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

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge 
Establishment Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
        (1) as the southernmost unleveed portion of the Mississippi 
    River, Cat Island, Louisiana, is one of the last remaining tracts 
    in the lower Mississippi Valley that is still influenced by the 
    natural dynamics of the river;
        (2) Cat Island supports one of the highest densities of virgin 
    bald cypress trees in the entire Mississippi River Valley, 
    including the Nation's champion cypress tree which is 17 feet wide 
    and has a circumference of 53 feet;
        (3) Cat Island is important habitat for several declining 
    species of forest songbirds and supports thousands of wintering 
    waterfowl;
        (4) Cat Island supports high populations of deer, turkey, and 
    furbearers, such as mink and bobcats;
        (5) conservation and enhancement of this area through inclusion 
    in the National Wildlife Refuge System would help meet the habitat 
    conservation goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan;
        (6) these forested wetlands represent one of the most valuable 
    and productive wildlife habitat types in the United States, and 
    have extremely high recreational value for hunters, anglers, 
    birdwatchers, nature photographers, and others; and
        (7) the Cat Island area is deserving of inclusion in the 
    National Wildlife Refuge System.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
        (1) the term ``Refuge'' means the Cat Island National Wildlife 
    Refuge; and
        (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 4. PURPOSES.

    The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall be 
managed are--
        (1) to conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary to 
    contribute to the migratory bird population goals and habitat 
    objective as established through the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint 
    Venture;
        (2) to conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic 
    resource values associated with the area's forested wetlands and to 
    achieve the habitat objectives of the ``Mississippi River Aquatic 
    Resources Management Plan'';
        (3) to conserve, enhance, and restore the historic native 
    bottomland community characteristics of the lower Mississippi 
    alluvial valley and its associated fish, wildlife, and plant 
    species;
        (4) to conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain and 
    assist in the recovery of endangered, and threatened plants and 
    animals; and
        (5) to encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate 
    partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 
    local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-
    Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources of 
    the Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System and public 
    participation in the conservation of those resources.

SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE.

    (a) Acquisition Boundary.--The Secretary is authorized to establish 
the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of approximately 
36,500 acres of land and water, as depicted upon a map entitled ``Cat 
Island National Wildlife Refuge-Proposed'', dated February 8, 2000, and 
available for inspection in appropriate offices of the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (b) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make such minor 
revisions of the boundary designated under this section as may be 
appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to facilitate 
the acquisition of property within the Refuge.
    (c) Acquisition.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire the lands 
and waters, or interests therein, within the acquisition boundary 
described in subsection (a) of this section.
    (d) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish the Refuge by 
publication of a notice to that effect in the Federal Register and 
publications of local circulation whenever sufficient property has been 
acquired to constitute an area that can be efficiently managed as a 
National Wildlife Refuge.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters, 
and interests therein acquired under this Act in accordance with the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et 
seq.). The Secretary may use such additional statutory authority as may 
be available for the conservation of fish and wildlife, and the 
provision of fish- and wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities as 
the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this 
Act.
    (b) Priority Uses.--In providing opportunities for compatible fish- 
and wildlife-oriented recreation, the Secretary, in accordance with 
paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), shall ensure 
that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses 
of the Refuge.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the 
Interior--
        (1) such funds as may be necessary for the acquisition of lands 
    and waters designated in section 5(c); and
        (2) such funds as may be necessary for the development, 
    operation, and maintenance of the Refuge.

SEC. 8. DESIGNATION OF HERBERT H. BATEMAN EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
              CENTER.

    (a) In General.--A building proposed to be located within the 
boundaries of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on Assateague 
Island, Virginia, shall be known and designated as the ``Herbert H. 
Bateman Education and Administrative Center''.
    (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, 
paper, or other record of the United States to the building referred to 
in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Herbert H. 
Bateman Education and Administrative Center.

