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

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Roads for America Act of 
2011''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) An individual who is 65 years of age needs 4 times the 
        amount of light to see at night as compared to an individual 
        who is 25 years of age.
            (2) The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety projects that by 
        2030 1 in every 4 drivers will be 65 years of age or older.
            (3) Increasing the retroreflectivity and size of traffic 
        signs provides added decision time for older drivers.
            (4) Increasing the retroreflectivity and size of traffic 
        signs also provides for faster response time by emergency 
        medical technicians and police and fire personnel by increasing 
        their ability to read and understand signs and reduce travel 
        time to a site.
            (5) More than 50 percent of traffic accidents resulting in 
        fatalities occur at night, and increased retroreflectivity of 
        traffic signs addresses this issue.
            (6) In 2007, the following deadlines were established in 
        the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices in response to a 
        statutory requirement from Congress:
                    (A) By January 22, 2012, roadway owners must adopt 
                a plan to ensure that their signs meet minimum levels 
                of retroreflectivity.
                    (B) By January 22, 2015, regulatory and warning 
                signs and post-mounted signs must meet minimum levels 
                of retroreflectivity.
                    (C) By January 22, 2018, overhead and street name 
                signs must meet minimum levels of retroreflectivity.
            (7) The Federal Highway Administration has estimated that 
        the cost for making these retroreflectivity improvements for 
        signage throughout the United States is $37,000,000 over a 10-
        year period.
            (8) At no point must a roadway owner replace a sign that 
        meets the minimum levels of retroreflectivity.
            (9) The United States is currently experiencing the worst 
        economic conditions since the Great Depression.
            (10) As a result, local governments across the United 
        States are experiencing one of the most economically 
        challenging times in history, with available revenues unable to 
        match the costs of services demanded by the public.
            (11) To compensate for depressed revenue collections during 
        the economic downturn, counties and cities are adopting severe 
        cost-cutting measures, such as laying off and furloughing 
        employees (including public safety personnel), cancelling or 
        postponing planned capital improvements, deferring necessary 
        maintenance, cutting equipment inventories, and in some cases 
        declaring bankruptcy.
            (12) The costs of employee benefits continue to rise and 
        local governments have to devote more resources to keep up with 
        inflation.
            (13) States are passing along the costs of services to 
        local governments as a method to balance their budgets.
            (14) The outlook for recovery appears to be at least 5 
        years away given that, even when the economy recovers, local 
        governments experience a delay in increased tax collections due 
        to the nature of property tax collections.

