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]: 67, and approved by 
Congress, allow for such further authorizations.

                      TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. ANNUAL REPORT.

    Section 3(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1862(f)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) The Foundation shall provide an annual report to the 
President which shall be submitted by the Director to the Congress at 
the time of the President's annual budget submission. The report 
shall--
            ``(1) contain a strategic plan, or an update to a previous 
        strategic plan, which--
                    ``(A) defines for a three-year period the overall 
                goals for the Foundation and specific goals for each 
                major activity of the Foundation, including each 
                scientific directorate, the education directorate, and 
                the polar programs office; and
                    ``(B) describe how the identified goals relate to 
                national needs and will exploit new opportunities in 
                science and technology;
            ``(2) identify the criteria and describe the procedures 
        which the Foundation will use to assess progress toward 
        achieving the goals identified in accordance with paragraph 
        (1);
            ``(3) review the activities of the Foundation during the 
        preceding year which have contributed toward achievement of 
        goals identified in accordance with paragraph (1) and summarize 
        planned activities for the coming three years in the context of 
        the identified goals, with particular emphasis on the 
        Foundation's planned contributions to major multi-agency 
        research and education initiatives;
            ``(4) contain such recommendations as the Foundation 
        considers appropriate; and
            ``(5) include information on the acquisition and 
        disposition by the Foundation of any patents and patent 
        rights.''.

SEC. 202. NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.

    (a) Facilities Plan.--The Director shall provide to Congress 
annually, as a part of the report required under section 3(f) of the 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950, a plan for the proposed 
construction of, and repair and upgrades to, national research 
facilities. The plan shall include estimates of the cost for such 
construction, repairs, and upgrades, and estimates of the cost for the 
operation and maintenance of existing and proposed new facilities. For 
proposed new construction and for major upgrades to existing 
facilities, the plan shall include funding profiles by fiscal year and 
milestones for major phases of the construction. The plan shall include 
cost estimates in the categories of construction, repair, and upgrades 
for the year in which the plan is submitted to Congress and for not 
fewer than the succeeding 4 years.
    (b) Limitation on Obligation of Unauthorized Appropriations.--No 
funds appropriated for any project which involves construction of new 
national research facilities or construction necessary for upgrading 
the capabilities of existing national research facilities shall be 
obligated unless the funds are specifically authorized for such purpose 
by this Act or any other Act which is not an appropriations Act, or 
unless the total estimated cost to the Foundation of the construction 
project is less than $50,000,000. This subsection shall not apply to 
construction projects approved by the National Science Board prior to 
June 30, 1994.

SEC. 203. ELIGIBILITY FOR RESEARCH FACILITY AWARDS.

    Section 203(b) of the Academic Research Facilities Modernization 
Act of 1988 is amended by striking the final sentence of paragraph (3) 
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``The Director shall give 
priority to institutions or consortia that have not received such funds 
in the preceding 5 years, except that this sentence shall not apply to 
previous funding received for the same multiyear project.''.

SEC. 204. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS.

    (a) National Science Foundation Act of 1950 Amendments.--The 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating the subsection (k) of section 4 (42 
        U.S.C. 1863(k)) that was added by section 108 of the National 
        Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 as subsection (l);
            (2) in section 5(e) (42 U.S.C. 1864(e)) by amending 
        paragraph (2) to read as follows:
    ``(2) Any delegation of authority or imposition of conditions under 
paragraph (1) shall be promptly published in the Federal Register and 
reported to the Committees on Labor and Human Resources and Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science 
of the House of Representatives.'';
            (3) by inserting ``be entitled to'' between ``shall'' and 
        ``receive'', and by inserting ``, including traveltime,'' after 
        ``Foundation'' in section 14(c) (42 U.S.C. 1873(c));
            (4) by striking section 14(j) (42 U.S.C. 1873(j)); and
            (5) by striking ``Atomic Energy Commission'' in section 
        15(a) (42 U.S.C. 1874(a)) and inserting in lieu thereof 
        ``Secretary of Energy''.
    (b) National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976 
Amendments.--Section 6(a) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act, 1976 (42 U.S.C. 1881a(a)) is amended by striking 
``social,'' the first place it appears.
    (c) National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 
Amendments.--(1) Section 117(a)(1)(B)(v) of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1881b(1)(B)(v)) is 
amended to read as follows:
            ``(v) from schools established outside the several States 
        and the District of Columbia by any agency of the Federal 
        Government for dependents of its employees.''.
    (2) Section 117(a)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1881b(3)(A)) is 
amended by striking ``Science and Engineering Education'' and inserting 
in lieu thereof ``Education and Human Resources''.
    (d) Education for Economic Security Act Amendments.--Section 107 of 
Education for Economic Security Act (20 U.S.C. 3917) is repealed.
    (e) Technical Amendment.--The second subsection (g) of section 3 of 
the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 is repealed.