SEC. 9. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of the Act 
entitled, ``An Act to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation 
and Design Program Act of 1994'' (106th Congress), section 6 of the 
Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 103-340), relating to an environmental 
education center and refuge, is redesignated as section 7.
    (b) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of the 
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act (106th 
Congress), section 6 of that Act is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the Endangered Species Act 
    of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.)'' and inserting ``the Endangered 
    Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)''; and
        (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``section 4(a)(3) and (4) of 
    the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
    U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4))'' and inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (4) 
    of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
    Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a))''.
    (c) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of the Red 
River National Wildlife Refuge Act (106th Congress), section 4(b)(2)(D) 
of that Act is amended by striking ``section 4(a)(3) and (4) of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 
668ee(a)(3), (4))'' and inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 
4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 
(16 U.S.C. 668dd(a))''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.
answer:
Directs the Secretary, in providing opportunities for compatible fish- and wildlife-oriented recreation on the Refuge, to ensure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses of the Refuge.
Authorizes appropriations.
Designates a building proposed to be located within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia, as the Herbert H. Bateman Education And Administrative Center.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Center for Social Work 
Research Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Social workers focus on the improvement of individual 
        and family functioning and the creation of effective health and 
        mental health prevention and treatment interventions in order 
        for individuals to become more productive members of society.
            (2) Social workers provide front line prevention and 
        treatment services in the areas of school violence, aging, teen 
        pregnancy, child abuse, domestic violence, juvenile crime, and 
        substance abuse, particularly in rural and underserved 
        communities.
            (3) Social workers are in a unique position to provide 
        valuable research information on these complex social concerns, 
        taking into account a wide range of social, medical, economic 
        and community influences from an interdisciplinary, family-
        centered and community-based approach.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH.

    Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.), 
as amended by title I of Public Law 106-525, is amended--
            (1) in section 401(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 281(b)(2)), by adding 
        at the end the following:
            ``(H) The National Center for Social Work Research.''; and
            (2) in part E (42 U.S.C. 287 et seq.), by adding at the end 
        the following:

         ``Subpart 7--National Center for Social Work Research

``SEC. 485J. PURPOSE OF CENTER.

    ``The general purpose of the National Center for Social Work 
Research (referred to in this subpart as the `Center') is the conduct 
and support of, and dissemination of targeted research on social work 
methods and outcomes related to problems of significant social concern. 
The Center shall promote research and training designed to inform 
social work practice, thus increasing the knowledge base which promotes 
a healthier America. In addition, the Center shall provide policymakers 
with empirically-based research information to better understand 
complex social issues and make informed funding decisions about service 
effectiveness and cost efficiency.

``SEC. 485K. SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--To carry out the purpose described in section 
485J, the Director of the Center may provide research training and 
instruction and establish, in the Center and in other nonprofit 
institutions, research traineeships and fellowships in the study and 
investigation of the prevention of disease, health promotion, the 
association of socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, age, and 
geographical location and health, the social work care of persons with 
and families of individuals with acute and chronic illnesses, child 
abuse, neglect, and youth violence, and child and family care to 
address problems of significant social concern especially in 
underserved populations and underserved geographical areas.
    ``(b) Stipends and Allowances.--The Director of the Center may 
provide individuals receiving training and instruction or traineeships 
or fellowships under subsection (a) with such stipends and allowances 
(including amounts for travel and subsistence and dependency 
allowances) as the Director determines necessary.
    ``(c) Grants.--The Director of the Center may make grants to 
nonprofit institutions to provide training and instruction and 
traineeships and fellowships under subsection (a).