SEC. 3. RETROREFLECTIVITY LEVEL STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO TRAFFIC SIGNS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall modify the 
target compliance dates for minimum retroreflectivity level standards 
set forth in section 2A.08 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 
Devices for Streets and Highways, 2009 Edition (incorporated by 
reference in subpart F of part 655 of title 23, Code of Federal 
Regulations) so that the following target compliance dates apply:
            (1) A target compliance date of January 22, 2012, for 
        implementation and continued use of an assessment or management 
        method that is designed to maintain traffic sign 
        retroreflectivity at or above the established minimum levels.
            (2) A target compliance date of January 22, 2018, for 
        replacement of regulatory, warning, and post-mounted guide 
        (except street name) signs that are identified using the 
        assessment or management method as failing to meet the 
        established minimum levels.
            (3) A target compliance date of January 22, 2021, for 
        replacement of street name signs and overhead guide signs that 
        are identified using the assessment or management method as 
        failing to meet the established minimum levels.
    (b) Effect on Proposed Regulations.--The Secretary shall revise the 
notice of proposed amendments published in the Federal Register on 
August 31, 2011 (76 Fed. Reg. 54156), to incorporate the target 
compliance dates specified in subsection (a).
    (c) Funding.--The Secretary may use funds available to the 
Secretary to carry out this section notwithstanding any funding 
limitation enacted before the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Highway Signs and Pavement Markings.--Section 148(a)(3)(B)(xi) 
of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
                            ``(xi) Installation, replacement, and 
                        upgrade of highway signs and pavement markings, 
                        including any upgrade of materials and the 
                        implementation of any assessment or management 
                        method designed to meet a State-established 
                        performance standard, Federal regulation, or 
                        requirement contained in the Manual on Uniform 
                        Traffic Control Devices relating to minimum 
                        levels of retroreflectivity.''.
    (b) Maintaining Minimum Levels of Retroreflectivity.--
            (1) Definition.--Section 148(a) of such title is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Project to maintain minimum levels of 
        retroreflectivity.--The term `project to maintain minimum 
        levels of retroreflectivity' means a project undertaken 
        pursuant to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 
        requiring public agencies to use an assessment or management 
        method that is designed to maintain highway sign or pavement 
        marking retroreflectivity at or above prescribed minimum 
        levels.''.
            (2) Eligible projects.--Section 148(d)(1) of such title is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (A);
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                subparagraph (C); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
                following:
                    ``(B) any project to maintain minimum levels of 
                retroreflectivity on a public road, whether or not such 
                project is included in the State strategic highway 
                safety plan; or''.
            (3) Increased federal share.--The first sentence of section 
        120(c)(1) of such title is amended by inserting ``maintaining 
        minimum levels of retroreflectivity of highway signs or 
        pavement markings,'' after ``signalization,''.
    (c) Standards for Projects To Upgrade Highway Signs and Pavement 
Markings.--Section 148 of such title is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(i) Standards for Projects To Upgrade Highway Signs and Pavement 
Markings.--The Secretary shall issue standards for the use of funds 
apportioned to a State under section 104(b)(5) for highway safety 
improvement projects to upgrade highway signs and pavement markings in 
order to meet or exceed minimum maintained levels of retroreflectivity. 
Such standards shall ensure that the projects are carried out so as to 
meet defined criteria, consistent with other safety upgrades, using a 
systematic approach. Such standards shall permit the use of the funds 
for an initial upgrade of highway signs and pavement markings in the 
State, but shall prohibit the funds from being used for maintenance 
activities.''.
Example Output: Safe Roads for America Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to modify the target compliance dates for the following minimum retroreflectivity level standards: (1) implementation and continued use of an assessment or management method that is designed to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at or above the established minimum levels; (2) replacement of regulatory, warning, and post-mounted guide (except street name) signs identified using the assessment or management method as failing to meet the established minimum levels; and (3) replacement of street name signs and overhead guide signs that are identified using the assessment or management method as failing to meet the established minimum levels.

 Requires the Secretary to revise the notice of proposed amendments published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2011, to incorporate the new target compliance dates.

Includes measures designed to meet a state-established performance standard, federal regulation, or requirement contained in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices relating to minimum levels of retroreflectivity as projects for purposes of the highway safety improvement program.

Allows a maximum 100% federal share of the costs of construction related to maintaining minimum levels of retroreflectivity of highway signs or pavement markings.

Directs the Secretary to issue standards for the use of funds apportioned to a state for highway safety improvement projects to upgrade highway signs and pavement markings in order to meet or exceed minimum maintained levels of retroreflectivity. Requires such standards to prohibit fund use for maintenance activities.

