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. NATIONAL OILHEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE ACT OF 2000.

    (a) Findings.--Section 702 of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
amended by striking ``oilheat'' each place it appears and inserting 
``oilheat fuel''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 703 of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``oilheat'' each place it appears (other 
        than paragraph (10)) and inserting ``oilheat fuel'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
            ``(7) Oilheat fuel.--The term `oilheat fuel' means 
        distillate liquid that is used as a fuel for nonindustrial 
        commercial or residential space or hot water heating.'';
            (3) in paragraph (8), by striking ``Oilheat'' and inserting 
        ``Oilheat fuel'';
            (4) in paragraph (14)--
                    (A) by striking ``No. 1 distillate or No. 2 dyed 
                distillate'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``distillate liquid''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``sells the 
                distillate'' and inserting ``sells the distillate 
                liquid'';
            (5) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (13) and (14) 
        as paragraphs (4) through (14) and (16), respectively, and 
        moving paragraph (16) (as so redesignated) to appear after 
        paragraph (15); and
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Distillate liquid.--The term `distillate liquid' 
        means--
                    ``(A) No. 1 distillate;
                    ``(B) No. 2 dyed distillate; or
                    ``(C) a liquid blended with No. 1 distillate or No. 
                2 dyed distillate.''.
    (c) Referenda.--Section 704 of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``oilheat'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``oilheat fuel'';
            (2) by striking ``No. 1 distillate and No. 2 dyed 
        distillate'' each place it appears in subsections (a) and (c) 
        and inserting ``distillate liquid'';
            (3) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``Except as 
                provided in subsection (b), the'' and inserting 
                ``The''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``, No. 1 
                distillate, or No. 2 dyed distillate'' and inserting 
                ``or distillate liquid''; and
            (4) in subsection (b), by striking ``under'' and inserting 
        ``consistent with''.
    (d) Membership.--Section 705 of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``oilheat'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``oilheat fuel'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``No. 1 distillate 
        and No. 2 dyed distillate'' and inserting ``distillate 
        liquid''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Number of Members.--
            ``(1) In general.--The membership of the Alliance shall be 
        as follows:
                    ``(A) 1 member representing each State 
                participating in the Alliance.
                    ``(B) 5 representatives of retail marketers, of 
                whom 1 shall be selected by each of the qualified State 
                associations of the 5 States with the highest volume of 
                annual oilheat fuel sales.
                    ``(C) 5 additional representatives of retail 
                marketers.
                    ``(D) 21 representatives of wholesale distributors.
                    ``(E) 6 public members, who shall be 
                representatives of significant users of oilheat fuel, 
                the oilheat fuel research community, State energy 
                officials, or other groups with expertise in oilheat 
                fuel.
            ``(2) Full-time owners or employees.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), other than the public members of the 
                Alliance, Alliance members shall be full-time 
                managerial owners or employees of members of the 
                oilheat fuel industry.
                    ``(B) Employees.--Members described in 
                subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1) may be 
                employees of the qualified industry organization or an 
                industry trade association.''.
    (e) Functions.--Section 706 of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
amended by striking ``oilheat'' each place it appears and inserting 
``oilheat fuel''.
    (f) Assessments.--Section 707 of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``oilheat'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``oilheat fuel'';
            (2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Rate.--
            ``(1) In general.--The assessment rate for calendar years 
        2008 and 2009 shall be equal to \2/10\ of 1 cent per gallon of 
        distillate liquid.
            ``(2) Subsequent assessments.--Subject to paragraphs (3) 
        and (4), beginning with calendar year 2010, the annual 
        assessment rate shall be sufficient to cover the costs of the 
        plans and programs developed by the Alliance.
            ``(3) Maximum rate.--The annual assessment rate shall not 
        exceed \1/2\ of 1 cent per gallon of distillate liquid.
            ``(4) Limitations on increase.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The annual assessment shall not 
                be increased by more than \1/2\ of 1 cent per gallon in 
                any 1 year.
                    ``(B) Approval.--No increase in the assessment may 
                occur unless the increase is approved by \2/3\ of the 
                members voting at a regularly scheduled meeting of the 
                Alliance.
                    ``(C) Notice.--The Alliance shall provide notice of 
                a change in assessment at least 90 days before the date 
                on which the change is to take effect.'';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``No. 1 distillate or No. 2 dyed 
                distillate'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``distillate liquid''; and
                    (B) in paragraphs (2)(B) and (5)(B), by striking 
                ``fuel'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``distillate liquid''; and
            (4) in subsection (c), by striking ``No. 1 distillate and 
        No. 2 dyed distillate'' and inserting ``Distillate liquid''.
    (g) Market Survey and Consumer Protection.--Section 708 of the 
National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; 
Public Law 106-469) is amended by striking ``oilheat'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``oilheat fuel''.
    (h) Violations.--Section 712(a) of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``oilheat'' and inserting 
        ``oilheat fuel''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(3) a direct reference to a competing product.''.
    (i) Repeal of Sunset.--Section 713 of the National Oilheat Research 
Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is 
repealed.

