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 ``Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers 
Equally and Responsibly Act of 2017'' or the ``BROWSER Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICIES.

    (a) In General.--A provider of a covered service shall provide the 
users of the service with notice of the privacy policies of the 
provider with respect to the service. Such notice shall be clear and 
conspicuous.
    (b) Availability to Prospective Users.--The notice required by 
subsection (a) shall be made available to prospective users--
            (1) at the point of sale of, subscription to, or 
        establishment of an account for the covered service, prior to 
        such sale, subscription, or establishment, whether such point 
        of sale, subscription, or establishment is in person, online, 
        over the telephone, or through another means; or
            (2) if there is no such sale, subscription, or 
        establishment, before the user uses the service.
    (c) Persistent Availability.--The notice required by subsection (a) 
shall be made persistently available.
    (d) Material Changes.--A provider of a covered service shall 
provide users with advance notice of any material change to the privacy 
policies of the provider. The notice required by this subsection shall 
be clear and conspicuous.

SEC. 3. USER OPT-IN OR OPT-OUT APPROVAL RIGHTS BASED ON SENSITIVITY OF 
              INFORMATION.

    (a) Opt-In Approval Required for Sensitive User Information.--
Except as provided in subsection (c), a provider of a covered service 
shall obtain opt-in approval from a user to use, disclose, or permit 
access to the sensitive user information of the user.
    (b) Opt-Out Approval Required for Non-Sensitive User Information.--
Except as provided in subsection (c)--
            (1) a provider of a covered service shall obtain opt-out 
        approval from a user to use, disclose, or permit access to any 
        of the non-sensitive user information of the user; or
            (2) if the provider so chooses, the provider may comply 
        with the requirement of paragraph (1) by obtaining opt-in 
        approval from the user to use, disclose, or permit access to 
        any such non-sensitive user information.
    (c) Limitations and Exceptions.--A provider of a covered service 
may use, disclose, or permit access to user information without user 
approval for the following purposes:
            (1) In providing the covered service from which such 
        information is derived, or in providing services necessary to, 
        or used in, the provision of such service.
            (2) To initiate, render, bill, and collect for the covered 
        service.
            (3) To protect the rights or property of the provider, or 
        to protect users of the covered service and other service 
        providers from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful use of the 
        service.
            (4) To provide location information or non-sensitive user 
        information--
                    (A) to a public safety answering point, emergency 
                medical service provider or emergency dispatch 
                provider, public safety, fire service, or law 
                enforcement official, or hospital emergency or trauma 
                care facility, in order to respond to the request of 
                the user for emergency services;
                    (B) to inform the legal guardian of the user, or 
                members of the immediate family of the user, of the 
                location of the user in an emergency situation that 
                involves the risk of death or serious physical harm; or
                    (C) to providers of information or database 
                management services solely for purposes of assisting in 
                the delivery of emergency services in response to an 
                emergency.
            (5) As otherwise required or authorized by law.
    (d) Mechanism for Exercising User Approval.--
            (1) In general.--A provider of a covered service shall make 
        available a simple, easy-to-use mechanism for users to grant, 
        deny, or withdraw opt-in approval or opt-out approval at any 
        time.
            (2) Form and manner.--The mechanism required by paragraph 
        (1) shall be--
                    (A) clear and conspicuous; and
                    (B) made available--
                            (i) at no additional cost to the user; and
                            (ii) in a language other than English, if 
                        the provider transacts business with the user 
                        in such other language.
            (3) Effect.--The grant, denial, or withdrawal of opt-in 
        approval or opt-out approval by a user shall--
                    (A) be given effect promptly; and
                    (B) remain in effect until the user revokes or 
                limits such grant, denial, or withdrawal of approval.

SEC. 4. SERVICE OFFERS CONDITIONED ON WAIVERS OF PRIVACY RIGHTS.

