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 ``National High Performance Passenger 
Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish an initiative to 
promote passenger rail operations and transportation-oriented 
development by creating incentives for communities to encourage 
dedicated revenue sources for urban and regional rail corridor 
development.
    (b) Implementation.--The Secretary shall appoint a Planning 
Developer to oversee implementation of this initiative. The Planning 
Developer shall report to the Secretary.
    (c) Coordinating Committee.--The Secretary shall harmonize planning 
requirements and direct coordination and administration of the 
initiative between the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal 
Transit Administration. The Secretary shall appoint a Transportation-
Oriented Development Coordinating Committee composed of the Planning 
Developer as Chair, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad 
Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal Transit 
Administration.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL INCENTIVES.

    (a) Qualified Projects.--
            (1) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish criteria for 
        the designation of projects qualified for Federal incentives 
        pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this 
        section.
            (2) Types of projects that may qualify.--Projects that may 
        qualify for Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the 
        amendments made by this section are those that contribute to 
        the generation of revenue by the capture of increasing value 
        from development around station areas, as defined by the 
        Secretary, which are likely to make long-term contributions to 
        rail corridor development funds or similar mechanisms that help 
        finance intercity and urban passenger rail infrastructure or 
        operating expenses. Such commercial development or other 
        projects designated as qualified by the Secretary may generate 
        revenue for transportation-oriented development and rail 
        operations in the region by increasing the tax base, promoting 
        job growth, promoting cost effectiveness, facilitating 
        intermodal connectivity, combining congestion relief with 
        station development, stimulating economic development, or any 
        other appropriate means. The capture of increased value shall 
        be through the establishment of special assessment districts or 
        similar mechanisms, and distribution of revenues shall be 
        through rail corridor development funds or similar mechanisms 
        established within the regions.
            (3) Designated coordinating authority.--The Secretary shall 
        designate a State authority, or regional commission in 
        appropriate regions of the country as defined by the Secretary, 
        that petitions the Secretary to participate in the initiative 
        established under section 2. Such designated entity shall 
        provide for coordination among stakeholders, local governments, 
        and private developers in the defined region, and shall endorse 
        each project of, and be the lead party in, an application for 
        Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments 
        made by this section.
    (b) Railroad Rehabilitation Improvement Financing.--Section 502 of 
the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 
U.S.C. 822) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (5);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (6) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(7) persons conducting a qualified project (as defined in 
        section 8 of the National High Performance Passenger Rail 
        Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2012).''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (B);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(D) conduct a qualified project (as defined by 
                the Secretary under section 3 of the National High 
                Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented 
                Development Act of 2012.''.
    (c) Transportation Infrastructure Finance.--Section 601(a)(8) of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) a qualified project (as defined by the 
                Secretary under section 3 of the National High 
                Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented 
                Development Act of 2012).''.
    (d) Application Priority.--In general, Federal applications to the 
Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration for 
railroad projects that participate in the transportation-oriented 
development program under this Act shall receive a priority for funding 
in the application decision process.
    (e) Administrative Costs.--For administrative costs to carry out 
this Act, including contracting with and support for the Planning 
Developer and transportation-oriented development initial 
administrative costs of the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal 
Transit Administration for the first 5 years, the Secretary may use 
such funds as necessary which are appropriated for carrying out chapter 
6 of title 23, United States Code.
    (f) Revenue Neutral Program Cost.--The Secretary may establish a 
mechanism whereby amounts used under subsection (e) will be repaid to 
the Secretary for use in carrying out chapter 6 of title 23, United 
States Code. Repayment shall be derived from a small fee to all 
recipients of funding provided under subsection (e). The repayment 
shall commence upon substantial completion of qualified projects.

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) National Technical Assistance.--The program established under 
this Act shall provide technical assistance to the States with respect 
to--
            (1) identification of transportation-oriented development 
        opportunities;
            (2) establishment of special assessment districts in 
        regions;
            (3) establishment of rail corridor development funds; and
            (4) expediting Federal, State, and local regulatory 
        approvals.
    (b) States and Regions Outside the Northeast Corridor.--The 
Secretary, through the initiative established by this Act, shall 
provide technical assistance to the States and regions outside the 
Northeast Corridor as identified by the Secretary, and shall provide--
            (1) technical assistance on the establishment of Regional 
        Advisory Committees appropriate to carrying out the purposes of 
        this Act at the regional level; and
            (2) technical assistance at the request of a State or 
        qualified entity provided by the Planning Developer that will 
        identify stations and potential stations within a given region, 
        and conduct a preliminary survey of property available and 
        potentially available, to maximize development and commercial 
        revenue generation to financially support the development of a 
        high performance rail passenger corridor.
    (c) Northeast Corridor.--The Secretary, through the initiative 
established under this Act, shall provide technical assistance to the 
States and entities along the Northeast Corridor as identified by the 
Secretary--
            (1) on the establishment, by the Northeast Corridor 
        Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission established 
        under section 24905 of title 49, United States Code, of a 
        Northeast Corridor Transportation-Oriented Development Working 
        Group, which shall--
                    (A) include outside members with expertise in 
                transportation-oriented development;
                    (B) be chaired by the Planning Developer; and
                    (C) advise the Secretary and the Northeast Corridor 
                Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission on 
                the ways and means for carrying out the purposes of 
                this Act at the regional level; and
            (2) technical assistance provided by the Planning Developer 
        to the Secretary and identified States and entities, not more 
        than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, that 
        will identify Northeast Corridor stations and potential 
        stations, and conduct a preliminary survey of property 
        available and potentially available, to maximize development 
        and commercial revenue generation to financially support the 
        creation of a true high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast 
        Corridor.