SOLUTION: Amends the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 to adjust its focus upon oilheat to a focus upon oilheat fuel.

Defines "oilheat fuel" as distillate liquid used as a fuel for nonindustrial commercial or residential space or hot water heating.

Makes technical and conforming amendments.

Revises the membership of the National Oilheat Research Alliance. Provides that, other than the public members of the Alliance, members shall be full-time managerial owners or employees of members of the oilheat fuel industry.

Revises assessment requirements. States that the assessment rate for calendar years 2008 and 2009 shall be equal to two-tenths of 1% per gallon of distillate liquid (currently, No. 1 distillate and No. 2 dyed distillate).

Declares that, beginning with calendar year 2010, the annual assessment rate shall be sufficient to cover the costs of the plans and programs developed by the Alliance.

Sets forth: (1) a maximum assessment rate; and (2) limitations on any assessment increase.

Prohibits any consumer education activity undertaken with funds derived from Alliance assessments from including a direct reference to a competing product.

Repeals the termination date for the Act (thus making it permanent).

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Public Voice Campaign Finance Reform 
Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. PROMOTING DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN SPENDING.

    (a) Requiring Intermediaries and Conduits To Report on Bundled 
Contributions.--Section 315(a)(8) of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(8)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(8)'' and inserting ``(8)(A)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) Any person acting as an intermediary or conduit for the 
collection or delivery of contributions on behalf of a candidate shall 
file reports with the Commission (at the same time and in the same 
manner as a political committee which is not an authorized committee of 
a candidate is required to file reports under section 304(a)(4)) on the 
contributions collected or delivered and on related activities 
conducted on the candidate's behalf.''.
    (b) Treatment of Certain Communications as Independent Expenditures 
for Reporting Purposes.--Section 301(17) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 431(17)) 
is amended by striking ``identified candidate'' and inserting the 
following: ``identified candidate, or any payment for any communication 
made during the 90-day period ending on the date of an election which 
includes the name or likeness of a candidate,''.
    (c) Mandatory Electronic Filing for Persons Meeting Certain 
Threshold.--Section 304(a)(11)(A) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(11)(A)) 
is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
following: ``, except that in the case of any person reporting an 
amount of contributions, expenditures, or disbursements in an amount 
exceeding a threshold established by the Commission, the person shall 
file all reports required under this Act by such electronic means, 
format, or method.''.

