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 Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Tuition Assistance for Families 
Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF TUITION TAX DEDUCTION.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 222(b)(2) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to dollar limitation) are 
amended to read as follows:
                    ``(A) In general.--The applicable dollar limit 
                shall be equal to--
                            ``(i) in the case of a taxpayer whose 
                        adjusted gross income for the taxable year does 
                        not exceed $65,000 ($130,000 in the case of a 
                        joint return), $12,000,
                            ``(ii) with respect to any taxable year 
                        beginning in 2004 or 2005, in the case of a 
                        taxpayer not described in clause (i) whose 
                        adjusted gross income for the taxable year does 
                        not exceed $80,000 ($160,000 in the case of a 
                        joint return), $2,000, and
                            ``(iii) in the case of any other taxpayer, 
                        zero.
                    ``(B) Inflation adjustment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of any 
                        taxable year beginning after 2003, each dollar 
                        amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) shall 
                        be increased by an amount equal to--
                                    ``(I) such dollar amount, 
                                multiplied by
                                    ``(II) the cost-of-living 
                                adjustment determined under section 
                                (1)(f)(3) for the calendar year in 
                                which the taxable year begins, by 
                                substituting `2002' for `1992'.
                            ``(ii) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted 
                        under clause (i) is not a multiple of $100, 
                        such amount shall be rounded to the next lowest 
                        multiple of $100.''.
    (b) Permanent Deduction.--Section 222 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 (relating to qualified tuition and related expenses) is amended 
by striking subsection (e).
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments made in taxable years beginning after December 31, 
2002.

SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF LIFETIME LEARNING CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Section 25A(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 (relating to per taxpayer credit) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``20 percent'' and inserting ``25 
        percent'', and
            (2) by striking ``$10,000 ($5,000 in the case of taxable 
        years beginning before January 1, 2003)'' and inserting 
        ``$12,000''.
    (b) Inflation Adjustment.--Section 25A(h) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (relating to inflation adjustments) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Dollar limitation on amount of lifetime learning 
        credit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of any taxable year 
                beginning after 2003, the dollar amount referred to in 
                subsection (c)(1) shall be increased by an amount equal 
                to--
                            ``(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                            ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment 
                        determined under section (1)(f)(3) for the 
                        calendar year in which the taxable year begins, 
                        by substituting `2002' for `1992'.
                    ``(B) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted under 
                subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $100, such amount 
                shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of 
                $100.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments made in taxable years beginning after December 31, 
2002.

SEC. 4. INCREASE IN INCOME LIMITS FOR HOPE AND LIFETIME LEARNING 
              CREDITS.

    (a) In General.--Section 25A(d)(2)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (relating to limitation based on modified adjusted gross 
income) is amended by striking ``$40,000 ($80,000'' and inserting 
``$55,000 ($110,000''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 25A(h)(2)(A) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``2001'' in the matter preceding clause (i) 
        and inserting ``2003'',
            (2) by striking ``the $40,000 and $80,000 amounts'' in such 
        matter and inserting ``the $55,000 and $110,000 amounts'', and
            (3) by striking ``2000'' in clause (ii) and inserting 
        ``2002''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments made in taxable years beginning after December 31, 
2002.

SEC. 5. MAXIMUM PELL GRANT AWARDS.

    The Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 
107-116) is amended under the heading ``Student Financial Assistance'' 
by striking ``$4,000'' and inserting ``$4,500''.

SEC. 6. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS.

    (a) Scholarships.--The Secretary of Education is authorized to 
award a scholarship for academic year 2003-2004 and succeeding academic 
years to each student in a State who graduated in the top 5 percent of 
such student's graduating class from secondary school in academic year 
2002-2003 or a succeeding academic year to enable such student to pay 
the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education.
    (b) Amount.--Each scholarship awarded under this section shall be 
in the amount of $1,000.
    (c) Use.--Each student awarded a scholarship under this section 
shall use the funds to pay the cost of attendance at an institution of 
higher education.
    (d) Construction of Needs Provision.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        nothing in this section, or any other Act, shall be construed 
        to permit the receipt of a scholarship under this section to be 
        counted for any needs test in connection with the awarding of 
        any grant or the making of any loan under the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) or any other provision of 
        Federal law relating to educational assistance.
            (2) Exception.--In determining the need of a student for 
        Federal financial assistance, an institution of higher 
        education may take into consideration the amount of scholarship 
        assistance received under this section if the total amount of 
        scholarship assistance received under this section plus the 
        amount of other financial assistance available to a student 
        exceeds the student's cost of attendance at the institution.
    (e) Regulations.--The Secretary of Education shall promulgate 
regulations regarding how scholarships awarded under this section will 
be allocated to both public and private school students.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Cost of attendance.--The term `cost of attendance' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 472 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term `institution 
        of higher education' has the meaning given the term in section 
        101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