    A provider of a covered service may not--
            (1) condition, or effectively condition, provision of such 
        service on agreement by a user to waive privacy rights 
        guaranteed by law or regulation, including this Act; or
            (2) terminate such service or otherwise refuse to provide 
        such service as a direct or indirect consequence of the refusal 
        of a user to waive any such privacy rights.

SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.

    (a) General Application.--The requirements of this Act apply, 
according to their terms, to--
            (1) those persons, partnerships, and corporations over 
        which the Commission has authority pursuant to section 5(a)(2) 
        of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(2)); and
            (2) providers of broadband internet access service, 
        notwithstanding the exception in such section for common 
        carriers subject to the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        151 et seq.).
    (b) Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices.--A violation of this Act 
shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or practice in or 
affecting commerce for purposes of section 5(a)(2) of the Federal Trade 
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(2)).
    (c) Powers of Commission.--Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) 
of this section--
            (1) the Commission shall enforce this Act in the same 
        manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, 
        powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and 
        provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et 
        seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act; and
            (2) any person who violates this Act shall be subject to 
        the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities 
        provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Broadband internet access service.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``broadband internet 
                access service'' means a mass-market retail service by 
                wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit 
                data to and receive data from all or substantially all 
                internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are 
                incidental to and enable the operation of the 
                communications service, but excluding dial-up internet 
                access service.
                    (B) Functional equivalent; evasion.--Such term also 
                includes any service that--
                            (i) the Commission finds to be providing a 
                        functional equivalent of the service described 
                        in subparagraph (A); or
                            (ii) is used to evade the protections set 
                        forth in this Act.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Trade Commission.
            (3) Covered service.--The term ``covered service'' means--
                    (A) broadband internet access service; or
                    (B) an edge service.
            (4) Edge service.--The term ``edge service''--
                    (A) means a service provided over the internet--
                            (i) for which the provider requires the 
                        user to subscribe or establish an account in 
                        order to use the service;
                            (ii) that the user purchases from the 
                        provider of the service without a subscription 
                        or account;
                            (iii) by which a program searches for and 
                        identifies items in a database that correspond 
                        to keywords or characters specified by the 
                        user, used especially for finding particular 
                        sites on the World Wide Web; or
                            (iv) by which the user divulges sensitive 
                        user information; and
                    (B) includes a service described in subparagraph 
                (A) that is provided through a software program, 
                including a mobile application.
            (5) Emergency services.--The term ``emergency services'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 222 of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222).
            (6) Material.--The term ``material'' means, with respect to 
        a change in a privacy policy of a provider of a covered 
        service, any change in such policy that a user of the service, 
        acting reasonably under the circumstances, would consider 
        important to the decisions of the user regarding the privacy of 
        the user, including any change to information required to be 
        included in a privacy notice under section 2.
            (7) Mobile application.--The term ``mobile application'' 
        means a software program that runs on the operating system of a 
        mobile device.
            (8) Non-sensitive user information.--The term ``non-
        sensitive user information'' means any user information that is 
        not sensitive user information.
            (9) Opt-in approval.--The term ``opt-in approval'' means a 
        method for obtaining from a user of a covered service consent 
        to use, disclose, or permit access to sensitive user 
        information under which the provider of the service obtains 
        express consent allowing the requested usage, disclosure, or 
        access to the sensitive user information.
            (10) Opt-out approval.--The term ``opt-out approval'' means 
        a method for obtaining from a user of a covered service consent 
        to use, disclose, or permit access to non-sensitive user 
        information under which the user is deemed to have consented to 
        the use, disclosure, or access to the non-sensitive user 
        information if the user has failed to object to such use, 
        disclosure, or access.
            (11) Public safety answering point.--The term ``public 
        safety answering point'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222).
            (12) Sensitive user information.--The term ``sensitive user 
        information'' includes any of the following:
                    (A) Financial information.
                    (B) Health information.
                    (C) Information pertaining to children under the 
                age of 13.
                    (D) Social Security number.
                    (E) Precise geo-location information.
                    (F) Content of communications.
                    (G) Web browsing history, history of usage of a 
                software program (including a mobile application), and 
                the functional equivalents of either.
            (13) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United 
        States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, any 
        other territory or possession of the United States, and each 
        federally recognized Indian Tribe.
            (14) User.--The term ``user'' means, with respect to a 
        covered service, a person who--
                    (A) is a current or former--
                            (i) subscriber to such service; or
                            (ii) holder of an account for such service;
                    (B) purchases such service without a subscription 
                or account;
                    (C) is an applicant for such service; or
                    (D) in the case of a service described in clause 
                (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (4)(A), uses the service.
            (15) User information.--The term ``user information'' means 
        any information that--
                    (A) a provider of a covered service acquires in 
                connection with the provision of such service; and
                    (B) is linked or reasonably linkable to an 
                individual.