SOLUTION: National High Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish an initiative to promote passenger rail operations and transportation-oriented development by creating rail projects qualified for federal incentives for communities to encourage dedicated revenue sources for urban and regional rail corridor development.

Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to direct the Secretary to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for qualified rail projects. Authorizes the Secretary to make secured loans, loan guarantees, or lines of credit for such projects.

Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to: (1) states to identify transportation-oriented development opportunities, (2) states and regions outside the Northeast Corridor to establish Regional Advisory Committees and identify stations and potential stations within the region to maximize development and commercial revenue generation to support financially the development of a high performance rail passenger corridor, and (3) states and entities along the Northeast Corridor to establish a Northeast Corridor Transportation-Oriented Development Working Group and identify Northeast Corridor stations and potential stations to maximize development and commercial revenue generation to support financially the creation of a true high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast Corridor.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Student Loan Fairness Consolidation 
Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO REFINANCE EXISTING CONSOLIDATION LOANS.

    (a) FFEL Consolidation Loans.--Section 428C(a)(3)(B) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078-3(a)(3)(B)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new clause:
            ``(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i) of this subparagraph, a 
        borrower of a consolidation loan on which the interest is 
        established at a fixed rate under section 427A, 428C(c), or 455 
        may obtain a subsequent consolidation loan for the purposes of 
        refinancing such earlier consolidation loan at a variable rate 
        of interest under section 427A(m) or 455(b)(8), except that the 
        authority to refinance a consolidation loan under this clause 
        shall not apply to a consolidation loan that was used 
        exclusively to repay loans made under section 428B or Federal 
        Direct PLUS Loans (or both such loans).''.
    (b) Parallel Terms for Federal Direct Consolidation Loans.--Section 
455(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``428C,'' after 
        ``428B,''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (B);
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                subparagraph (D); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
                following:
                    ``(C) section 428C shall be known as `Federal 
                Direct Consolidation Loans'.''.

SEC. 3. AVAILABILITY OF VARIABLE INTEREST RATE CONSOLIDATION LOANS.

    (a) FFEL Consolidation Loans.--Section 427A of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1077a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (m) and (n) as subsections 
        (n) and (o), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (l) the following:
    ``(m) Variable Interest Rate Consolidation Loans.--
            ``(1) Variable rate.--Notwithstanding subsections (h), (k), 
        and (l), with respect to any loan made pursuant to section 428C 
        for which the first disbursement is made on or after the date 
        of enactment of the Student Loan Fairness Consolidation Act of 
        2003, the applicable rate of interest shall, during any 12-
        month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be 
        determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to--
                    ``(A) the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury 
                bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such 
                June 1; plus
                    ``(B) 2.3 percent,
        except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
            ``(2) Recovery of excess interest.--If, with respect to a 
        consolidation loan on which the applicable interest rate is 
        determined under this subsection, the applicable interest rate 
        for any 3-month period exceeds the special allowance rate 
        applicable to such loan under section 438(b)(2)(I) for such 
        period, then an adjustment shall be made--
                    ``(A) by calculating the excess interest in the 
                amount computed under paragraph (3) of this subsection; 
                and
                    ``(B) by crediting the excess interest to the 
                Government.
            ``(3) Amount of adjustment.--The amount of any adjustment 
        of interest on a loan to be made under this subsection for any 
        quarter shall be equal to--
                    ``(A) the applicable interest rate minus the 
                special allowance rate determined under section 
                438(a)(2)(I); multiplied by
                    ``(B) the average daily principal balance of the 
                loan (not including unearned interest added to 
                principal) during such calendar quarter; divided by
                    ``(C) four.
            ``(4) Inapplicability to consolidation loans used to repay 
        plus loans.--The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection 
        shall not apply to a consolidation loan that was used 
        exclusively to repay loans made under section 428B or Federal 
        Direct PLUS Loans (or both such loans).''.
    (b) Federal Direct Consolidation Loans.--Section 455(b) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs 
        (9) and (10), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(8) Variable interest rate consolidation loans.--
                    ``(A) Variable rate.--Notwithstanding the preceding 
                paragraphs of this subsection, with respect to any 
                Federal Direct Consolidation Loan for which the first 
                disbursement is made on or after the date of enactment 
                of the Student Loan Fairness Consolidation Act of 2003, 
                the applicable rate of interest shall, during any 12-
                month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, 
                be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to--
                            ``(i) the bond equivalent rate of 91-day 
                        Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction 
                        held prior to such June 1; plus
                            ``(ii) 2.3 percent,
                except that such rate shall not exceed 8.25 percent.
                    ``(B) Inapplicability to consolidation loans used 
                to repay plus loans.--The provisions of this subsection 
                shall not apply to a consolidation loan that was used 
                exclusively to repay loans made under section 428B or 
                Federal Direct PLUS Loans (or both such loans).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 438(b)(2)(I) is amended by 
striking ``section 427A(k)(4) or (l)(3)'' each place it appears in 
clauses (iv) and (vi) and inserting ``section 427A(k)(4), (l)(3), or 
(m)''.