SEC. 205. INDIRECT COSTS.

    (a) Matching Funds.--Matching funds required pursuant to section 
204(a)(2)(C) of the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 
1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862c(a)(2)(C)) shall not be considered facilities 
costs for purposes of determining indirect cost rates.
    (b) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall prepare a 
report analyzing what steps would be needed to--
            (1) reduce by 10 percent the proportion of Federal 
        assistance to institutions of higher education that are 
        allocated for indirect costs; and
            (2) reduce the variance among indirect cost rates of 
        different institutions of higher education,
including an evaluation of the relative benefits and burdens of each 
option on institutions of higher education. Such report shall be 
transmitted to the Congress no later than December 31, 1995.
SEC. 206. RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION AND FACILITIES.

    The Foundation shall incorporate the guidelines set forth in 
Important Notice No. 91, dated March 11, 1983 (48 Fed. Reg. 15754, 
April 12, 1983), relating to the use and operation of Foundation-
supported research instrumentation and facilities, in its notice of 
Grant General Conditions, and shall examine more closely the adherence 
of grantee organizations to such guidelines.

SEC. 207. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

    Persons temporarily employed by or at the Foundation shall be 
subject to the same financial disclosure requirements and related 
sanctions under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 as are permanent 
employees of the Foundation in equivalent positions.

SEC. 208. EDUCATIONAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR ACTIVE DUTY.

    In order to be eligible to receive funds from the Foundation after 
September 30, 1995, an institution of higher education must provide 
that whenever any student of the institution who is a member of the 
National Guard, or other reserve component of the Armed Forces of the 
United States, is called or ordered to active duty, other than active 
duty for training, the institution shall grant the member a military 
leave of absence from their education. Persons on military leave of 
absence from their institution shall be entitled, upon release from 
military duty, to be restored to the educational status they had 
attained prior to their being ordered to military duty without loss of 
academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition and 
other fees paid prior to the commencement of the military duty. It 
shall be the duty of the institution to refund tuition or fees paid or 
to credit the tuition and fees to the next semester or term after the 
termination of the educational military leave of absence at the option 
of the student.
SEC. 209. PROHIBITION OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.