SEC. 7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.

    (a) Preemption of State Law.--No State or political subdivision of 
a State shall, with respect to a provider of a covered service subject 
to this Act, adopt, maintain, enforce, or impose or continue in effect 
any law, rule, regulation, duty, requirement, standard, or other 
provision having the force and effect of law relating to or with 
respect to the privacy of user information.
    (b) Other Federal Law.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        nothing in this Act shall be construed to supercede any other 
        Federal statute or regulation relating to information privacy.
            (2) Communications act of 1934.--Insofar as any provision 
        of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) or 
        any regulations promulgated under such Act apply to any person, 
        partnership, or corporation subject to this Act with respect to 
        privacy policies, terms of service, and practices covered by 
        this Act, such provision of the Communications Act of 1934 or 
        such regulations shall have no force or effect, unless such 
        regulations pertain to emergency services.

SOLUTION: Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibly Act of 2017 or the BROWSER Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to enforce information privacy protections that require broadband Internet access services and certain websites or mobile applications providing subscription, account, purchase, or search engine services to allow users to opt-in or opt-out of the use, disclosure, or access to their user information depending on the sensitivity of the information.  Opt-in approval through the user's express consent must be obtained for the use of sensitive information that is:   financial information, health information, about children under 13, Social Security numbers, precise geo-location information, content of communications, web browsing history, or  history of usage of a software program or mobile application.  Opt-out approval must be provided for the use of non-sensitive user information under a method in which users are deemed to have consented if they fail to object after being provided notice of privacy policies. The bill allows a service provider to use information without approval for specified purposes, including for services necessary for provision of the service and to initiate, render, bill, and collect for the service. Service providers must allow users to grant, deny, or withdraw approval at any time.  The bill prohibits providers from conditioning service on a user's agreement to waive privacy rights.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mandatory Foreclosure Mediation 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
            (1) Alternative to foreclosure.--The term ``alternative to 
        foreclosure''--
                    (A) means a course of action with respect to a 
                mortgage offered by a servicer to a borrower as an 
                alternative to a covered foreclosure action; and
                    (B) includes a short sale and a deed in lieu of 
                foreclosure.
            (2) Borrower.--The term ``borrower'' means a mortgagor 
        under a mortgage who is in default or at risk of imminent 
        default, as determined by the Secretary through regulations.
            (3) Foreclosure action.--The term ``foreclosure action'' 
        means a judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure.
            (4) Loan modification program.--The term ``loan 
        modification program'' means a program or procedure designed to 
        change the terms of a mortgage in the case of the default, 
        delinquency, or imminent default or delinquency of a mortgagor, 
        including a loan modification program established by a servicer 
        that reduces the principal owed by the mortgagor on the 
        mortgage.
            (5) Mortgage.--The term ``mortgage'' means a federally 
        related mortgage loan, as defined in section 3(1) of the Real 
        Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2602(1)), 
        that is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential 
        real property.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (7) Servicer.--The term ``servicer''--
                    (A) has the same meaning as in section 6(i) of the 
                Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 
                U.S.C. 2605(i)); and
                    (B) includes a person responsible for servicing a 
                pool of mortgages.

