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

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Encouraging Work Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO WORK OPPORTUNITY CREDIT AND WELFARE-TO-WORK 
              CREDIT.

    (a) Credit Made Permanent.--
            (1) Subsection (c) of section 51 of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 is amended by striking paragraph (4) (relating to 
        termination).
            (2) Section 51A of such Code is amended by striking 
        subsection (f).
    (b) Eligibility of Ex-Felons Determined Without Regard to Family 
Income.--Paragraph (4) of section 51(d) of such Code is amended by 
adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking ``, and'' at 
the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting a period, and by striking all 
that follows subparagraph (B).
    (c) Increase in Maximum Age for Eligibility of Food Stamp 
Recipients.--Clause (i) of section 51(d)(8)(A) of such Code is amended 
by striking ``25'' and inserting ``40''.
    (d) Increase in Maximum Age for Designated Community Residents.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (5) of section 51(d) of such 
        Code is amended to read as follows:
            ``(5) Designated community residents.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `designated community 
                resident' means any individual who is certified by the 
                designated local agency--
                            ``(i) as having attained age 18 but not age 
                        40 on the hiring date, and
                            ``(ii) as having his principal place of 
                        abode within an empowerment zone, enterprise 
                        community, or renewal community.
                    ``(B) Individual must continue to reside in zone or 
                community.--In the case of a designated community 
                resident, the term `qualified wages' shall not include 
                wages paid or incurred for services performed while the 
                individual's principal place of abode is outside an 
                empowerment zone, enterprise community, or renewal 
                community.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subparagraph (D) of section 
        51(d)(1) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(D) a designated community resident,''.
    (e) Clarification of Treatment of Individuals Under Individual Work 
Plans.--Subparagraph (B) of section 51(d)(6) of such Code (relating to 
vocational rehabilitation referral) is amended by striking ``or'' at 
the end of clause (i), by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) 
and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the end the following new 
clause:
                            ``(iii) an individual work plan developed 
                        and implemented by an employment network 
                        pursuant to subsection (g) of section 1148 of 
                        the Social Security Act with respect to which 
                        the requirements of such subsection are met.''.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after December 31, 
2005.

SEC. 3. CONSOLIDATION OF WORK OPPORTUNITY CREDIT WITH WELFARE-TO-WORK 
              CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 51(d) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H) 
and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(I) a long-term family assistance recipient.''.
    (b) Long-Term Family Assistance Recipient.--Subsection (d) of 
section 51 of such Code is amended by redesignating paragraphs (10) 
through (12) as paragraphs (11) through (13), respectively, and by 
inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
            ``(10) Long-term family assistance recipient.--The term 
        `long-term family assistance recipient' means any individual 
        who is certified by the designated local agency--
                    ``(A) as being a member of a family receiving 
                assistance under a IV-A program (as defined in 
                paragraph (2)(B)) for at least the 18-month period 
                ending on the hiring date,
                    ``(B)(i) as being a member of a family receiving 
                such assistance for 18 months beginning after August 5, 
                1997, and
                    ``(ii) as having a hiring date which is not more 
                than 2 years after the end of the earliest such 18-
                month period, or
                    ``(C)(i) as being a member of a family which ceased 
                to be eligible for such assistance by reason of any 
                limitation imposed by Federal or State law on the 
                maximum period such assistance is payable to a family, 
                and
                    ``(ii) as having a hiring date which is not more 
                than 2 years after the date of such cessation.''.
    (c) Increased Credit for Employment of Long-Term Family Assistance 
Recipients.--Section 51 of such Code is amended by inserting after 
subsection (d) the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Credit for Second-Year Wages for Employment of Long-Term 
Family Assistance Recipients.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to the employment of a 
        long-term family assistance recipient--
                    ``(A) the amount of the work opportunity credit 
                determined under this section for the taxable year 
                shall include 50 percent of the qualified second-year 
                wages for such year, and
                    ``(B) in lieu of applying subsection (b)(3), the 
                amount of the qualified first-year wages, and the 
                amount of qualified second-year wages, which may be 
                taken into account with respect to such a recipient 
                shall not exceed $10,000 per year.
            ``(2) Qualified second-year wages.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term `qualified second-year wages' means 
        qualified wages--
                    ``(A) which are paid to a long-term family 
                assistance recipient, and
                    ``(B) which are attributable to service rendered 
                during the 1-year period beginning on the day after the 
                last day of the 1-year period with respect to such 
                recipient determined under subsection (b)(2).
            ``(3) Special rules for agricultural and railway labor.--If 
        such recipient is an employee to whom subparagraph (A) or (B) 
        of subsection (h)(1) applies, rules similar to the rules of 
        such subparagraphs shall apply except that--
                    ``(A) such subparagraph (A) shall be applied by 
                substituting `$10,000' for `$6,000', and
                    ``(B) such subparagraph (B) shall be applied by 
                substituting `$833.33' for `$500'.''.
    (d) Repeal of Separate Welfare-to-Work Credit.--
            (1) In general.--Section 51A of such Code is hereby 
        repealed.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for subpart 
        F of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is 
        amended by striking the item relating to section 51A.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after December 31, 
2005.
[EX A]: Encouraging Work Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to consolidate and modify provisions of the work opportunity tax credit and the welfare-to-work tax credit and make the consolidated tax credit permanent. Expands eligibility for the consolidated tax credit by: (1) determining eligibility of ex-felons without regard to family income; and (2) raising the age ceiling for food stamp recipients from 25 to 40. Includes a "designated community resident" (in lieu of "high risk youth") and "long-term family assistance recipient" as members of the targeted group eligible for the consolidated tax credit. Provides for an increased tax credit for employment of long-term family assistance recipients.