``SEC. 485L. ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    ``(a) Duties.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory council for the Center that shall advise, assist, 
        consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and the 
        Director of the Center on matters related to the activities 
carried out by and through the Center and the policies with respect to 
such activities.
            ``(2) Gifts.--The advisory council for the Center may 
        recommend to the Secretary the acceptance, in accordance with 
        section 231, of conditional gifts for study, investigations, 
        and research and for the acquisition of grounds or 
        construction, equipment, or maintenance of facilities for the 
        Center.
            ``(3) Other duties and functions.--The advisory council for 
        the Center--
                    ``(A)(i) may make recommendations to the Director 
                of the Center with respect to research to be conducted 
                by the Center;
                    ``(ii) may review applications for grants and 
                cooperative agreements for research or training and 
                recommend for approval applications for projects that 
                demonstrate the probability of making valuable 
                contributions to human knowledge; and
                    ``(iii) may review any grant, contract, or 
                cooperative agreement proposed to be made or entered 
                into by the Center;
                    ``(B) may collect, by correspondence or by personal 
                investigation, information relating to studies that are 
                being carried out in the United States or any other 
                country and, with the approval of the Director of the 
                Center, make such information available through 
                appropriate publications; and
                    ``(C) may appoint subcommittees and convene 
                workshops and conferences.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The advisory council shall be composed 
        of the ex officio members described in paragraph (2) and not 
        more than 18 individuals to be appointed by the Secretary under 
        paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Ex officio members.--The ex officio members of the 
        advisory council shall include--
                    ``(A) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
                the Director of NIH, the Director of the Center, the 
                Chief Social Work Officer of the Veterans' 
                Administration, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
                Health Affairs, the Associate Director of Prevention 
                Research at the National Institute of Mental Health, 
                the Director of the Division of Epidemiology and 
                Services Research, the Assistant Secretary of Health 
                and Human Services for the Administration for Children 
                and Families, the Assistant Secretary of Education for 
                the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, the 
                Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
                for Community Planning and Development, and the 
                Assistant Attorney General for Office of Justice 
                Programs (or the designees of such officers); and
                    ``(B) such additional officers or employees of the 
                United States as the Secretary determines necessary for 
                the advisory council to effectively carry out its 
                functions.
            ``(3) Appointed members.--The Secretary shall appoint not 
        to exceed 18 individuals to the advisory council, of which--
                    ``(A) not more than two-thirds of such individual 
                shall be appointed from among the leading 
                representatives of the health and scientific 
                disciplines (including public health and the behavioral 
                or social sciences) relevant to the activities of the 
                Center, and at least 7 such individuals shall be 
                professional social workers who are recognized experts 
                in the area of clinical practice, education, policy, or 
                research; and
                    ``(B) not more than one-third of such individuals 
                shall be appointed from the general public and shall 
                include leaders in fields of public policy, law, health 
                policy, economics, and management.
        The Secretary shall make appointments to the advisory council 
        in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the members do 
        not all expire in the same year.
            ``(4) Compensation.--Members of the advisory council who 
        are officers or employees of the United States shall not 
        receive any compensation for service on the advisory council. 
        The remaining members shall receive, for each day (including 
        travel time) they are engaged in the performance of the 
        functions of the advisory council, compensation at rates not to 
        exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate in effect for an 
        individual at grade GS-18 of the General Schedule.
    ``(c) Terms.--
            ``(1) In general.--The term of office of an individual 
        appointed to the advisory council under subsection (b)(3) shall 
        be 4 years, except that any individual appointed to fill a 
        vacancy on the advisory council shall serve for the remainder 
        of the unexpired term. A member may serve after the 
expiration of the member's term until a successor has been appointed.
            ``(2) Reappointments.--A member of the advisory council who 
        has been appointed under subsection (b)(3) for a term of 4 
        years may not be reappointed to the advisory council prior to 
        the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date on 
        which the prior term expired.
            ``(3) Vacancy.--If a vacancy occurs on the advisory council 
        among the members under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall 
        make an appointment to fill that vacancy not later than 90 days 
        after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
    ``(d) Chairperson.--The chairperson of the advisory council shall 
be selected by the Secretary from among the members appointed under 
subsection (b)(3), except that the Secretary may select the Director of 
the Center to be the chairperson of the advisory council. The term of 
office of the chairperson shall be 2 years.
    ``(e) Meetings.--The advisory council shall meet at the call of the 
chairperson or upon the request of the Director of the Center, but not 
less than 3 times each fiscal year. The location of the meetings of the 
advisory council shall be subject to the approval of the Director of 
the Center.
    ``(f) Administrative Provisions.--The Director of the Center shall 
designate a member of the staff of the Center to serve as the executive 
secretary of the advisory council. The Director of the Center shall 
make available to the advisory council such staff, information, and 
other assistance as the council may require to carry out its functions. 
The Director of the Center shall provide orientation and training for 
new members of the advisory council to provide such members with such 
information and training as may be appropriate for their effective 
participation in the functions of the advisory council.
    ``(g) Comments and Recommendations.--The advisory council may 
prepare, for inclusion in the biennial report under section 485M--
            ``(1) comments with respect to the activities of the 
        advisory council in the fiscal years for which the report is 
        prepared;
            ``(2) comments on the progress of the Center in meeting its 
        objectives; and
            ``(3) recommendations with respect to the future direction 
        and program and policy emphasis of the center.
The advisory council may prepare such additional reports as it may 
determine appropriate.