    None of the funds authorized by this Act shall be available for any 
activity whose purpose is to influence legislation pending before the 
Congress, provided that this shall not prevent officers or employees of 
the United States or of its departments or agencies from communicating 
to Members of Congress on the request of any Member or to Congress, 
through the proper channels, requests for legislation or appropriations 
which they deem necessary for the efficient conduct of the public 
business.
SEC. 210. SCIENCE STUDIES INSTITUTE.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 822 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal 1991 (42 U.S.C. 6686) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Critical Technologies Institute'' in the 
        section heading and in subsection (a), and inserting in lieu 
        thereof ``Science Studies Institute'';
            (2) in subsection (b) by striking ``As determined by the 
        chairman of the committee referred to in subsection (c), the'' 
        and inserting in lieu thereof ``The'';
            (3) by striking subsection (c), and redesignating 
        subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (c), (d), 
        (e), and (f), respectively;
            (4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated by paragraph (3) 
        of this subsection--
                    (A) by inserting ``science and'' after 
                ``developments and trends in'' in paragraph (1);
                    (B) by striking ``with particular emphasis'' in 
                paragraph (1) and all that follows through the end of 
                such paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof ``and 
                developing and maintaining relevant informational and 
                analytical tools.'';
                    (C) by striking ``to determine'' and all that 
                follows through ``technology policies'' in paragraph 
                (2) and inserting in lieu thereof ``with particular 
                attention to the scope and content of the Federal 
                science and technology research and develop portfolio 
                as it affects interagency and national issues'';
                    (D) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) Initiation of studies and analysis of alternatives 
        available for ensuring the long-term strength of the United 
        States in the development and application of science and 
        technology, including appropriate roles for the Federal 
        Government, State governments, private industry, and 
        institutions of higher education in the development and 
        application of science and technology.'';
                    (E) by inserting ``science and'' after ``Executive 
                branch on'' in paragraph (4)(A); and
                    (F) by amending paragraph (4)(B) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(B) to the interagency committees and panels of 
                the Federal Government concerned with science and 
                technology.'';
            (5) in subsection (d), as so redesignated by paragraph (3) 
        of this subsection, by striking ``subsection (d)'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``subsection (c)''; and
            (6) by amending subsection (f), as so redesignated by 
        paragraph (3) of this subsection, to read as follows:
    ``(f) Sponsorship.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall be the sponsor of the Institute.''.
    (b) Conforming Usage.--All references in Federal law or regulations 
to the Critical Technologies Institute shall be considered to be 
references to the Science Studies Institute.
SEC. 211. EDUCATIONAL IMPACT.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) Federal research funds made available to institutions 
        of higher education often create incentives for such 
        institutions to emphasize research over undergraduate teaching 
        and to narrow the focus of their graduate programs; and
            (2) National Science Foundation funds for Research and 
        Related Activities should be spent in the manner most likely to 
        improve the quality of undergraduate and graduate education in 
        institutions of higher education.
    (b) Educational Impact.--(1) The impact that a grant or cooperative 
agreement by the National Science Foundation would have on 
undergraduate and graduate education at an institution of higher 
education shall be a factor in any decision whether to award such grant 
or agreement to that institution.
    (2) Paragraph (1) shall be effective with respect to any grant or 
cooperative agreement awarded after September 30, 1996.
    (c) Report.--The Director shall provide a plan for the 
implementation of subsection (b) of this section, no later than 
December 31, 1995, to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the 
Senate.
SEC. 212. DIVISIONS OF THE FOUNDATION.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 8 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1866) is amended by inserting ``The Director may 
appoint, in consultation with the Board, not more than 6 Assistant 
Directors to assist in managing the Divisions.'' after ``time to time 
determine.''.
    (b) Report.--By November 15, 1995, the Director shall transmit to 
the Congress a report on the reorganization of the National Science 
Foundation required as a result of the amendment made by subsection 
(a).
SEC. 213. LIMITATION ON APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Exclusive Authorization for Fiscal Year 1996.--Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, no sums are authorized to be appropriated 
for fiscal year 1996 for the activities of the National Science 
Foundation unless such sums are specifically authorized to be 
appropriated by this Act.
    (b) Subsequent Fiscal Years.--No sums are authorized to be 
appropriated for any fiscal year after fiscal year 1996 for the 
activities of the National Science Foundation unless such sums are 
specifically authorized to be appropriated by Act of Congress with 
respect to such fiscal year.

SEC. 214. ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall exclude from consideration for 
awards of financial assistance made by the National Science Foundation 
after fiscal year 1995 any person who received funds, other than those 
described in subsection (b), appropriated for a fiscal year after 
fiscal year 1995, from any Federal funding source for a project that 
was not subjected to a competitive, merit-based award process. Any 
exclusion from consideration pursuant to this section shall be 
effective for a period of 5 years after the person receives such 
Federal funds.
    (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to awards to persons 
who are members of a class specified by law for which assistance is 
awarded to members of the class according to a formula provided by law.
HR 1852 RH----2
[EX A]: TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
     Title I:  National Science Foundation Authorization 
     Title II:  General Provisions 
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1995 - 
Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization
 - Authorizes appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for FY 1996 and 1997. 
(Sec. 104) Provides for reprogramming of appropriations. 
(Sec. 105) States that nothing in this Act shall preclude additional FY 1996 authorization of appropriations for NSF. 
Title II:  General Provisions
 - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to direct NSF to include in its annual report to the President a strategic plan defining its goals, criteria, and procedures. 
(Sec. 202) Requires NSF to submit to the Congress an annual upgrade and maintenance plan for national research facilities. 
(Sec. 203) Amends the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988 to give research facility grant priority to institutions or consortia that have not received such funds in the preceding five years. 
(Sec. 204) Makes administrative amendments to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988, and the Education for Economic Security Act. 
(Sec. 206) Requires certain research instrumentation and facilities guidelines to be incorporated in NSF grant notices. 
(Sec. 207) Subjects NSF temporary employees to the same financial disclosure requirements as apply to permanent employees. 
(Sec. 208) Requires an institution of higher education receiving NSF funds to grant a military-educational leave of absence to a student on active military duty (other than training). 
(Sec. 209) Prohibits the use of any funds authorized under this Act from being used for any lobbying activity. 
(Sec. 210) Renames the Critical Technologies Institute as the Science Studies Institute. 
(Sec. 211) Requires NSF to consider the impact of a grant on undergraduate and graduate education before its award. 
(Sec. 212) Authorizes the Director of NSF to appoint up to six Assistant Directors. 
(Sec. 214) Excludes from NSF awards for five years any person who received project funds not subject to competitive merit-based awards. (Exempts persons who are members of a law-specified class.)