Repeals the separate welfare-to-work tax credit.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sustainable Revenue for Oregon 
Counties Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) more than half of the land in the State of Oregon is 
        owned by the Federal Government;
            (2) in many counties of the State, significant portions of 
        the land of the counties (often significantly more than half of 
        the land of the counties) is owned by the Federal Government;
            (3) the land described in paragraph (2) includes Forest 
        Service land and Oregon and California grant land;
            (4) the counties described in paragraph (2) are unable to 
        derive revenue from property taxes on land owned by the Federal 
        Government;
            (5) historically, payments made by the Federal Government 
        based on revenues from harvesting timber (including Oregon and 
        California grant land and Forest Service payments) have 
        provided a revenue substitute for property taxes;
            (6) the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
        Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 500 note; Public Law 106-
        393) augmented the payments described in paragraph (5) because 
        of a significant decline in timber harvest revenues;
            (7) Congress extended the payments described in paragraph 
        (6) for 1 year in 2007, and for 4 years effective beginning in 
        2008, to provide time to develop a long-term sustainable 
        alternative to the payments described in paragraph (6);
            (8) the prospects for a long-term extension are uncertain 
        because of concerns regarding Federal budget deficits and long-
        term financial assistance to local governments of the State;
            (9) counties of the State that have historically received 
        the payments described in paragraph (5) are in need of a 
        sustainable, long-term revenue source;
            (10) there are opportunities for the conduct of activities 
        in the Federal forest land of the counties of the State that 
        could be structured to be economically and environmentally 
        sustainable, including--
                    (A) the harvesting of timber (including thinning to 
                restore forest health) in a sustainable manner and in 
                sustainable quantities;
                    (B) the removal of biomass material from the forest 
                land for--
                            (i) the generation of electricity; and
                            (ii) the production of cellulosic biofuels;
                    (C) the conduct of activities that could--
                            (i) increase the sequestration by the 
                        forest land of atmospheric carbon; or
                            (ii) provide other ecosystem services for 
                        communities, such as clean water; and
                    (D) the conduct of recreational activities;
            (11) other sources of revenue, including State and local 
        revenue sources, should also be considered in selecting a 
        sustainable, long-term revenue source; and
            (12) payments made by the Federal Government could be 
        continued under a variety of different payment methodologies.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Secretaries concerned.--The term ``Secretaries 
        concerned'' means--
                    (A) the Secretary of Agriculture; and
                    (B) the Secretary of the Interior.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Oregon.
            (3) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Oregon 
        Task Force on Sustainable Revenue for Counties established by 
        section 4(a).