Ex Output:
Tuition Assistance for Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax deduction for qualified higher education tuition and related expenses. Sets such deduction at: (1) $12,000 for those with incomes up to $65,000 single or $130,000 joint; and (2) $2,000 for those whose incomes are above that level, but not more than $80,000 single or $160,000 joint. Provides inflation adjustment. Makes such tuition deduction permanent.Increases the amount of the Lifetime Learning tax credit percentage from 20 to 25 percent. Increases the amount of education expenses subject to such credit from $10,000 to $12,000 (thus making the maximum allowable credit $3,000, rather than the current $2,000). Provides inflation adjustment.Raises annual income limits for the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits to $55,000 single and $110,000 joint.Amends the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-116) to increase the maximum Pell Grant award from $4,000 to $4,500.Establishes an academic achievement scholarship program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a $1,000 college scholarship to each student in a State who graduates in the top five percent of his or her secondary school's graduating class.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission of the Federal 
Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a National Commission of 
the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to examine the 
Federal preparedness, response, and recovery to the 2017 natural 
disasters in Puerto Rico, including the Federal Government's 
consideration of the following aspects:
            (1) Federal preparedness activities prior to Hurricanes 
        Irma and Maria, including Federal plans for the 2017 hurricane 
        season and decisionmaking regarding prepositioning contracts 
        and supplies.
            (2) Federal response activities during Hurricanes Irma and 
        Maria, including Federal coordination, distribution of 
        assistance, and contracting.
            (3) Federal recovery activities after Hurricanes Irma and 
        Maria, including Federal efforts to obtain accurate accounting 
        of the death toll, damage impacts, and long-term rebuilding 
        assistance for survivors.

SEC. 3. CONSIDERATIONS.

    To carry out its examination, the Commission shall take into 
consideration the Federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts 
in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions that were impacted by 
the 2017 hurricane season, as well as the following issues:
            (1) The impact and destruction of Hurricane Irma, Hurricane 
        Maria, the resulting landslides, and flooding.
            (2) The adequacy of the death toll methodology and 
        processes, and whether previous death counts and mortality 
        estimates slowed or otherwise affected Federal response 
        efforts.
            (3) The Federal emergency and contingency plans in place 
        before the 2017 hurricane season.
            (4) The Federal preparedness guidelines issued ahead of the 
        2017 hurricane season.
            (5) The vulnerability of Puerto Rico's economic situation 
        on Federal preparedness.
            (6) The implications of Puerto Rico's reliance on imported 
        oil for power generation.
            (7) The adequacy of the telecommunications network in 
        Puerto Rico.
            (8) The capacity of the local government and Federal 
        Government to quickly mobilize and respond to disasters and 
        emergencies in Puerto Rico.
            (9) The impact of the uncertainty in long-term Federal 
        health care funding on medical and emergency readiness.
            (10) The implication of Puerto Rico's treatment under the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its impact on readiness.
            (11) The adequacy of available data and its effects on the 
        Federal response.
            (12) The geographic, ecological, and infrastructure issues 
        that could have affected response efforts.
            (13) A comparison of response efforts in other United 
        States jurisdictions vis-a-vis efforts in Puerto Rico for the 
        2017 hurricane season.