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security and Medicare 
Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) fiscal pressures will mount as an aging population 
        increases the Government's obligations to provide retirement 
        income and health services;
            (2) Social Security and Medicare surpluses should be 
        reserved for strengthening and preserving the Social Security 
        trust funds; and
            (3) preserving Social Security and Medicare surpluses would 
        restore confidence in the long-term financial integrity of 
        Social Security and Medicare.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to prevent the Social 
Security and Medicare hospital insurance trust funds from being used 
for any purpose other than providing retirement and health security.

SEC. 3. PROTECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE SURPLUSES.

    (a) Protection of Social Security and Medicare Surpluses.--Title 
III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section:

   ``protection for social security and hospital insurance surpluses

    ``Sec. 316.  (a) Protection for Social Security and Hospital 
Insurance Surpluses.--
            ``(1) Concurrent resolutions on the budget.--
                    ``(A) In general.--It shall not be in order in the 
                House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any 
                concurrent resolution on the budget, or an amendment 
                thereto or conference report thereon, that would set 
                forth a surplus for any fiscal year that is less than 
                the surplus of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust 
                Fund for that fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Exception.--(i) Subparagraph (A) shall not 
                apply to the extent that a violation of such 
                subparagraph would result from an assumption in the 
                resolution, amendment, or conference report, as 
                applicable, of an increase in outlays or a decrease in 
                revenue relative to the baseline underlying that 
                resolution for social security reform legislation or 
                medicare reform legislation for any such fiscal year.
                    ``(ii) If a concurrent resolution on the budget, or 
                an amendment thereto or conference report thereon, 
                would be in violation of subparagraph (A) because of an 
                assumption of an increase in outlays or a decrease in 
                revenue relative to the baseline underlying that 
                resolution for social security reform legislation or 
                medicare reform legislation for any such fiscal year, 
                then that resolution shall include a statement 
                identifying any such increase in outlays or decrease in 
                revenue.
            ``(2) Spending and tax legislation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--It shall not be in order in the 
                House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any 
                bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or 
                conference report if--
                            ``(i) the enactment of that bill or 
                        resolution, as reported;
                            ``(ii) the adoption and enactment of that 
                        amendment; or
                            ``(iii) the enactment of that bill or 
                        resolution in the form recommended in that 
                        conference report,
                would cause the surplus for any fiscal year covered by 
                the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on 
                the budget to be less than the surplus of the Federal 
                Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for that fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply 
                to social security reform legislation or medicare 
                reform legislation.
    ``(b) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) Budgetary levels with respect to concurrent 
        resolutions on the budget.--For purposes of enforcing any point 
        of order under subsection (a)(1), the surplus for any fiscal 
        year shall be--
                    ``(A) the levels set forth in the later of the 
                concurrent resolution on the budget, as reported, or in 
                the conference report on the concurrent resolution on 
                the budget; and
                    ``(B) adjusted to the maximum extent allowable 
                under all procedures that allow budgetary aggregates to 
                be adjusted for legislation that would cause a decrease 
                in the surplus for any fiscal year covered by the 
                concurrent resolution on the budget (other than 
                procedures described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii)).
            ``(2) Current levels with respect to spending and tax 
        legislation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of enforcing 
                subsection (a)(2), the current levels of the surplus 
                for any fiscal year shall be--
                            ``(i) calculated using the following 
                        assumptions--
                                    ``(I) direct spending and revenue 
                                levels at the baseline levels 
                                underlying the most recently agreed to 
                                concurrent resolution on the budget; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) for the budget year, 
                                discretionary spending levels at 
                                current law levels and, for outyears, 
                                discretionary spending levels at the 
                                baseline levels underlying the most 
                                recently agreed to concurrent 
                                resolution on the budget; and
                            ``(ii) adjusted for changes in the surplus 