SEC. 4. TASK FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a task force to be known 
as the ``Oregon Task Force on Sustainable Revenue for Counties''.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Task Force shall be composed of 15 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 4 members shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned, of whom--
                            (i) each shall represent a county of the 
                        State; and
                            (ii) 2 shall represent counties in which 
                        there is located Oregon and California grant 
                        land;
                    (B) 1 member shall be appointed by the Governor of 
                the State as the representative of the Governor of the 
                State;
                    (C) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned from among persons who are experts in 
                economics (including natural resource economics);
                    (D) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned from among persons who are experts in 
                sustainable forestry practices;
                    (E) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned from among persons who are experts in 
                scientific and economic aspects of biomass energy;
                    (F) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned from among persons who are experts in the 
                scientific aspects of ecosystem services that are 
                provided by temperate forests (including, at a minimum, 
                the scientific aspects of carbon sequestration);
                    (G) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned from among persons who are experts in fields 
                relating to wildlife habitat, endangered species, and 
                biodiversity;
                    (H) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned as a representative of the forest products 
                industry located in the State;
                    (I) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned as a representative of regionally or locally 
                recognized conservation organizations located in the 
                State;
                    (J) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned as a representative of--
                            (i) organized labor; or
                            (ii) nontimber forest product harvester 
                        groups;
                    (K) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned as a representative of persons who 
                participate in or provide recreational activities or 
                are engaged in related activities; and
                    (L) 1 member shall be appointed by the Secretaries 
                concerned as a representative of Indian tribes that are 
                located in the State.
            (2) Date of appointments.--The appointment of a member of 
        the Task Force shall be made not later than 60 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Term; Vacancies.--
            (1) Term.--A member shall be appointed for the life of the 
        Task Force.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Task Force--
                    (A) shall not affect the powers of the Task Force; 
                and
                    (B) shall be filled in the same manner as the 
                original appointment was made.
    (d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which all members of the Task Force have been appointed, the Task Force 
shall hold the initial meeting of the Task Force.
    (e) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of 
        the Chairperson.
            (2) Public access.--Each meeting of the Task Force shall be 
        open to the public.
    (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Task Force shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
    (g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Task Force shall select 
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the Task 
Force.

SEC. 5. DUTIES.

