
        or legislative branch of the Federal Government. Such 
        individuals shall not engage in any other business, vocation, 
        or employment.
            (4) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
                    (A) Period of appointment.--Members shall be 
                appointed for a term of 4 years, except that of the 
                members first appointed--
                            (i) 2 of the members, not affiliated with 
                        the same party, shall be appointed for 5 years; 
                        and
                            (ii) 2 of the members, not affiliated with 
                        the same party, shall be appointed for 4 years.
                    (B) Vacancies.--
                            (i) In general.--A vacancy on the 
                        Commission shall be filled in the manner in 
                        which the original appointment was made and 
                        shall be subject to any conditions which 
                        applied with respect to the original 
                        appointment.
                            (ii) Expired terms.--A member of the 
                        Commission may serve on the Commission after 
                        the expiration of the member's term until the 
                        successor of such member has taken office as a 
                        member of the Commission.
                            (iii) Unexpired terms.--An individual 
                        chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for 
                        the unexpired term of the member replaced.
            (5) Compensation of members.--Each member of the Commission 
        shall receive compensation equivalent to the annual rate of 
        basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule, 
        under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
            (6) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall elect a 
                chairperson and vice chairperson from among its members 
                for a term of 1 year.
                    (B) Number of terms.--A member may serve as a 
                chairperson only once during any term of office to 
                which such member is appointed.
                    (C) Political affiliation.--The chairperson and 
                vice chairperson shall not be affiliated with the same 
                political party.
    (b) Date of Appointment.--The appointments of the members of the 
Commission shall be made not later than 45 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (c) Majority Vote.--All decision of the Commission with respect to 
the exercise of its duties and powers under the provisions of this Act 
shall be made by a majority vote of the members of the Commission.
    (d) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at least once each month 
and at the call of any member of the Commission.
    (e) Jurisdiction of Commission.--The Commission shall formulate and 
administer policy with respect to the matters and duties in the 
jurisdiction of the Commission under this Act.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may hold such hearings 
for the purpose of carrying out this Act, sit and act at such times and 
places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 
Commission considers advisable to carry out this Act. The Commission 
may administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the 
Commission.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure 
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the 
Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or 
agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
    (c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
chairperson of the Commission, the Administrator of the General 
Services Administration shall provide to the Commission, on a 
reimbursable basis, the administrative support services that are 
necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties under this 
Act.

SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The chairperson of the Commission may, 
        without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
        appoint and terminate an executive director and such other 
        additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
        Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an 
        executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the 
        Commission.
            (2) Compensation.--The chairperson of the Commission may 
        fix the compensation of the executive director and other 
        personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
        chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to 
        classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, 
        except that the rate of pay for the executive director and 
        other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of 
        the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
    (b) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government 
employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and 
such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service 
status or privilege.
    (c) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 8. OFFICE OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION 
              COMMISSION.

    There are transferred to the Commission established under section 2 
all functions which the Office of Election Administration, established 
within the Federal Election Commission, exercised before the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 9. UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT.

    (a) Transfer of Functions.--There are transferred to the Commission 
established under section 2 all functions which the Presidential 
designee under title 1 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 
Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff et seq.) exercised before the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (b) Transition.--With the consent of the appropriate department or 
agency concerned, the Commission is authorized to utilize the services 
of such officers, employees, and other personnel of the departments and 
agencies from which functions have been transferred to the Commission 
for such period of time as may reasonably be needed to facilitate the 
orderly transfer of functions under this section.
    (c) Technical Amendment.--Section 101 of the Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff) is amended by striking 
subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Presidential Designee.--The Election Administration 
Commission shall have primary responsibility for Federal functions 
under this title as the Presidential designee.''.

SEC. 10. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Federal Election Campaign Act.--Section 311(a) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 438(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (9), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        period; and
            (3) by striking paragraph (10) and the second and third 
        sentences.
    (b) National Voter Registration Act of 1993.--Section 9(a) of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-7) is amended 
by striking ``Federal Election Commission'' and inserting ``Election 
Administration Commission''.

SOLUTION:
Transfers to the Commission: (1) all functions which the Office of Election Administration, established within the Federal Election Commission, exercised before enactment of this Act; and (2) all functions which the Presidential designee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act exercised before enactment of this Act.