Example Input: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Shimon Peres was born in Poland in 1923.
            (2) The Peres family emigrated to Tel Aviv in 1934, and all 
        of the family members of Shimon Peres who remained in Poland 
        were murdered during the Holocaust.
            (3) Before Israel gained independence, Shimon Peres earned 
        the respect of senior leaders in the independence movement in 
        Israel, most notably David Ben-Gurion.
            (4) The founding generation of Israel was central to the 
        development of Israel, and Shimon Peres is the only surviving 
        member of that founding generation.
            (5) Shimon Peres has served in numerous high-level cabinet 
        positions and ministerial posts in Israel, including head of 
        the Israeli Navy, Minister of Defense, Foreign Minister, Prime 
        Minister, and President, among many others.
            (6) Shimon Peres has honorably served Israel for over 70 
        years, during which he has significantly contributed to United 
        States interests and has played a pivotal role in forging the 
        strong and unbreakable bond between the United States and 
        Israel.
            (7) By presenting the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon 
        Peres, the first to be awarded to a sitting President of 
        Israel, Congress proclaims its unbreakable bond with Israel and 
        reaffirms its continual support for Israel as we commemorate 
        the 65th anniversary of the independence of Israel and the 90th 
        birthday of Shimon Peres, which are both significant milestones 
        in Israeli history.
            (8) Maintaining strong bilateral relations between the 
        United States and Israel has been a priority of Shimon Peres 
        since he began working with the United States in the days of 
        John F. Kennedy. The strong bond is exemplified by the 
        following:
                    (A) President Reagan said to Shimon Peres upon his 
                visit to the United States, ``Mr. Prime Minister, I 
                thank you very much for your visit. It's been an 
                occasion to renew a friendship and to review and 
                enhance the strength of our unique bilateral 
                relationship.''
                    (B) At another point President Reagan said of 
                Shimon Peres, ``His vision, his statesmanship and his 
                tenacity are greatly appreciated here.''
                    (C) While visiting with Shimon Peres at the 
                Residence of the President in Jerusalem, President 
                Obama described Shimon Peres as ``. . . a son of Israel 
                who's devoted his life to keeping Israel strong and 
                sustaining the bonds between our two nations''.
                    (D) On March 20, 2013, Shimon Peres reaffirmed his 
                belief in the relationship between the United States 
                and Israel, stating, ``America stood by our side from 
                the very beginning. You support us as we rebuild our 
                ancient homeland and as we defend our land. From 
                Holocaust to redemption.''
                    (E) On March 21, 2013, Shimon Peres stated, ``. . . 
                America is so great and we are so small. But I learned 
                that you don't measure us by size, but by values. When 
                it comes to values, we are you and you are us. . . . As 
                I look back, I feel that the Israel of today has 
                exceeded the vision we had 65 years ago. Reality has 
                surpassed our dreams. The United States of America 
                helped us to make this possible.''

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Award Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the Senate and 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make appropriate 
arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold 
medal of appropriate design to President Shimon Peres.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the award referred to 
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a gold 
medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined 
by the Secretary.

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may 
prescribe, the Secretary may strike duplicate medals in bronze of the 
gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 and sell such duplicate medals 
at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including 
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

    Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes 
of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

    (a) Authorization of Charges.--There is authorized to be charged 
against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, such amounts as 
may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant to 
this Act.
    (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate 
bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States 
Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

            Passed the Senate March 13, 2014.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
113th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1456

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

         To award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon Peres.
Example Output: .  Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal in honor of President Shimon Peres of Israel.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Union Member Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Labor unions make significant political contributions 
        and expenditures that directly or indirectly influence the 
        election of candidates and support or oppose political causes. 
        Decisions to use union dues for political contributions and 
        expenditures are usually made by union leadership and 
        management, rather than union membership.
            (2) Unions, acting through their management, should be 
        obligated to conduct business in the best interests of their 
        membership.
            (3) Historically, union members have not had a way to know, 
        or to influence, the political activities of unions that are 
        supposed to represent them. Union members and the public have a 
        right to know how unions are spending members' dues to make 
        political contributions or expenditures benefitting candidates, 
        political parties, and political causes.
            (4) Unions should be accountable to their membership in 
        making political contributions or expenditures affecting 
        Federal governance and public policy. Requiring the express 
        approval of a union's membership for political contributions or 
        expenditures will establish necessary accountability.

SEC. 3. DISCLOSURE AND APPROVAL OF CERTAIN POLITICAL EXPENDITURES.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Labor-Management Reporting and 
Disclosure Act (29 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 201 the following:

``SEC. 201A. DISCLOSURE AND APPROVAL OF CERTAIN POLITICAL EXPENDITURES 
              BY LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