SEC. 3. ENHANCING ENFORCEMENT ABILITIES OF FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

    (a) Permitting FEC To Impose Filing Fee for Reports.--Section 307 
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 437d) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f)(1) The Commission shall require each political committee 
filing a report under this title to include with the report a payment 
(in an amount established by the Commission) if the amount of 
contributions, expenditures, or disbursements covered by the report 
exceeds a threshold established by the Commission.
    ``(2) In establishing the amount of payment required to be included 
with a report under paragraph (1), the Commission shall take into 
account the costs to the Commission which are associated with the 
submission of reports under this title.
    ``(3) The Commission may waive the application of paragraph (1) 
with respect to a political committee if the Commission determines that 
the payment required would result in a financial hardship to the 
committee.
    ``(4) The Commission may charge a nominal fee for the distribution 
of documents to the public.
    ``(5) The amount appropriated to the Commission for a fiscal year 
pursuant to the authorization under section 314 may not be adjusted to 
take into account any amounts anticipated to be received by the 
Commission during the year pursuant to this subsection.''.
    (b) Revised Standard for Referral of Certain Violations to Attorney 
General.--Section 309(a)(5)(C) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(5)(C)) is 
amended by striking ``by an affirmative vote of 4 of its members, 
determined that there is probable cause to believe'' and inserting 
``believes''.
    (c) Permitting Random Audits.--Section 311(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
438(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(b)'' and inserting ``(b)(1)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commission shall conduct 
random audits of the reports of political committees during the 1-year 
period which begins on the date of a general election, in accordance 
with such criteria as the Commission may establish.''.

SEC. 4. REDUCED BROADCAST RATES FOR CANDIDATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 315(b)(1) of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 315(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``the lowest unit 
charge'' and inserting ``the applicable percentage of the lowest unit 
charge''.
    (b) Applicable Percentage Defined.--Section 315(c) of such Act (47 
U.S.C. 315(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) the term `applicable percentage' means--
                    ``(A) 70 percent, in the case of a small broadcast 
                station (as determined by the Commission in accordance 
                with ratings, market area analysis, and such other 
                criteria as the Commission may establish), or
                    ``(B) 50 percent, in the case of any other 
                candidate and any other broadcast station.''.

SEC. 5. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF NON-FEDERAL FUNDS.

    Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

               ``restrictions on use of non-federal funds

    ``Sec. 323. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 
no funds which are not subject to the limitations and prohibitions of 
this Act may be expended or disbursed by any person for any activity 
which significantly affects an election for Federal office or which 
promotes or identifies (in whole or in part) any candidate for election 
for Federal office, including any get-out-the-vote drive which 
identifies or targets supporters of a candidate for election for 
Federal office, or any voter registration drive or development or 
maintenance of voter files which occurs during an even-numbered year.
    ``(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to 
any of the following activities:
            ``(1) The construction, maintenance, or operation of 
        buildings or broadcast facilities for political parties.
            ``(2) State or local political party conventions.
            ``(3) State or local political party administration.
            ``(4) Generic campaign activity to promote a political 
        party.
            ``(5) Any activity which would be described in clause (i), 
        (iii), or (v) of section 301(9)(B) if payment for the activity 
        were an expenditure under such section.''.

SEC. 6. APPOINTMENT AND SERVICE OF MEMBERS OF FEDERAL ELECTION 
              COMMISSION.

    (a) Appointment of Additional, Independent Commissioner.--
            (1) In general.--Section 306(a)(1) of the Federal Election 
        Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 437c(a)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``(a)(1)'' and inserting 
                ``(a)(1)(A)'';
                    (B) in the first sentence, by striking ``6 members 
                appointed by the President,'' and inserting the 
                following: ``7 members appointed by the President, of 
                whom one shall be a political independent nominated for 
                appointment by the other members serving on the 
                Commission,''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
    ``(B) In subparagraph (A), the term `political independent' means 
an individual who at no time after January 1992--
            ``(i) has held elective office as a member of the 
        Democratic or Republican party;
            ``(ii) has received any wages or salary from the Democratic 
        or Republican party or from a Democratic or Republican party 
        office-holder or candidate; or
            ``(iii) has provided substantial volunteer services or made 
        any substantial contribution to the Democratic or Republican 
        party or to a Democratic or Republican party office-holder or 
        candidate.''.
            (2) Deadline for initial appointment.--The members of the 
        Federal Election Commission shall provide the President with a 
        nominee for appointment to the Commission under section 
        306(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as 
        amended by paragraph (1)) not later than 90 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Limiting Commissioners to Single Term.--Section 306(a)(2)(A) of 
such Act (2 U.S.C. 437c(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``terms'' and 
inserting ``a single term''.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to 
elections occurring after January 1999.