``SEC. 485M. BIENNIAL REPORT.

    ``The Director of the Center, after consultation with the advisory 
council for the Center, shall prepare for inclusion in the biennial 
report under section 403, a biennial report that shall consist of a 
description of the activities of the Center and program policies of the 
Director of the Center in the fiscal years for which the report is 
prepared. The Director of the Center may prepare such additional 
reports as the Director determines appropriate. The Director of the 
Center shall provide the advisory council of the Center an opportunity 
for the submission of the written comments described in section 
485L(g).

``SEC. 485N. QUARTERLY REPORT.

    ``The Director of the Center shall prepare a quarterly report to 
Congress with a summary of findings and policy implications from 
research conducted or supported through the Center.

``SEC. 485O. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``For the purpose of carrying out this subpart, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002 
through 2006.''.
answer:
National Center for Social Work Research Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the National Center for Social Work Research (and a related advisory council) to conduct, support, and disseminate targeted research on social work methods and outcomes related to problems of significant social concern.Sets forth reporting requirements.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Participation, Engagement, 
and Knowledge Freedom by Reducing Egregious Efforts Act of 2015'' or 
the ``SPEAK FREE Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL MOTION TO DISMISS STRATEGIC LAWSUITS AGAINST PUBLIC 
              PARTICIPATION.

    (a) In General.--Part VI of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended by adding after chapter 181 the following new chapter:

  ``CHAPTER 182--SPECIAL MOTION TO DISMISS STRATEGIC LAWSUITS AGAINST 
                          PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