                        levels set forth in the most recently agreed to 
                        concurrent resolution on the budget pursuant to 
                        procedures in such resolution that authorize 
                        adjustments in budgetary aggregates for updated 
                        economic and technical assumptions in the mid-
                        session report of the Director of the 
                        Congressional Budget Office.
                Such revisions shall be included in the first current 
                level report on the congressional budget submitted for 
                publication in the Congressional Record after the 
                release of such mid-session report.
                    ``(B) Budgetary treatment.--Outlays (or receipts) 
                for any fiscal year resulting from social security or 
                medicare reform legislation in excess of the amount of 
                outlays (or less than the amount of receipts) for that 
                fiscal year set forth in the most recently agreed to 
                concurrent resolution on the budget or the section 
                302(a) allocation for such legislation, as applicable, 
                shall not be taken into account for purposes of 
                enforcing any point of order under subsection (a)(2).
            ``(3) Disclosure of hi surplus.--For purposes of enforcing 
        any point of order under subsection (a), the surplus of the 
        Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for a fiscal year shall 
        be the levels set forth in the later of the report accompanying 
        the concurrent resolution on the budget (or, in the absence of 
        such a report, placed in the Congressional Record prior to the 
        consideration of such resolution) or in the joint explanatory 
        statement of managers accompanying such resolution.
    ``(c) Additional Content of Reports Accompanying Budget Resolutions 
and of Joint Explanatory Statements.--The report accompanying any 
concurrent resolution on the budget and the joint explanatory statement 
accompanying the conference report on each such resolution shall 
include the levels of the surplus in the budget for each fiscal year 
set forth in such resolution and of the surplus or deficit in the 
Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, calculated using the assumptions 
set forth in subsection (b)(2)(A).
    ``(d) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            ``(1) The term `medicare reform legislation' means a bill 
        or a joint resolution to save Medicare that includes a 
        provision stating the following: `For purposes of section 
        316(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this Act 
        constitutes medicare reform legislation.'.
            ``(2) The term `social security reform legislation' means a 
        bill or a joint resolution to save social security that 
        includes a provision stating the following: `For purposes of 
        section 316(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
        Act constitutes social security reform legislation.'.
    ``(e) Waiver and Appeal.--Subsection (a) may be waived or suspended 
in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the 
Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of 
the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in 
the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point 
of order raised under this section.
    ``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall cease to have any force 
or effect upon the enactment of social security reform legislation and 
medicare reform legislation.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The item relating to section 316 in the 
table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget 
and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended to read as follows:

``Sec. 316. Protection for Social Security and hospital insurance 
                            surpluses.''.

SEC. 4. PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.

    (a) Protection of Social Security and Medicare Surpluses.--If the 
budget of the Government submitted by the President under section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, recommends a surplus for any 
fiscal year that is less than the surplus of the Federal Hospital 
Insurance Trust Fund for that fiscal year, then it shall include a 
detailed proposal for social security reform legislation or medicare 
reform legislation.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall cease to have any force 
or effect upon the enactment of social security reform legislation and 
medicare reform legislation as defined by section 316(d) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
[EX A]: Social Security and Medicare Protection Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any concurrent resolution on the budget (or related measure) that would set forth a surplus for any fiscal year less than the surplus of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for that fiscal year.

Creates an exception to such point of order if a violation of it would result from an assumption in the measure of an increase in outlays or a decrease in revenue relative to the baseline underlying the measure for Social Security or Medicare reform legislation for any such year.

Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any (spending or tax) measure if its enactment would cause the surplus for any fiscal year covered by the most recently agreed to budget resolution to be less than the surplus of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for that fiscal year. Creates an exception to such point of order similar to the other one.

Declares that, if the President's budget recommends an on-budget surplus for any fiscal year less than the surplus of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for that fiscal year, then it shall include a detailed proposal for Social Security or Medicare reform legislation.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Automobile Fuel Efficiency 
Improvements Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. PHASED INCREASES IN FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS.