SOLUTION: Student Loan Fairness Consolidation Act of 2003 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise student aid requirements for Federal consolidation loans under the Federal Family Education Loan program, and establish parallel requirements under a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan program, to: (1) allow borrowers to refinance existing consolidation loans; and (2) make available variable interest rate consolidation loans. Excludes consolidation loans for repaying Federal PLUS loans (taken out by parents of students) from such provisions for refinancing and variable interest rates.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Senior Self-Sufficiency Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

    Part A of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 422. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS IN NATURALLY OCCURRING RETIREMENT 
              COMMUNITIES.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Assistant Secretary shall award 
grants to eligible entities to carry out 10 demonstration projects to 
provide comprehensive supportive services to older individuals who 
reside in noninstitutional residences in naturally occurring retirement 
communities to enhance the quality of life of such individuals and 
reduce the need to institutionalize such individuals. Those residences 
for which assistance is provided under section 202 of the National 
Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q) in naturally occurring retirement 
communities shall not receive services through a demonstration project 
under this section if such services would otherwise be provided as part 
of the assistance received by such residences under such section 202.
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--An entity is eligible to receive a grant 
under this section if such entity is a nonprofit public or private 
agency, organization, or institution that proposes to provide services 
only in geographical areas considered to be low- or middle-income 
areas.
    ``(c) Priority.--
            ``(1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section, 
        the Assistant Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
        entities that provided comprehensive supportive services in 
        fiscal year 2002 to older individuals who resided in 
        noninstitutional residences in naturally occurring retirement 
        communities.
            ``(2) Rural areas.--Two of the 10 grants awarded under this 
        section shall be awarded to eligible entities that propose to 
        provide services to residents in rural areas.
    ``(d) Grant Period.--Each grant awarded under this section shall be 
awarded for a period of 4 years, with not more than $1,000,000 being 
awarded annually.
    ``(e) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary in such 
form and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may 
require, including a plan for continuing services provided under the 
grant after the grant expires.
    ``(f) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Cost-sharing.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this section may require cost-sharing from individuals 
        receiving services only in a manner consistent with the 
        requirements of title III.
            ``(2) Construction.--An entity may not use funds received 
        under a grant under this section to construct or permanently 
        improve (other than remodeling to make facilities accessible to 
        older individuals) any building or other facility.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Naturally occurring retirement community.--The term 
        `naturally occurring retirement community' means a geographical 
        area in which not less than 40 percent of the noninstitutional 
        residences are occupied for not less than 10 years by heads of 
        households who are older individuals, but does not include 
        residences for which assistance is provided under section 202 
        of the National Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q). The 
        definition provided for in the previous sentence may be 
        modified by the Secretary as such definition relates to grants 
        for rural areas.
            ``(2) Supportive services.--The term `supportive services' 
        means services offered to residents that may include--
                    ``(A) case management;
                    ``(B) health services and education;
                    ``(C) nutrition services, nutrition education, 
                meals, and meal delivery;
                    ``(D) transportation services;
                    ``(E) home and personal care services;
                    ``(F) continuing adult education;
                    ``(G) information and referral services; and
                    ``(H) any other services and resources appropriate 
                to enhance the quality of life of residents and reduce 
                the need to institutionalize such individuals.
    ``(h) Matching Requirement.--The Assistant Secretary may not make a 
grant to an eligible entity under this section unless that entity 
agrees that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the entity in 
carrying out the program for which the grant was awarded, the entity 
will make available in cash or in-kind (directly or through donations 
from public or private entities) non-Federal contributions equaling 5 
percent of Federal funds provided under the grant for the second year 
that such grant is provided, 10 percent of Federal funds provided under 
the grant for the third year that such grant is provided, and 15 
percent of Federal funds provided under the grant for the fourth year 
that such grant is provided.
    ``(i) Report.--Not later than the beginning of the fourth year of 
distributing grants under this section, the Assistant Secretary shall 
evaluate services provided with funds under this section and submit a 
report to Congress summarizing the results of such evaluation and 
recommending what services should be taken in the future.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, not more than $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2003 through 2006.''.

SOLUTION:
Senior Self-Sufficiency Act - Amends Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging to award four-year grants of up to $1 million each to eligible entities to carry out ten demonstration projects to provide specified comprehensive supportive services to older individuals in noninstitutional residences in naturally occurring retirement communities to enhance their quality of life and reduce the need to institutionalize them. Limits such grants to geographical areas considered low- or middle-income. Requires two of the grants to be awarded to entities proposing to provide such services to rural residents.