``Sec.
``4201. Strategic lawsuit against public participation defined.
``4202. Motion to dismiss strategic lawsuit against public 
                            participation.
``4203. Discovery.
``4204. Interlocutory appeal.
``4205. Motion to quash.
``4206. Removal.
``4207. Fees, costs, and sanctions.
``4208. Definitions.
``Sec. 4201. Strategic lawsuit against public participation defined
    ``In this chapter, the term `strategic lawsuit against public 
participation' or `SLAPP suit' means a claim that arises from an oral 
or written statement or other expression, or conduct in furtherance of 
such expression, by the person against whom the claim is asserted that 
was made in connection with an official proceeding or about a matter of 
public concern.
``Sec. 4202. Special motion to dismiss strategic lawsuit against public 
              participation
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a person 
against whom a SLAPP suit is asserted may file a special motion to 
dismiss. If the party filing a special motion to dismiss a SLAPP suit 
makes a prima facie showing that the claim at issue arises from an oral 
or written statement or other expression by the defendant that was made 
in connection with an official proceeding or about a matter of public 
concern, then the motion shall be granted and the claim dismissed with 
prejudice, unless the responding party demonstrates that the claim is 
likely to succeed on the merits, in which case the motion shall be 
denied.
    ``(b) Exceptions.--
            ``(1) Enforcement actions.--The court shall not grant a 
        special motion to dismiss under this section if the claim is an 
        enforcement action brought by an agency or entity of the 
        Federal Government or a State or local government.
            ``(2) Commercial speech.--Except as provided in subsection 
        (c), the court shall not grant a special motion to dismiss 
        under this section if the claim is brought against a person 
        primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods 
        or services where such claim arises from the statement or 
        conduct of such person and such statement or conduct--
                    ``(A) consists of representations of fact about 
                such person's or a business competitor's goods or 
                services, that is made for the purpose of obtaining 
                approval for, promoting, or securing sales or leases 
                of, or commercial transactions in, the person's goods 
                or services, or the statement or conduct was made in 
                the course of delivering the person's goods or 
                services; and
                    ``(B) arises out of the sale or lease of goods, 
                services, or an insurance product, insurance services, 
                or a commercial transaction in which the intended 
                audience is an actual or potential buyer or customer.
            ``(3) Public interest.--Except as provided in subsection 
        (c), the court shall not grant a special motion to dismiss 
        under this section if the claim is a public interest claim.
    ``(c) Limitations on Exceptions.--Paragraphs (2) and (3) of 
subsection (b) shall not apply as to--
            ``(1) any claim against a person or entity engaged in the 
        dissemination of ideas or expression in any book or academic 
        journal, while engaged in the gathering, receiving, or 
        processing of information for communication to the public;
            ``(2) any claim against any person or entity based upon 
        statements or conduct concerning the creation, dissemination, 
        exhibition, advertisement, or other similar promotion of 
        journalistic, consumer commentary, dramatic, literary, musical, 
        political, or artistic works, including motion pictures, 
        television programs, or articles published online or in a 
        newspaper or magazine of general circulation; or
            ``(3) any claim against a nonprofit organization that 
        receives more than 50 percent of annual revenue grants or 
        awards from, programs of, or reimbursements for services 
        rendered to the Federal, State, or local government.
    ``(d) Time Limit.--Unless the court grants an extension, a motion 
to dismiss a SLAPP suit shall be filed--
            ``(1) not later than 45 days after the date of service of 
        the claim, if the claim is filed in a Federal court; or
            ``(2) not later than 30 days after the date of removal, if 
        the claim is removed to Federal court under section 4206.
    ``(e) Hearing.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and 
        (3), the court shall set a hearing on a special motion to 
        dismiss a SLAPP suit on a date not later than 30 days after the 
        date of service of the special motion to dismiss a SLAPP suit.
            ``(2) Hearing postponed.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (3), the court may postpone the hearing for up to 60 days, but 
        shall set the hearing on a date that is not later than 90 days 
        after the date of service of the special motion to dismiss a 
        SLAPP suit, if--
                    ``(A) the docket conditions of the court require a 
                later hearing;
                    ``(B) there is a showing of good cause; or
                    ``(C) the parties agree to postpone the hearing.
            ``(3) Extension for discovery.--If the court allows 
        specified discovery under subsection (a) of section 4203, the 
        court may extend the hearing date to allow specified discovery 
        under that subsection, but the court shall set the hearing on a 
        date not later than 120 days after the date of service of the 
        special motion to dismiss a SLAPP suit.
    ``(f) Ruling.--The court must rule on a special motion to dismiss a 
SLAPP suit not later than 30 days after the date on which the final 
paper is required to be filed or the date argument is heard, whichever 
is later.
    ``(g) Evidence.--
            ``(1) In general.--In determining whether a legal action 
        should be dismissed under this chapter, the court shall 
        consider the pleadings and affidavits stating the facts on 
        which the liability or defense is based.
            ``(2) Discovery.--If the court has ordered specified 
        discovery pursuant to section 4203, the court may consider such 
        discovery.
``Sec. 4203. Stay of discovery
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), upon the 
filing of a special motion to dismiss under section 4202, discovery 