    (a) Passenger Automobiles.--
            (1) Minimum standards.--Subsection (b) of section 32902 of 
        title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Passenger Automobiles.--Except as otherwise provided under 
this section, the average fuel economy standard for passenger 
automobiles manufactured by a manufacturer in a model year--
            ``(1) after model year 1984 and before model year 2006 
        shall be 25 miles per gallon;
            ``(2) after model year 2005 and before model year 2009 
        shall be 28 miles per gallon;
            ``(3) after model year 2008 and before model year 2012 
        shall be 32 miles per gallon;
            ``(4) after model year 2011 and before model year 2015 
        shall be 36 miles per gallon; and
            ``(5) after model year 2014 shall be 40 miles per 
        gallon.''.
            (2) Higher standards set by regulation.--Subsection (c) of 
        such section is amended--
                    (A) in the first sentence of paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Subject to paragraph (2) 
                        of this subsection, the'' and inserting 
                        ``The''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``amending the standard'' 
                        and inserting ``increasing the standard 
                        otherwise applicable'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (C) by designating the text composed of the second 
                and third sentences of paragraph (1) as paragraph (2) 
                and realigning such paragraph, as so designated, flush 
                with the left margin.
    (b) Non-Passenger Automobiles.--Subsection (a) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``At least 18 months before each model 
        year,'' and inserting the following:
    ``(1) The average fuel economy standard applicable for automobiles 
(except passenger automobiles) manufactured by a manufacturer in a 
model year--
            ``(A) after model year 1984 and before model year 2006 
        shall be 17 miles per gallon;
            ``(B) after model year 2005 and before model year 2009 
        shall be 19 miles per gallon;
            ``(C) after model year 2008 and before model year 2012 
        shall be 21.5 miles per gallon;
            ``(D) after model year 2011 and before model year 2015 
        shall be 24.5 miles per gallon; and
            ``(E) after model year 2014 shall be 27.5 miles per gallon, 
        except as provided under paragraph (2).
    ``(2) At least 18 months before the beginning of each model year 
after model year 2015,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(3) If the Secretary does not increase the average fuel economy 
standard applicable under paragraph (1)(E) or (2), or applicable to any 
class under paragraph (2), within 24 months after the latest increase 
in the standard applicable under paragraph (1)(E) or (2), the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report containing an explanation of the 
reasons for not increasing the standard. The report shall be submitted 
not later than 90 days after the expiration of the 24-month period.''.

SEC. 3. INCREASED INCLUSIVENESS OF DEFINITIONS OF AUTOMOBILE AND 
              PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE.

    (a) Automobile.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (3) of section 32901(a) of title 
        49, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``6,000 pounds'' each place it 
                appears in subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting 
                ``12,000 pounds''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by striking ``10,000 pounds'' and 
                        inserting ``14,000 pounds''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``an 
                        average fuel economy standard'' and all that 
                        follows through ``conservation or''.
            (2) Special rule.--Section 32908(a)(1) of such title is 
        amended by striking ``8,500 pounds'' and inserting ``14,000 
        pounds''.
    (b) Passenger Automobile.--Paragraph (16) of section 32901(a) of 
such title is amended to read as follows:
            ``(16) `passenger automobile'--
                    ``(A) means, except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), an automobile having a gross vehicle weight of 
                12,000 pounds or less that is designed to be used 
                principally for the transportation of persons; but
                    ``(B) does not include--
                            ``(i) a vehicle that has a primary load 
                        carrying device or container attached;
                            ``(ii) a vehicle that has a seating 
                        capacity of more than 12 persons;
                            ``(iii) a vehicle that has a seating 
                        capacity of more than 9 persons behind the 
                        driver's seat; or
                            ``(iv) a vehicle that is equipped with a 
                        cargo area of at least 6 feet in interior 
                        length that does not extend beyond the frame of 
                        the vehicle and is an open area or is designed 
                        for use as an open area but is enclosed by a 
                        cap and is not readily accessible directly from 
                        the passenger compartment.''.
    (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
with respect to automobiles manufactured for model years after the 
automobile model year in which this Act is enacted.

SEC. 4. CIVIL PENALTIES.