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION AND COMPENSATION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of 
whom two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
Senate, two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of 
Representatives, and two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of 
the Senate.
    (b) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Commission, by majority vote, shall 
choose a Chair and Vice Chair.
    (c) Qualifications and Restrictions.--
            (1) In general.--Individuals shall be selected for 
        appointment on the Commission solely on the basis of their 
        professional qualifications, experience, and expertise in 
        relevant fields, including disaster response and emergency 
        preparedness.
            (2) Restrictions.--Individuals may not be an officer or 
        employee of the Federal Government or any State, or a current 
        elected official of the local government.
    (d) Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--All members of the Commission shall be 
        appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Presidential authority.--The President shall have no 
        authority to terminate the appointment of any member of the 
        commission.
    (e) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made not later than 60 days after the date on which the 
vacancy occurs.
    (f) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Members of the Commission may be 
        compensated for travel expenses necessary to conduct the work 
        and services for the Commission.
            (2) Travel expenditures.--Members shall be allowed travel 
        expenditures, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
        same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
        Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (g) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--With a majority vote of the Commission, 
        members may recruit personnel to assist with the Commission's 
        work, including the creation of the report.
            (2) Personnel.--Any such personnel may include private 
        citizens, employees or detailees of the Federal Government, or 
        employees of the territorial government.

SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Quorum.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
        which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--Each subsequent meeting shall 
        occur upon the call of the Chair or a majority of its members.
            (3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
        shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 
        meetings.
    (b) Public Meetings.--The Commission shall host not less than 10 
public meetings in locations that are accessible to individuals of 
every municipality with elected officials, local community leaders, 
academic institutions, for-profit and non-for-profit organizations, and 
individuals in Puerto Rico to the extent appropriate.
    (c) Written Input.--The Commission shall allow participants both in 
Puerto Rico and the mainland to provide written input to be included in 
an appendix of the final report.
    (d) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may hold hearings, take 
        testimony, and receive evidence for its investigation.
            (2) Protection of information.--Any public hearings of the 
        Commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the 
        protection of information provided to or developed for or by 
        the Commission as required by any applicable statute, 
        regulation, or Executive order.
    (e) Subpoenas.--The Commission may issue subpoenas requiring the 
attendance and testimony of witnesses, and requiring the submission of 
data, books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, 
electronic files, metadata, tapes, and materials of any nature relating 
to any matter under investigation.
    (f) Information From Agencies.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 
Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics.
    (g) GSA Services.--The Administrator of General Services shall 
provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative 
support and other services for the performance of the Commission's 
functions.
    (h) Federal Assistance From Other Agencies.--Departments and 
agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission such 
services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as they 
may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law.
    (i) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the United States.

SEC. 6. REPORTS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and 
Congress a final report on the causes and circumstances surrounding the 
natural disasters in Puerto Rico, including preparedness and immediate 
response, and providing recommendations to guard against future natural 
disasters outside of the continental United States, which shall contain 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations as have been agreed to by a 
majority of Commission members and shall--
            (1) be made available to the public in the English and 
        Spanish languages;
            (2) include findings for the issues described in section 2; 
        and
            (3) include--
                    (A) the number and nature of complaints filed to 
                the Inspectors General for Federal agencies responsible 
                in the aftermath of the 2017 natural disasters;
                    (B) details on Federal procurement and acquisition 
                practices in the aftermath of the 2017 natural 
                disasters;
                    (C) details on disaster mitigation protocols given 
                cultural and language differences; and
                    (D) disaster response processes taking into account 
                demographics (age, race, gender, income) and the impact 
                on segments of the population with disabilities.
    (b) Appendix.--An appendix to the final report shall include 
written input of participants in Puerto Rico and the mainland.
    (c) Interim Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall provide to Congress an 
interim report.

SEC. 7. SUNSET.

    The Commission shall terminate on the day that is 90 days after the 
date on which the final report is submitted.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out this 
Act, to remain available until expended.