SEC. 3. MEDIATION REQUIRED BEFORE FORECLOSURE.

    (a) Initiation of Foreclosure Actions.--A servicer may not initiate 
a foreclosure action against a borrower unless the servicer has--
            (1) made a reasonable effort to initiate mediation 
        proceedings in accordance with the process established in 
        regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (c) to determine 
        whether the borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an 
        alternative to foreclosure; and
            (2) offered the borrower a loan modification or an 
        alternative to foreclosure, if the borrower is eligible for the 
        loan modification or alternative to foreclosure.
    (b) Suspension of Foreclosure Actions.--
            (1) In general.--A servicer shall suspend a foreclosure 
        action that was initiated before the date of enactment of this 
        Act until the servicer--
                    (A) completes a mediation proceeding in accordance 
                with the process established in regulations prescribed 
                pursuant to subsection (c) to determine whether the 
                borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an 
                alternative to foreclosure; and
                    (B) offers the borrower a loan modification or an 
                alternative to foreclosure, if the borrower is eligible 
                for a loan modification or an alternative to 
                foreclosure.
            (2) Suspension.--During the period of the suspension under 
        paragraph (1), a servicer may not--
                    (A) send a notice of foreclosure to a borrower;
                    (B) conduct or schedule a sale of the real property 
                securing the mortgage of the borrower; or
                    (C) cause final judgment to be entered against the 
                borrower.
            (3) Reasonable efforts.--A servicer is not required to 
        suspend a foreclosure action under paragraph (1) if the 
        servicer--
                    (A) makes a reasonable effort to schedule a 
                mediation proceeding to determine whether the borrower 
                is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative 
                to foreclosure; and
                    (B) documents that the borrower has not agreed to a 
                mediation proceeding to determine whether the borrower 
                is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative 
                to foreclosure.
            (4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
        construed to require a servicer to delay an unavoidable 
        foreclosure, such as foreclosure that results from a borrower 
        abandoning the residential real property securing a mortgage.
    (c) Establishment of Mediation Process.--The Secretary shall 
establish through regulations a mediation process to determine whether 
the borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative to 
foreclosure under this section.

SEC. 4. BAR TO FORECLOSURE ACTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a violation of this Act 
shall be a bar to a foreclosure action.
    (b) Effect of Subsequent Compliance.--If a servicer is in 
compliance with this Act, the servicer may bring or proceed with a 
foreclosure action, without regard to a prior violation of this Act by 
the servicer.

SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall issue regulations to carry out this Act.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    Each servicer that initiates mediation proceedings under section 3 
shall submit to the Secretary a quarterly report at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information, with respect to such 
proceedings, as the Secretary may require.

SOLUTION: Mandatory Foreclosure Mediation Act - Prohibits a servicer from initiating a foreclosure action against a borrower unless the servicer has: (1) made a reasonable effort to initiate mediation proceedings to determine if the borrower is eligible for a loan modification or an alternative to foreclosure; and (2) offered the borrower, if eligible, such a modification or alternative.

Requires a servicer to suspend a foreclosure action initiated before the enactment of this Act until the servicer: (1) completes such a mediation proceeding; and (2) offers the borrower, if eligible, a modification or alternative.

Prohibits a servicer, during the suspension period, from: (1) sending the borrower a notice of foreclosure, (2) conducting or scheduling a sale of the real property securing the mortgage, or (3) causing final judgment to be entered against the borrower.

Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish such a mediation process.

Declares that a servicer is not required to suspend a foreclosure action if the servicer makes a reasonable effort to schedule a mediation proceeding and documents that the borrower has not agreed to one.