    (a) Consideration and Review of Revenue Sources.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force shall consider and review 
        concepts for the establishment of a long-term revenue source 
        for counties located in the State that have historically 
        received Federal funds.
            (2) Revenue sources.--In conducting the consideration and 
        review under paragraph (1), in accordance with paragraph (3), 
        the Task Force shall consider--
                    (A) revenue sources proposed by relevant 
                legislation or administrative actions;
                    (B) payments based on timber harvests (including 
                thinning to restore forest health) carried out at 
                sustainable levels;
                    (C) payments based on revenues that each county of 
                the State could have received through property taxation 
                if the land owned by the Federal Government located in 
                the county was privately held and subject to a property 
                tax;
                    (D) revenue based on--
                            (i) a portion of the proceeds from sales of 
                        material collected from public land located in 
                        the State for the production of biomass 
                        electricity or cellulosic liquid transportation 
                        fuels;
                            (ii) user fees for recreational activities 
                        carried out on public land located in the 
                        State;
                            (iii) payments for increases in carbon 
                        sequestration; and
                            (iv) land exchanges or transfers that could 
                        provide compensation for nontaxable Federal 
                        land located in counties of the State;
                    (E) local sources of revenue that could be used to 
                reduce or eliminate the reliance of counties of the 
                State on Federal funds (including taxes, user fees, or 
                economic development activities that could increase the 
                revenue base of the counties of the State);
                    (F) payments made by the Federal Government to the 
                counties of the State, including--
                            (i) guaranteed payments that are to be 
                        established at a reduced level and not based on 
                        timber harvest revenues; and
                            (ii) guaranteed payments that are to be 
                        established--
                                    (I) at a level similar to the level 
                                of payments reauthorized in 2008;
                                    (II) in part by timber harvest 
                                revenues; and
                                    (III) with the use of additional 
                                Federal funds to the extent that timber 
                                harvest revenues described in subclause 
                                (II) do not meet the guaranteed level 
                                of payment; and
                    (G) any other revenue source that the Task Force 
                determines to be appropriate for consideration and 
                review.
            (3) Factors.--In considering each revenue source under 
        paragraph (2), the Task Force shall take into account--
                    (A) the long-term sustainability of each revenue 
                source considered under paragraph (2);
                    (B) the relative value, long-term sustainability, 
                and any other implication of the relative reliance of 
                the counties of the State on revenues arising from 
                Federal forests located in the counties, as compared to 
                other local revenue sources;
                    (C) the potential long-term effects of each revenue 
                source considered under paragraph (2) on the economies 
                of the counties of the State;
                    (D) revenue sources that are used by other cities 
                or counties of the State;
                    (E) the environmental effects of each revenue 
                source considered under paragraph (2);
                    (F) the effect of each revenue source considered 
                under paragraph (2) on local revenue streams and county 
                services; and
                    (G) comments submitted to the Task Force by a 
                stakeholder relating to any issue or proposal 
                considered by the Task Force.
    (b) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force shall hold such hearings, 
        meet and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
        receive such evidence as the Task Force considers advisable to 
        receive the input and determine the opinions of the public and 
        stakeholders with respect to the establishment of a 
        sustainable, long-term revenue source for the counties of the 
        State.
            (2) Incorporation of public and stakeholder input.--In 
        preparing the report required under subsection (c), the Task 
        Force shall incorporate into the recommendations of the Task 
        Force required under subsection (c)(2), to the maximum extent 
        practicable, the public and stakeholder input received under 
        paragraph (1).
    (c) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Task Force shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that contains--
            (1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of 
        the Task Force;
            (2) a description of not less than 2 policy scenarios for 
        providing sustainable revenue to the counties of the State that 
        are recommended by not less than \3/5\ of the members of the 
        Task force for consideration by the Federal Government, the 
        State, and the counties of the State as the Task Force 
        considers appropriate (including such legislation and 
        administrative actions necessary to implement each policy 
        scenario);
            (3) a description of the opinion of each member of the Task 
        Force regarding each policy scenario described in paragraph 
        (2);
            (4) a description of the minority views of each member of 
        the Task Force who does not support any policy scenario 
        described in paragraph (2);
            (5) a description of each revenue source considered but not 
        recommended by the Task Force under paragraph (2), including--
                    (A) an explanation of each reason why the Task 
                Force did not recommend the policy scenario; and
                    (B) a description of the minority views of each 
                member of the Task Force relating to the decision by 
                the Task Force not to recommend the policy scenario; 
                and
            (6) a summary of comments received by the Task Force under 
        subsections (a)(3)(G) and (b)(1).
    (d) Required Hearings.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
which each committee described in subsection (c) receives the report 
required under that subsection, each committee shall hold a hearing to 
evaluate the recommendations contained in the report.

SEC. 6. POWERS.

    (a) Information From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force may secure directly from a 
        Federal agency such information as the Task Force considers 
        necessary to carry out this Act.
            (2) Provision of information.--On request of the 
        Chairperson of the Task Force, the head of the agency shall 
        provide the information to the Task Force.
    (b) Postal Services.--The Task Force may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
agencies of the Federal Government.
    (c) Gifts.--The Task Force may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.