    ``(a) Disclosure.--The report required under section 201 shall 
contain, in a clear and simple format--
            ``(1) a description of the specific nature of any 
        expenditures for political activities proposed to be made by 
        the labor organization for the forthcoming fiscal year, to the 
        extent the specific nature is known to the labor organization 
        and including the total amount of such proposed expenditures; 
        and
            ``(2) a disclosure of how each officer of the labor 
        organization voted to authorize or not to authorize each 
        expenditure for political activities made by the labor 
        organization during the preceding fiscal year.
    ``(b) Restriction on Expenditures.--No labor organization shall 
make any expenditure for political activities in any fiscal year 
unless--
            ``(1) such expenditure is of the nature of those proposed 
        by the labor organization pursuant to subsection (a); and
            ``(2) the full, free, and written authorization for such 
        expenditures has been granted by a majority of the members of 
        the labor organization.
    ``(c) Mechanism for Obtaining Authorization.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Union Member Protection Act, every 
labor organization shall adopt a mechanism for obtaining, by secret 
ballot, the authorization of its members as required under subsection 
(b)(2).
    ``(d) Liability.--The officers of a labor organization who 
authorize an expenditure without first obtaining the authorization of 
members required under subsection (b)(2) shall be jointly and severally 
liable in any action brought in any court of competent jurisdiction to 
any member of the labor organization or class of members for the amount 
of dues paid by such member or class of member during the 1 year period 
prior to the date that such expenditure was made.
    ``(e) Definition of Expenditure for Political Activities.--As used 
in this section:
            ``(1) The term `expenditure for political activities' 
        means--
                    ``(A) an independent expenditure, as such term is 
                defined in section 301(17) of the Federal Election 
                Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(17));
                    ``(B) contributions to any political party, 
                committee, or electioneering communication, as such 
                term is defined in section 304(f)(3)(A) of the Federal 
                Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(f)(3)(A)); 
                and
                    ``(C) dues or other payments to trade associations 
                or other tax exempt organizations that are, or could 
                reasonably be anticipated to be, used for the purposes 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Such term shall not include--
                    ``(A) direct lobbying efforts through registered 
                lobbyists employed or hired by the labor organization;
                    ``(B) communications by a labor organization to its 
                members and executive or administrative personnel and 
                their families; or
                    ``(C) the establishment, administration, and 
                solicitation of contributions to a separate segregated 
                fund to be utilized for political purposes by a labor 
                organization.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 201(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 431(c)) is 
        amended by striking ``make available the information required 
        to be contained in'' and inserting ``provide''.
            (2) Section 209(a) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 439(a)) is 
        amended by inserting ``other than section 201A'' after ``this 
        title''.

SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT OF VOTE BY PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.

    Section 201 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act 
(29 U.S.C. 431) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) The bylaws required under this section shall expressly 
provide for a vote of the principal officers of the labor organization 
on any individual expenditure for political activities (as such term is 
defined in section 201A(e)) in excess of $50,000. A labor organization 
shall make publicly available the individual votes of principal 
officers required by the preceding sentence within 48 hours of the 
vote, including in a clear and conspicuous location on the Internet 
website of the labor organization.''.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

    The Comptroller General of the United States shall annually conduct 
a study on the compliance with the requirements of this Act by labor 
organizations and their management. Not later than April 1 of each 
year, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report of such 
study.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of 
enactment of the Shareholder Protection Act of 2010.
Example Output:
Union Member Protection Act - Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (Landrum-Griffin Act) to require a labor organization's mandatory report to the Secretary of Labor on its constitution, officers, and basic organization to include, in a clear and simple format, both: (1) a description of the specific nature and total amount of political expenditures the labor organization proposes to make for the upcoming fiscal year; and (2) a disclosure of how each labor organization officer voted on each political expenditure made by the organization during the preceding fiscal year.

Prohibits a labor organization from making political expenditures unless: (1) they are of the nature of those proposed in such report; and (2) they have received a full, free, and written authorization by secret ballot by a majority of the labor organization members.

Makes officers jointly and severally liable for authorizing a political expenditure without first obtaining the authorization of labor organization members.

Requires labor organization bylaws to provide expressly for a vote of the organization's principal officers on individual political expenditures in excess of $50,000. Requires a labor organization to make public the individual votes of such officers within 48 hours, including in a clear and conspicuous location on its website.