Makes a violation of this Act a bar to a foreclosure action. Allows a servicer in compliance with this Act, however, to bring or proceed with a foreclosure action, regardless of any prior violation.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural Security Assistance Act 
of 2005''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agricultural disease.--The term ``agricultural 
        disease'' means an outbreak of a plant or animal disease, or a 
        pest infestation, that requires prompt action in order to 
        prevent injury or damage to people, plants, livestock, 
        property, the economy, or the environment.
            (2) Agricultural disease emergency.--The term 
        ``agricultural disease emergency'' means an agricultural 
        disease that the Secretary determines to be an emergency 
        under--
                    (A) section 415 of the Plant Protection Act (7 
                U.S.C. 7715); or
                    (B) section 10407(b) of the Animal Health 
                Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8306(b)).
            (3) Agriculture.--The term ``agriculture'' includes--
                    (A) the science and practice of activities relating 
                to food, feed, and fiber production, processing, 
                marketing, distribution, use, and trade;
                    (B) family and consumer science, nutrition, food 
                science and engineering, agricultural economics, and 
                other social sciences; and
                    (C) forestry, wildlife science, fishery science, 
                aquaculture, floraculture, veterinary medicine, and 
                other environmental and natural resource sciences.
            (4) Agroterrorism.--The term ``agroterrorism'' means the 
        commission of an agroterrorist act.
            (5) Agroterrorist act.--The term ``agroterrorist act'' 
        means a criminal act consisting of causing or attempting to 
        cause damage or harm to, or destruction or contamination of, a 
        crop, livestock, farm or ranch equipment, material or property 
        associated with agriculture, or a person engaged in 
        agricultural activity, that is committed with the intent--
                    (A) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; 
                or
                    (B) to influence the policy of a government by 
                intimidation or coercion.
            (6) Biosecurity.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``biosecurity'' means 
                protection from the risks posed by biological, 
                chemical, or radiological agents to--
                            (i) plant or animal health;
                            (ii) the agricultural economy;
                            (iii) the environment; or
                            (iv) human health.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``biosecurity'' includes 
                the exclusion, eradication, and control of biological 
                agents that cause plant or animal diseases.
            (7) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (9) Tribal government.--The term ``tribal government'' 
        means the governing body of an Indian tribe.

SEC. 3. STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--In consultation with the steering 
        committee of the National Animal Health Emergency Management 
        System and other stakeholders, the Secretary shall conduct a 
        study to--
                    (A) determine the best use of epidemiologists, 
                computer modelers, and statisticians as members of 
                emergency response task forces that handle foreign or 
                emerging agricultural disease emergencies; and
                    (B) identify the types of data that are necessary 
                for proper modeling and analysis of agricultural 
                disease emergencies.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report that 
        describes the results of the study under paragraph (1) to--
                    (A) the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
                    (B) the head of any other agency involved in 
                response planning for agricultural disease emergencies.
    (b) Geographic Information System Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of the 
        Interior, shall establish a program under which the Secretary 
        shall provide grants to States to develop capabilities to use a 
        geographic information system or statistical model for an 
        epidemiological assessment in the event of an agricultural 
        disease emergency.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection--
                    (A) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
                    (B) such sums as are necessary for each subsequent 
                fiscal year.
    (c) Biosecurity Awareness and Programs.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall implement a public 
        awareness campaign for farmers, ranchers, and other 
        agricultural producers that emphasizes--
                    (A) the need for heightened biosecurity on farms; 
                and
                    (B) reporting to the Department of Agriculture any 
                agricultural disease anomaly.
            (2) On-farm biosecurity.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 240 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
                consultation with associations of agricultural 
                producers and taking into consideration research 
                conducted under the National Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
                3101 et seq.), shall--
                            (i) develop guidelines--
                                    (I) to improve monitoring of 
                                vehicles and materials entering or 
                                leaving farm or ranch operations; and
                                    (II) to control human traffic 
                                entering or leaving farm or ranch 
                                operations; and
                            (ii) distribute the guidelines developed 
                        under clause (i) to agricultural producers 
                        through agricultural informational seminars and 
                        biosecurity training sessions.
                    (B) Authorization of appropriations.--
                            (i) In general.--There are authorized to be 
                        appropriated to carry out this paragraph--
                                    (I) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 
                                2006; and
                                    (II) such sums as are necessary for 
                                each subsequent fiscal year.
                            (ii) Information program.--Of the amounts 
                        made available under clause (i), the Secretary 
                        may use such sums as are necessary to establish 
                        in each State an information program to 
                        distribute the biosecurity guidelines developed 
                        under subparagraph (A)(i).
            (3) Biosecurity grant pilot program.--
                    (A) Incentives.--
                            (i) In general.--Not later than 240 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
                        Secretary shall develop a pilot program to 
                        provide incentives, in the form of grants or 
                        low-interest loans, to agricultural producers 
                        to restructure farm and ranch operations (based 
                        on the biosecurity guidelines developed under 
                        paragraph (2)(A)(i)) to achieve the goals 
                        described in clause (ii).
                            (ii) Goals.--The goals referred to in 
                        clause (i) are--
                                    (I) to control access to farms and 
                                ranches by persons intending to commit 
                                agroterrorist acts;
                                    (II) to prevent the introduction 
                                and spread of agricultural diseases; 
                                and
                                    (III) to take other measures to 
                                ensure biosecurity.
                            (iii) Limitation.--The amount of a grant or 
                        low-interest loan provided under this paragraph 
                        shall not exceed $10,000.
                    (B) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
                of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
                Congress a report that--
                            (i) describes the implementation of the 
                        pilot program; and
                            (ii) makes recommendations for expanding 
                        the pilot program.
                    (C) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                paragraph--
                            (i) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
                            (ii) such sums as are necessary for each of 
                        fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