SEC. 7. TASK FORCE PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Task Force shall 
serve without compensation.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--A member of the Task Force shall be allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 
57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular 
place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the 
Task Force.
    (c) Detail of Federal Government Employees.--
            (1) In general.--An employee of the Federal Government may 
        be detailed to the Task Force without reimbursement.
            (2) Civil service status.--The detail of the employee shall 
        be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
        privilege.
    (d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairperson of the Task Force may procure temporary and intermittent 
services in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates for individuals that 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 that title.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act, to remain available until expended.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF TASK FORCE.

    The Task Force shall terminate 120 days after the date on which the 
Task Force submits the report of the Task Force under section 5(c).
[EX A]: Sustainable Revenue for Oregon Counties Act of 2009 - Establishes the Oregon Task Force on Sustainable Revenue for Counties to consider and review concepts for the establishment of a long-term revenue source for counties in Oregon that have historically received federal funds.

Directs the Task Force, in conducting the consideration and review, to consider: (1) revenue sources proposed by relevant legislation or administrative actions; (2) payments based on timber harvests, including thinning to restore forest health, carried out at sustainable levels; (3) payments based on the revenues each county could have received through property taxation if the land owned by the federal government was privately held and subject to a property tax; (4) revenue based on a portion of the proceeds from sales of material collected from public land in Oregon for the production of biomass electricity or cellulosic liquid transportation fuels, user fees for recreational activities on such land, payments for increases in carbon sequestration, and land exchanges or transfers that could provide compensation for nontaxable federal land in the counties; (5) local revenue sources that could be used to reduce or eliminate reliance of the counties on federal funds; (6) federal payments made by the government to the counties, including specified guaranteed payments; and (7) any other revenue source appropriate for review.

Requires the Task Force to hold hearings on the establishment of a sustainable, long-term revenue source for the counties.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Child Care for the Gulf 
Coast Region Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Studies have stated that reopening child care 
        facilities was crucial for helping parents get back to work and 
        businesses to recover.
            (2) Studies have shown that without available and 
        affordable child care economic recovery will be greatly impeded 
        and lead to a reduction in worker productivity.
            (3) In New Orleans before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 
        city had 1,912 day-care slots at 266 licensed centers, but now 
        80 percent of those centers and 75 percent of those slots are 
        gone.
            (4) The National Association of Child Care Resource and 
        Referral Agencies reported in a study published by the 
        Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute that 
        between 62 to 94 percent of the licensed child care slots in 
        the three coastal counties hardest hit by Hurricanes Katrina 
        and Rita in Mississippi were lost.
            (5) In Jackson County, Mississippi, initial assessment 
        found that one-fourth of the county's licensed centers were 
        damaged beyond repair, representing 11 percent of the county's 
        licensed child care capacity. Another 39 percent of centers 
        needed repairs.

TITLE I--EMERGENCY CHILD CARE BUSINESS INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE 
                           GULF COAST REGION

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a 
program to make grants to--
            (1) businesses and consortia in the Gulf Coast Region--
                    (A) to pay start-up costs incurred to provide child 
                care services; or
                    (B) to provide additional child care services 
                needed by the employees of such businesses; and
            (2) nonprofit business organizations in the Gulf Coast 
        Region to provide technical information and assistance to 
        enable businesses to provide child care services.

SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE GRANTS.

    To be eligible to receive a grant under section 101, a business, 
nonprofit business organization, or consortium shall submit to the 
Secretary an application in accordance with section 103.

SEC. 103. APPLICATION.