    (a) Increased Penalty for Violations of Fuel Economy Standards.--
Subsection (b) of section 32912 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``Standards.--'';
            (2) by striking ``$5'' and inserting ``the dollar amount 
        applicable under paragraph (2)'';
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as 
        subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2)(A) The dollar amount referred to in paragraph (1) is $10, as 
increased from time to time under subparagraph (B).
    ``(B) Effective on October 1 of each year, the dollar amount 
applicable under subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the percentage 
(rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percent) by which the price 
index for July of such year exceeds the price index for July of the 
preceding year. The amount calculated under the preceding sentence 
shall be rounded to the nearest $0.10.
    ``(C) In this paragraph, the term `price index' means the Consumer 
Price Index for all-urban consumers published monthly by the Department 
of Labor.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (c)(1) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (B); and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively.
    (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to automobiles manufactured for model years after 
the automobile model year in which this Act is enacted.

SEC. 5. ACCURATE FUEL ECONOMY TESTING.

    (a) Biennial Report on Testing Quality.--
            (1) Requirement for report.--
                    (A) In general.--Chapter 329 of title 49, United 
                States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
                following new section:
``Sec. 32920. Biennial report on testing quality
    ``(a) Requirement for Report.--Not later than October 1 of each 
odd-numbered year, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to 
Congress a report on the quality of the testing for determining 
automobile fuel economy under this chapter for all currently available 
technologies for autmobiles.
    ``(b) Content of Report.--The report shall include the following 
information:
            ``(1) An assessment of the accuracy of the fuel economy 
        determined for automobiles in relation to actual highway and 
        road vehicle fuel economy.
            ``(2) A discussion of changes in testing methodology that 
        are planned to be made, together with an assessment of the 
        effects that such changes are expected to have on the accuracy 
        of the measures of automobile fuel economy resulting from the 
        use of the testing methodology as changed.
    ``(c) Consultation Requirement.--The Secretary of Transportation 
and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall 
consult on the preparation of the biennial report under this 
section.''.
                    (B) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at 
                the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at 
                the end the following new item:

``32920. Biennial report on testing quality.''.
            (2) First report.--The first report under section 32920 of 
        title 49, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall 
        be submitted to Congress in 2005.
    (b) Improvement of Process for Measuring Fuel Economy.--
            (1) Study.--
                    (A) Requirement for study.--The Secretary of 
                Transportation shall provide for the John A. Volpe 
                National Transportation Systems Center to carry out a 
                study--
                            (i) to determine what practicable 
                        automobile fuel economy testing process 
                        provides the most accurate measures of actual 
                        automobile fuel economy in highway use, in 
                        urban use, and in combined highway and in urban 
                        use; and
                            (ii) to compare the average automobile fuel 
                        economy ratings calculated under the testing 
                        process determined under clause (i) for each 
                        category of automobile use described in that 
                        clause with the corresponding automobile fuel 
                        economy ratings calculated under the testing 
                        process in use under chapter 329 of title 49, 
                        United States Code, on the date of the 
                        enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Report.--Not later than two years after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                submit to Congress a report on the results of the study 
                under subparagraph (A). The report shall include the 
                following:
                            (i) Determinations.--The determination and 
                        comparisons made under clauses (i) and (ii) of 
                        subparagraph (A).
                            (ii) Estimate of equivalent fuel economy.--
                        An estimate of the average adjustment to 
                        automobile fuel economy ratings calculated 
                        under the testing process used for the purposes 
                        of chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, 
                        as of the date of enactment of this Act that is 
                        needed to conform those ratings closely to the 
                        automobile fuel economy ratings calculated 
                        under the testing process determined most 
                        accurate under subparagraph (A)(i).
            (2) Testing procedure revision.--
                    (A) Requirement for revised procedure.--Not later 
                than 180 days after the report required under paragraph 
                (1)(B) is submitted to Congress, the Secretary of 
                Transportation shall prescribe in regulations--
                            (i) a revised testing procedure for 
                        accurately measuring the actual automobile fuel 
                        economy of each model of automobile; and
                            (ii) a requirement that the revised testing 
                        procedure be applied for the purposes of 
                        chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, to 
                        determine the average fuel economy of the 
                        automobiles manufactured in model years after 
                        model year 2006.
                    (B) Model for revised procedure.--The testing 
                procedure prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                based on the testing process identified in the report 
                required under paragraph (1)(B) as providing the most 
                accurate measures of actual automobile fuel economy.
            (3) Comparable adjustment in average fuel economy 
        standards.--
                    (A) Requirement for adjustment.--For automobiles 
                manufactured in model years after model year 2006, the 
                Secretary of Transportation shall amend each average 
                fuel economy standard prescribed under section 32902 of 
                title 49, United States Code, to take into account 
                improved accuracy in the calculation of automobile fuel 
                economy that results from use of the revised testing 
                procedure applied as required under paragraph (2).
                    (B) Condition.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
                each average fuel economy standard applied as amended 
                under subparagraph (A) is at least as stringent as the 
                corresponding average fuel economy standard that the 
                Secretary would have applied under section 32902 of 
                title 49, United States Code, if the fuel economy 
                testing procedure had not been revised as required 
                under paragraph (2).