SEC. 4. REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PREPAREDNESS.

    (a) Environmental Protection Agency.--The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary, 
shall cooperate with regional, State, and local disaster preparedness 
officials to include consideration of the potential environmental 
effects of a response activity in planning a response to an 
agricultural disease.
    (b) Department of Agriculture.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall--
            (1) develop and implement procedures to provide information 
        to, and share information among, Federal, regional, State, 
        tribal, and local officials regarding agricultural threats, 
        risks, and vulnerabilities; and
            (2) cooperate with State agricultural officials, State and 
        local emergency managers, representatives from State land grant 
        colleges and research universities, agricultural producers, and 
        agricultural trade associations to establish local response 
        plans for agricultural diseases.

SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.

    (a) Agricultural Disease Liaisons.--
            (1) Agricultural disease management liaison.--The Secretary 
        of Homeland Security shall establish a senior level position 
        within the Federal Emergency Management Agency the primary 
        responsibility of which is to serve as a liaison for 
        agricultural disease management between--
                    (A) the Department of Homeland Security; and
                    (B)(i) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
                    (ii) the Department of Agriculture;
                    (iii) other Federal agencies responsible for a 
                response to an emergency relating to an agriculture 
                disease;
                    (iv) the emergency management community;
                    (v) State emergency and agricultural officials;
                    (vi) tribal governments; and
                    (vii) industries affected by agricultural disease.
            (2) Animal health care liaison.--The Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services shall establish within the Department of 
        Health and Human Services a senior level position the primary 
        responsibility of which is to serve as a liaison between--
                    (A) the Department of Health and Human Services; 
                and
                    (B)(i) the Department of Agriculture;
                    (ii) the animal health community;
                    (iii) the emergency management community;
                    (iv) tribal governments; and
                    (v) industries affected by agricultural disease.
    (b) Transportation.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation, in 
        consultation with the Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, shall--
                    (A) publish in the Federal Register proposed 
                guidelines for restrictions on interstate 
                transportation of an agricultural commodity or product 
                in response to an agricultural disease;
                    (B) provide for a comment period of not less than 
                90 days for the proposed guidelines; and
                    (C) establish final guidelines, taking into 
                consideration any comment received under subparagraph 
                (B); and
            (2) provide the guidelines described in paragraph (1) to 
        officers and employees of--
                    (A) the Department of Agriculture;
                    (B) the Department of Transportation; and
                    (C) the Department of Homeland Security.