    The application required by section 102 shall be submitted by a 
business, nonprofit business organization, or consortium at such time, 
in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require by rule, except that such application shall contain--
            (1) an assurance that the applicant shall expend, for the 
        purpose for which such grant is made, an amount not less than 
        10 percent of the amount of such grant;
            (2) an assurance that such applicant will expend such grant 
        for the use specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 101, 
        as the case may be;
            (3) an assurance that such applicant will employ strategies 
        to ensure that child care services provided by such applicant, 
        or provided with the technical information and assistance made 
        available by such applicant, are provided at affordable rates, 
        and on an equitable basis, to low- and moderate-income 
        employees;
            (4) an assurance that such applicant--
                    (A) in the case of a business or consortium, will 
                comply with all State and local licensing requirements 
                applicable to such business or consortium concerning 
                the provision of child care services; or
                    (B) in the case of a nonprofit business 
                organization, will employ procedures to ensure that 
                technical information and assistance provided under 
                this title by such business organization will be 
                provided only to businesses that provide child care 
                services in compliance with all State and local 
                licensing requirements applicable to child care 
                providers in such State; and
            (5) in the case of a business or consortium, an assurance 
        that if the employees of such applicant do not require all the 
        child care services for which such grant and the funds required 
        by paragraph (1) are to be expended by such applicant, the 
        excess of such child care services shall be made available to 
        families in the community in which such applicant is located.

SEC. 104. SELECTION OF GRANTEES.

    For purposes of selecting applicants to receive grants under this 
title, the Secretary shall give priority to businesses that have fewer 
than 200 full-time employees. To the extent practicable, the Secretary 
shall--
            (1) make grants equitably under this title to applicants 
        located in all geographical regions of the United States; and
            (2) give priority to applicants for grants under section 
        101(1).

SEC. 105. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this title:
            (1) Business.--The term ``business'' means a person engaged 
        in commerce whose primary activity is not providing child care 
        services.
            (2) Child care services.--The term ``child care services'' 
        means care for a child that is--
                    (A) provided on the site at which a parent of such 
                child is employed or at a site nearby in the community; 
                and
                    (B) subsidized at least in part by the business 
                that employs such parent.
            (3) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means 4 or more 
        businesses acting jointly. A consortium may also include a 
        nonprofit private organization.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (5) Gulf coast region.--The term ``Gulf Coast Region'' 
        means the area in which the President has declared that a major 
        disaster exists, in accordance with section 401 of the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170), as a consequence of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

TITLE II--EMERGENCY DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD CARE TRAINING INFRASTRUCTURE 
                        IN THE GULF COAST REGION

SEC. 201. GRANTS.

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
award grants to eligible entities to develop distance learning child 
care training technology infrastructures in the Gulf Coast Region and 
to develop model technology-based training courses for child care 
providers and child care workers in the Gulf Coast Region, to be 
provided through distance learning programs made available through the 
infrastructure. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent possible, 
ensure that such grants are awarded in those areas of the Gulf Coast 
Region with the fewest training opportunities for child care providers.
    (b) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (a), an entity shall--
            (1) develop the technological and logistical aspects of the 
        infrastructure described in this section and have the 
        capability of implementing and maintaining the infrastructure;
            (2) to the maximum extent possible, develop partnerships 
        with secondary schools, institutions of higher education, State 
        and local government agencies, and private child care 
        organizations for the purpose of sharing equipment, technical 
        assistance, and other technological resources, including--
                    (A) developing sites from which individuals may 
                access the training;
                    (B) converting standard child care training courses 
                to programs for distance learning; and
                    (C) promoting ongoing networking among program 
                participants; and
            (3) develop a mechanism for participants to--
                    (A) evaluate the effectiveness of the 
                infrastructure, including the availability and 
                affordability of the infrastructure, and the training 
                offered through the infrastructure; and
                    (B) make recommendations for improvements to the 
                infrastructure.
    (c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary 
at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, and that 
includes--
            (1) a description of the partnership organizations through 
        which the distance learning programs will be made available;
            (2) the capacity of the infrastructure in terms of the 
        number and type of distance learning programs that will be made 
        available;
            (3) the expected number of individuals to participate in 
        the distance learning programs; and
            (4) such additional information as the Secretary may 
        require.
    (d) Limitation on Fees.--No entity receiving a grant under this 
section may collect fees from an individual for participation in a 
distance learning program funded in whole or in part under this section 
that exceed the pro rata share of the amount expended by the entity to 
provide materials for the program and to develop, implement, and 
maintain the infrastructure (minus the amount of the grant awarded 
under this section).
    (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as requiring a child care provider to subscribe to or 
complete a distance learning program made available under this section.