SOLUTION: Public Voice Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to provide for:  (1) intermediaries and conduits to report on bundled contributions in the same time and manner as a political committee which is not an authorized committee of the candidate; (2) certain communications to be treated as independent expenditures; and (3) mandatory electronic filing for persons reporting contributions, expenditures, or disbursements in an amount exceeding a threshold established by the Federal Election Commission. 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Commission to require each political committee filing a report to include with the report a filing fee when the amount of contributions, expenditures, or disbursements covered by the report exceeds a threshold established by the Commission. 
Revises the standard for referral of certain violations to the Attorney General. 
Requires the Commission to conduct random audits of the reports of political committees. 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for reduced broadcast media rates for candidates. 
(Sec. 5) Amends FECA to set forth restrictions on the use of non-Federal funds. 
(Sec. 6) Revises requirements for the composition of the Commission and terms of Commissioners and replaces them with new requirements, including one that Commissioners serve no more than a single term.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Carbon Capture Improvement Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide from 
        coal, natural gas, and biomass-fired power plants, as well as 
        from industrial sectors such as oil refining and production of 
        fertilizer, cement, and ethanol, can help protect the 
        environment while improving the economy and national security 
        of the United States.
            (2) The United States is a world leader in the field of 
        carbon dioxide capture and long-term storage, as well as the 
        beneficial use of carbon dioxide in enhanced oil recovery 
        operations, with many manufacturers and licensors of carbon 
        dioxide capture technology based in the United States.
            (3) While the prospects for large-scale carbon capture in 
        the United States are promising, costs remain relatively high. 
        Lowering the financing costs for carbon dioxide capture 
        projects would accelerate the deployment of this technology, 
        and if the captured carbon dioxide is subsequently sold for 
        industrial use, such as for use in enhanced oil recovery 
        operations, the economic prospects are further improved.
            (4) Since 1968, tax-exempt private activity bonds have been 
        used to provide access to lower-cost financing for private 
        businesses that are purchasing new capital equipment for 
        certain specified environmental facilities, including 
        facilities that reduce, recycle, or dispose of waste, 
        pollutants, and hazardous substances.
            (5) Allowing tax-exempt financing for the purchase of 
        capital equipment that is used to capture carbon dioxide will 
        reduce the costs of developing carbon dioxide capture projects, 
        accelerate their deployment, and, in conjunction with carbon 
        dioxide utilization and long-term storage, help the United 
        States meet critical environmental, economic, and national 
        security goals.