proceedings in the action shall be stayed until a final and 
unappealable order is entered on such motion unless good cause is shown 
for specified discovery.
    ``(b) Exception.--A stay issued under subsection (a) based on the 
filing of a special motion to dismiss under section 4202, that only 
seeks dismissal of a third-party claim or a cross claim asserted by a 
defendant shall only apply to discovery that is requested by the party 
asserting the third-party claim or cross claim or discovery that 
relates solely to the third-party claim or cross claim.
``Sec. 4204. Interlocutory appeal
    ``An aggrieved party may take an immediate interlocutory appeal 
from an order granting or denying in whole or in part a special motion 
to dismiss under section 4202.
``Sec. 4205. Motion to quash
    ``A person whose personally identifying information is sought in 
connection with a claim subject to the procedure described in section 
4202(a) may at any time file a motion to quash the order to produce the 
information. If the party filing a motion to quash makes a prima facie 
showing that the order is for personally identifying information, then 
the motion shall be granted and the order to produce the personally 
identifying information shall be quashed, unless the responding party 
demonstrates with an evidentiary showing that the claim is likely to 
succeed on the merits of each and every element of the claim, in which 
case the motion to quash shall be denied. No determinations made in 
deciding a motion to quash under this section shall impede or otherwise 
diminish the availability of the procedures described in section 
4202(a).
``Sec. 4206. Removal
    ``(a) Special Motion To Dismiss SLAPP Suit.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
        civil action in a State court that raises a claim described in 
        section 4202(a) may be removed to the district court of the 
        United States for the judicial district and division embracing 
        the place where the civil action is pending. The grounds for 
        removal provided in this section need not appear on the face of 
        the complaint but may be shown in the petition for removal.
            ``(2) Exception.--Removal may not be requested under 
        paragraph (1) on the basis of a third-party claim or a cross 
        claim asserted by a defendant.
            ``(3) Remand.--If a civil action is removed under paragraph 
        (1) and an order denying in its entirety a motion to dismiss 
        filed under section 4202 is not appealed within the time 
        permitted by law or all potential appellate proceedings have 
        been exhausted, the court shall remand the remaining claims to 
        the State court from which the civil action was removed. The 
        remaining claims shall not be remanded to State court if the 
        order granted a motion to dismiss in part and such order is not 
        appealed within the time permitted by law or all potential 
        appellate proceedings have been exhausted.
    ``(b) Motion To Quash.--A proceeding in a State court in which a 
request or order that reasonably appears to be a request or order 
described in section 4205 is sought or issued may be removed to the 
district court of the United States for the judicial district and 
division embracing the place where the civil action is pending by any 
person that seeks to file a motion to quash under section 4205 and 
asserts a defense based on the First Amendment to the Constitution or 
laws of the United States.
``Sec. 4207. Fees, costs, and sanctions
    ``(a) Attorneys Fees.--Except as provided in subsection (c), a 
court shall award a person that files and prevails on a motion to 
dismiss under section 4202 or a motion to quash under section 4205, 
litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorneys fees. A 
party shall be a prevailing party as to a special motion to dismiss or 
to quash if a claim or discovery request is voluntarily dismissed or 
withdrawn after the filing of a special motion to dismiss.
    ``(b) Frivolous Motions to Dismiss.--Except as provided in 
subsection (c), if a court finds that a motion to dismiss under section 
4202, a motion to quash under section 4205, or a notice of removal 
under section 4206 is frivolous or is solely intended to cause 
unnecessary delay, the court shall award litigation costs, expert 
witness fees, and reasonable attorneys fees to the party that responded 
to the motion or notice.
    ``(c) Exception.--The Federal Government and the government of a 
State, or political subdivision thereof, may not recover litigation 
costs, expert witness fees, or attorneys fees under this section.
``Sec. 4208. Definitions
    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) Matter of public concern.--The term `matter of public 
        concern' means an issue related to--
                    ``(A) health or safety;
                    ``(B) environmental, economic, or community well-
                being;
                    ``(C) the government;
                    ``(D) a public official or public figure; or
                    ``(E) a good, product, or service in the 
                marketplace.
            ``(2) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit 
        organization' means any organization that is described in 
        section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is 
        exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
            ``(3) Public interest claim.--The term `public interest 
        claim' means a claim--
                    ``(A) that is brought solely on behalf of the 
                general public;
                    ``(B) where private enforcement is necessary;
                    ``(C) that places a disproportionate financial 
                burden on the plaintiff in relation to the plaintiff's 
                stake in the matter;
                    ``(D) that, if successful, enforces an important 
                right affecting the public interest and confers a 
                significant benefit on the general public; and
                    ``(E) notwithstanding attorneys fees, costs, or 
                penalties, would provide relief only for the general 
                public or a class of which the plaintiff is a member.
            ``(4) State.--The term `State' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, 
        or possession of the United States, and each federally 
        recognized Indian tribe.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of chapters.--The table of chapters for part VI 
        of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
        the item relating to chapter 181 the following new item:

``182. Special Motion to dismiss strategic lawsuits against     4201''.
                            public participation.
            (2) Interlocutory decisions.--Section 1292(a) of title 28, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking the semicolon at 
                the end and inserting a period;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the semicolon at 
                the end and inserting a period; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Interlocutory orders granting or denying in whole or 
        in part special motions to dismiss under section 4202.''.
            (3) Exceptions to discharge.--Section 523(a) of title 11, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (18), by striking ``; or'' at the 
                end and inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (19), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (19) the 
                following:
            ``(20) for litigation costs, expert witness fees, or 
        reasonable attorney's fees awarded by a court under chapter 182 
        of title 28 or under comparable State laws.''.
    (c) Relationship to Other Laws.--Nothing in this Act, or the 
amendments made by this Act, shall preempt or supersede any Federal or 
State statutory, constitutional, case, or common law that provides the 
equivalent or greater protection for persons engaging in activities 
protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--This Act, and the amendments made by 
this Act, shall be construed broadly to effectuate the purpose and 
intent of this Act.
answer:

Securing Participation, Engagement, and Knowledge Freedom by Reducing Egregious Efforts Act of 2015 or the SPEAK FREE Act of 2015 Amends the federal judicial code to allow a person against whom a lawsuit is asserted to file a special motion to dismiss claims referred to as strategic lawsuits against public participation (&quot;SLAPP suits&quot;) that arise from an oral or written statement or other expression, or conduct in furtherance of such expression, by the defendant in connection with an official proceeding or about a matter of public concern.  Defines &quot;matter of public concern&quot; as an issue related to: (1) health or safety; (2) environmental, economic, or community well-being; (3) the government; (4) a public official or public figure; or (5) a good, product, or service in the marketplace.  Requires courts to grant such a special motion to dismiss if the party filing the motion makes a prima facie showing that the claim asserted against them is a SLAPP suit, unless the responding party demonstrates that the claim is likely to succeed on the merits. Provides exceptions prohibiting courts from granting such a special motion to dismiss if the claim concerns:   a government enforcement action, a business making representations of fact in commercial speech to consumers about its own or a business competitor's goods or services, or a public interest claim on behalf of the general public.   Allows dismissal of private suits, notwithstanding such commercial speech and public interest exceptions, if the claim is against:  a person or entity engaged in activities to disseminate or express ideas to the public in a book or academic journal;  any person or entity based upon statements or conduct concerning the creation, dissemination, exhibition, advertisement, or other promotion of journalistic, consumer commentary, dramatic, literary, musical, political, or artistic works, including motion pictures, television programs, or articles published online or in a newspaper or magazine of general circulation; or a nonprofit organization that receives more than 50% of annual revenue grants or awards from, programs of, or reimbursements for services rendered to the government. Sets forth special procedural requirements for discovery and motions.  Requires courts to award litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney's fees to private parties that filed and prevailed on certain motions under this Act or to parties that responded to motions found to be frivolous.