SEC. 6. STANDARDS FOR EXECUTIVE AGENCY AUTOMOBILES.

    Section 32917 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) of subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``passenger''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``to achieve'' and all 
                        that follows and inserting ``to achieve--''; 
                        and
                    (B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(A) in the case of non-passenger automobiles, a fleet 
        average fuel economy for that year of at least the average fuel 
        economy standard applicable under subsection (a) of section 
        32902 of this title for the model year that includes January 1 
        of that fiscal year; and
            ``(B) in the case of passenger automobiles, a fleet average 
        fuel economy for that year of at least the average fuel economy 
        standard applicable under subsection (b) or (c) of such section 
        for such model year.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2) of subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Fleet average fuel economy is--'' 
                and inserting ``For the purposes of paragraph (1), the 
                fleet average fuel economy of non-passenger or 
                passenger automobiles in a fiscal year is--'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``passenger automobiles'' 
                        and inserting ``the non-passenger automobiles 
                        or passenger automobiles, respectively, that 
                        are''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``in a fiscal year'' and 
                        inserting ``in such fiscal year''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``such'' 
                after ``the number of''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Minimum Number of Exceptionally Fuel-Efficient Vehicles.--The 
President shall prescribe regulations that require that--
            ``(1) at least 20 percent of the passenger automobiles 
        leased for at least 60 consecutive days or bought by executive 
        agencies in a fiscal year have a vehicle fuel economy rating 
        that is at least 5 miles per gallon higher than the average 
        fuel economy standard applicable to the automobile under 
        subsection (b) or (c) of section 32902 of this title for the 
        model year that includes January 1 of that fiscal year; and
            ``(2) beginning in fiscal year 2009, at least 10,000 
        vehicles in the fleet of automobiles used by executive agencies 
        in a fiscal year have a vehicle fuel economy at least 5 miles 
        per gallon higher than the average fuel economy standards 
        applicable to such automobiles under section 32902 of this 
        title for the model year that includes January 1 of that fiscal 
        year.''.
[EX A]:
Automobile Fuel Efficiency Improvements Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal transportation code to phase in an increase in average fuel economy standards: (1) from 25 miles per gallon for passenger automobiles manufactured between model years 1984 and 2006 to 40 miles per gallon for those manufactured after model year 2014; and (2) from 17 miles per gallon for non-passenger automobiles manufactured between model years 1984 and 2006 to 27.5 miles per gallon for those manufactured after model year 2014. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe such standards for non-passenger automobiles at least 18 months before the beginning of each model year after model year 2015.

Revises the definitions of automobile and passenger automobile, increasing the weight standards and seating capacity.

Increases the civil penalties for violations of fuel economy standards.

Requires the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) report biennially to Congress on the quality of the automobile fuel economy testing for all currently available automobile technologies; and (2) provide for the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to study what practicable automobile fuel economy testing process provides the most accurate measures of actual automobile fuel economy in highway use, in urban use, and in combined highway and in urban use.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe: (1) a revised testing procedure for accurately measuring the actual automobile fuel economy of each automobile model, based on the latter study; and (2) amended average fuel economy standards taking into account improved accuracy in their calculation resulting from use of such procedure.

Amends the Federal transportation code to revise requirements for the fleet average fuel economy standards for U.S. executive agency automobiles, both passenger and non-passenger.

Directs the President to prescribe regulations that require a specified minimum number of exceptionally fuel-efficient vehicles leased or bought by U.S. executive agencies.