SEC. 3. CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 142 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (14), by striking ``or'' at the 
                end,
                    (B) in paragraph (15), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``, or'', and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(16) qualified carbon dioxide capture facilities.'', and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(n) Qualified Carbon Dioxide Capture Facility.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(16), the 
        term `qualified carbon dioxide capture facility' means the 
        eligible components of an industrial carbon dioxide facility.
            ``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible component.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term `eligible 
                        component' means any equipment installed in an 
                        industrial carbon dioxide facility that 
                        satisfies the requirements under paragraph (3) 
                        and is--
                                    ``(I) used for the purpose of 
                                capture, treatment and purification, 
                                compression, transportation, or on-site 
                                storage of carbon dioxide produced by 
                                the industrial carbon dioxide facility, 
                                or
                                    ``(II) integral or functionally 
                                related and subordinate to a process 
                                described in section 48B(c)(2), 
                                determined by substituting `carbon 
                                dioxide' for `carbon monoxide' in such 
                                section.
                    ``(B) Industrial carbon dioxide facility.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), the term `industrial carbon 
                        dioxide facility' means a facility that emits 
                        carbon dioxide (including from any fugitive 
                        emissions source) that is created as a result 
                        of any of the following processes:
                                    ``(I) Fuel combustion.
                                    ``(II) Gasification.
                                    ``(III) Bioindustrial.
                                    ``(IV) Fermentation.
                                    ``(V) Any manufacturing industry 
                                described in section 48B(c)(7).
                            ``(ii) Exceptions.--For purposes of clause 
                        (i), an industrial carbon dioxide facility 
                        shall not include--
                                    ``(I) any geological gas facility 
                                (as defined in clause (iii)), or
                                    ``(II) any air separation unit 
                                that--
                                            ``(aa) does not qualify as 
                                        gasification equipment, or
                                            ``(bb) is not a necessary 
                                        component of an oxy-fuel 
                                        combustion process.
                            ``(iii) Geological gas facility.--The term 
                        `geological gas facility' means a facility 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) produces a raw product 
                                consisting of gas or mixed gas and 
                                liquid from a geological formation,
                                    ``(II) transports or removes 
                                impurities from such product, or
                                    ``(III) separates such product into 
                                its constituent parts.
            ``(3) Capture and storage requirement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                eligible components of an industrial carbon dioxide 
                facility shall have a capture and storage percentage 
                (as determined under subparagraph (C)) that is equal to 
                or greater than 65 percent.
                    ``(B) Exception.--In the case of an industrial 
                carbon dioxide facility with a capture and storage 
                percentage that is less than 65 percent, the percentage 
                of the cost of the eligible components installed in 
                such facility that may be financed with tax-exempt 
                bonds may not be greater than the capture and storage 
                percentage.
                    ``(C) Capture and storage percentage.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the capture and storage percentage shall be an 
                        amount, expressed as a percentage, equal to the 
                        quotient of--
                                    ``(I) the total metric tons of 
                                carbon dioxide annually captured, 
                                transported, and injected into--
                                            ``(aa) a facility for 
                                        geologic storage, or
                                            ``(bb) an enhanced oil or 
                                        gas recovery well followed by 
                                        geologic storage, divided by
                                    ``(II) the total metric tons of 
                                carbon dioxide which would otherwise be 
                                released into the atmosphere each year 
                                as industrial emission of greenhouse 
                                gas if the eligible components were not 
                                installed in the industrial carbon 
                                dioxide facility.
                            ``(ii) Limited application of eligible 
                        components.--In the case of eligible components 
                        that are designed to capture carbon dioxide 
                        solely from specific sources of emissions or 
                        portions thereof within an industrial carbon 
                        dioxide facility, the capture and storage 
                        percentage under this subparagraph shall be 
                        determined based only on such specific sources 
                        of emissions or portions thereof.''.
    (b) Volume Cap.--Section 146(g)(4) of such Code is amended by 
striking ``paragraph (11) of section 142(a) (relating to high-speed 
intercity rail facilities)'' and inserting ``paragraph (11) or (16) of 
section 142(a)''.
    (c) Clarification of Private Business Use.--Section 141(b)(6) of 
such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Clarification relating to qualified carbon 
                dioxide capture facilities.--For purposes of this 
                subsection, the sale of carbon dioxide produced by a 
                qualified carbon dioxide capture facility (as defined 
                in section 142(n)) which is owned by a governmental 
                unit shall not constitute private business use.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to obligations issued after December 31, 2015.

SOLUTION:
Carbon Capture Improvement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the issuance of tax-exempt facility bonds for the financing of qualified carbon dioxide capture facilities A qualified carbon dioxide capture facility is a facility that captures or stores carbon dioxide from coal, natural gas, biomass, and other industrial sources.