SEC. 6. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    (a) International Agricultural Disease Surveillance.--Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the 
Agency for International Development, shall submit to Congress a report 
that describes measures taken by the Secretary to--
            (1) streamline the process of notification by the Secretary 
        to Federal agencies in the event of an agricultural disease in 
        a foreign country; and
            (2) cooperate with representatives of foreign countries, 
        international organizations, and industry to develop and 
        implement methods of sharing information relating to 
        international agricultural diseases and unusual agricultural 
        activities.
    (b) Bilateral Mutual Assistance Agreements.--The Secretary of 
State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, shall--
            (1) enter into mutual assistance agreements with other 
        countries to provide and receive assistance in the event of an 
        agricultural disease, including--
                    (A) training for veterinarians and agriculture 
                specialists of the United States in the identification, 
                diagnosis, and control of foreign agricultural 
                diseases;
                    (B) providing resources and personnel to a foreign 
                government with limited resources to respond to an 
                agricultural disease; and
                    (C) bilateral training programs and exercises 
                relating to assistance provided under this paragraph; 
                and
            (2) provide funding for a program or exercise described in 
        paragraph (1)(C).

SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS.

    (a) Vaccines.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study of, and submit to 
Congress a report that describes, the projected costs and benefits of 
developing ready-to-use vaccines against foreign animal diseases.
    (b) Plant Disease Laboratory.--Not later than 270 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study of, 
and submit to Congress a report that describes, the feasibility of 
establishing a national plant disease laboratory based on the model of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the primary task of 
which is to--
            (1) integrate and coordinate a nationwide system of 
        independent plant disease diagnostic laboratories, including 
        plant clinics maintained by land grant colleges and 
        universities; and
            (2) increase the capacity, technical infrastructure, and 
        information-sharing capabilities of laboratories described in 
        paragraph (1).

SEC. 8. VETERINARIAN ACCREDITATION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring that any 
veterinarian accredited by the Department of Agriculture shall be 
trained to recognize foreign animal diseases.

SEC. 9. REVIEW OF LEGAL AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Secretary, shall conduct a review of State and local laws relating to 
agroterrorism and biosecurity to determine--
            (1) the extent to which the laws facilitate or impede the 
        implementation of a current or proposed response plan relating 
        to an agricultural disease;
            (2) whether an injunction issued by a State court could--
                    (A) delay the implementation of a Federal response 
                plan described in paragraph (1); or
                    (B) affect the extent to which an agricultural 
                disease spreads; and
            (3) the types and extent of legal evidence that may be 
        required by a State court before a response plan described in 
        paragraph (1) may be implemented.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report that 
describes the results of the review under subsection (a) (including any 
recommendations of the Attorney General).

SOLUTION:
Agricultural Security Assistance Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) determine the best use of epidemiologists, computer modelers, and statisticians as members of emergency response task forces that handle foreign or emerging agricultural disease emergencies, and identify necessary data for proper modeling and analysis of such emergencies; (2) provide grants to States to use a geographic information system or statistical model for an epidemiological assessment in the event of such an emergency; (3) implement an on-farm biosecurity awareness campaign, and a biosecurity grant pilot program; (4) require that Department of Agriculture-accredited veterinarians be trained to recognize foreign animal diseases; and (5) prepare studies on foreign plant disease vaccines and the establishment of a national plant disease laboratory.

Provides for regional, State, local, and international agricultural preparedness and information sharing. Sets forth responsibilities of the Departments of Agriculture, State, Transportation, and Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Directs the Attorney General to review State and local laws relating to agroterrorism and biosecurity to determine: (1) the extent to which the laws facilitate or impede implementation of a Federal agricultural disease response plan; (2) whether a State injunction could delay implementation of such a plan, or affect an agricultural disease's spread; and (3) the legal evidence that may be required by a State court before a response plan may be implemented.