SEC. 202. DEFINITION.

    In this title, the term ``Gulf Coast Region'' means the area in 
which the President has declared that a major disaster exists, in 
accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), as a consequence of 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

  TITLE III--EMERGENCY CHILD CARE PROVIDER DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION 
                 GRANT PROGRAM IN THE GULF COAST REGION

SEC. 301. GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
make grants available to eligible child care providers in the Gulf 
Coast Region in accordance with this section, to improve the 
qualifications and promote the retention of qualified child care 
providers.
    (b) Eligibility To Receive Grants.--To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section, a child care provider shall--
            (1) have a child development associate credential (or 
        equivalent), an associate of the arts degree in the area of 
        child development or early child education, a baccalaureate 
        degree in the area of child development or early child 
        education, or a baccalaureate degree in an unrelated field; and
            (2) be employed as a child care provider for not less than 
        1 calendar year, or (if the provider is employed on the date of 
        the eligibility determination in a child care program that 
        operates for less than a full calendar year) the program 
        equivalent of 1 calendar year, ending on the date of the 
        application for such grant, except that not more than 3 months 
        of education related to child development or to early child 
        education obtained during the corresponding calendar year may 
        be treated as employment that satisfies the requirements of 
        this paragraph.
    (c) Preservation of Eligibility.--A State shall not take into 
consideration whether a child care provider is receiving, may receive, 
or may be eligible to receive any funds or benefits under any other 
provision of this Act for purposes of selecting eligible child care 
providers to receive grants under this section.

           TITLE IV--CHILD CARE PROVIDER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

SEC. 401. SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
make scholarship grants available to eligible child care providers in 
accordance with this section to improve their educational 
qualifications to provide child care services.
    (b) Eligibility Requirement for Scholarship Grants.--To be eligible 
to receive a scholarship grant under this section, a child care 
provider shall be employed as a child care provider for not less than 1 
calendar year, or (if the provider is employed on the date of the 
eligibility determination in a child care program that operates for 
less than a full calendar year) the program equivalent of 1 calendar 
year, ending on the date of the application for such grant.
    (c) Selection of Grantees.--For purposes of selecting eligible 
child care providers to receive scholarship grants under this section 
and determining the amounts of such grants, a State shall not--
            (1) take into consideration whether a child care provider 
        is receiving, may receive, or may be eligible to receive any 
        funds or benefits under any other provision of this Act, or 
        under any other Federal or State law that provides funds for 
        educational purposes; or
            (2) consider as resources of such provider any funds such 
        provider is receiving, may receive, or may be eligible to 
        receive under any other provision of this Act, under any other 
        Federal or State law that provides funds for educational 
        purposes, or from a private entity.
    (d) Cost-Sharing Required.--The amount of a scholarship grant made 
under this section to an eligible child care provider shall be equal to 
or less than the cost of the educational or training program for which 
such grant is made.
    (e) Annual Maximum Scholarship Grant Amount.--The maximum aggregate 
dollar amount of a scholarship grant made to an eligible child care 
provider under this section in a fiscal year shall be $7,500.
[EX A]:
Emergency Child Care for the Gulf Coast Region Act of 2006 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish grant programs for: (1) businesses and consortia in the Gulf Coast Region to pay start-up costs and to provide additional child care services for employees; (2) nonprofit business organizations in the Region to provide technical assistance to such businesses for child care services; (3) entities to develop distance learning child care training technology infrastructures and model technology-based training courses for child care providers and workers in the Region; and (4) child care providers in the Region to improve the qualifications and promote the retention of such providers. Defines "Gulf Coast Region" to mean the area declared by the President to be a major disaster as a consequence of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make scholarship grants to child care providers to improve their educational qualifications to provide services.