Ex Output:
National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2018 This bill establishes a National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico to examine the federal preparedness, response, and recovery to the 2017 natural disasters in Puerto Rico. The commission shall take into consideration the federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions impacted by the 2017 hurricane season, and consider other issues, including the impact and destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the vulnerability of Puerto Rico's economic situation on preparedness, the implications of Puerto Rico's reliance on imported oil for power generation, and the adequacy of the telecommunications network in Puerto Rico.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive National Mercury 
Monitoring Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Mercury is a potent neurotoxin of significant 
        ecological and public health concern.
            (2) It is estimated that more than 410,000 children born 
        each year in the United States are exposed to levels of mercury 
        in the womb that are high enough to impair neurological 
        development.
            (3) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has 
        found that 6 percent of women in the United States of 
        childbearing age have blood mercury levels in excess of values 
        determined to be safe by the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (4) Exposure to mercury occurs largely by consumption of 
        contaminated fish. At the same time, fish and shellfish are an 
        important source of dietary protein, and a healthy fishing 
        resource is important to the economy of the United States.
            (5) Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and 
        other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and 
        contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes 
        a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health 
        and children's proper growth and development. A national 
        mercury monitoring network will provide consistent scientific 
        data on the status of this vital nutritional and commercial 
        resource.
            (6) In many locations, the primary route for mercury input 
        to aquatic ecosystems is atmospheric emissions, transport, and 
        deposition. Computer models and other assessment tools provide 
        varying effectiveness in predicting mercury concentrations in 
        fish and existing broad-scale data sets are insufficient to 
        test model predictions.
            (7) As the Federal Government and State governments advance 
        regulations to curb mercury emissions, such regulations should 
        be evaluated by a nationwide monitoring network that can 
        document whether such regulations are effective.

SEC. 3. MONITORING PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
        the heads of applicable Federal agencies, shall establish a 
        long-term national-scale mercury monitoring program to track--
                    (A) long-term trends in atmospheric mercury 
                concentrations and deposition; and
                    (B) in response to changing mercury emissions over 
                time, mercury levels in--
                            (i) watersheds and surface waters; and
                            (ii) fish and wildlife in terrestrial, 
                        freshwater, and coastal ecosystems.
            (2) Monitoring sites.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act and in coordination the 
                Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee, the 
                Administrator, in consultation with the heads of the 
                applicable Federal agencies, shall select multiple 
                monitoring sites for the mercury monitoring program 
                established under this section representing different 
                ecoregions of the United States.
                    (B) Locations.--Locations of monitoring sites for 
                the mercury monitoring program established under this 
                section shall include, national parks, national 
                wildlife refuges, national estuarine reserves, and 
                sensitive ecological areas in which substantive changes 
                are expected from reductions in domestic mercury 
                emissions. Such monitoring sites shall be co-located 
                with sites from other long-term environmental 
                monitoring programs, as practicable, including sites 
                associated with the National Ecological Observatory 
                Network, Long Term Ecological Research Network, and the 
                National Atmospheric Deposition Program.
            (3) Monitoring protocols.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act and in coordination with the 
        Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall 
        establish and publish standardized measurement protocols for 
        the mercury monitoring program established under this section, 
        including data assurance and quality standards consistent with 
        standards developed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee 
        for use by Federal agencies and other data gathering entities.
            (4) Data collection and distribution.--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of enactment of this Act and in 
        coordination with the Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee, 
        the Administrator shall establish a centralized database for 
        existing and newly collected environmental mercury data that 
        can be freely accessed online once data assurance and quality 
        standards established by the Administrator under paragraph (3) 
        are met.
    (b) Air and Watersheds.--The mercury monitoring program established 
under this section shall monitor long-term changes in mercury levels in 
air and watersheds at sites selected under subsection (a)(2), including 
through--
            (1) the measurement and recording of wet, and estimation of 
        dry, mercury deposition, mercury flux, and mercury export;
            (2) the measurement and recording of the level of mercury 
        reemitted from aquatic and terrestrial environments into the 
        atmosphere; and
            (3) the measurement of sulfur species and ancillary 
        measurements at a portion of the monitoring sites to fully 
        understand the cycling of mercury through the ecosystem.
    (c) Water and Soil Chemistry.--The mercury monitoring program 
established under this section shall monitor long-term changes in 
mercury and methylmercury levels in water and soil at sites selected 
under subsection (a)(2), including through--
            (1) extraction and analysis of sediment cores;
            (2) measurement and recording of total mercury and 
        methylmercury concentration, and percent methylmercury in 
        surface sediments;
            (3) measurement and recording of total mercury and 
        methylmercury concentration in surface water; and
            (4) measurement and recording of total mercury and 
        methylmercury concentrations throughout the water column and 
        sediments.
    (d) Aquatic and Terrestrial Organisms.--The mercury monitoring 
program established under this section shall monitor long-term changes 
in mercury and methylmercury levels in the aquatic and terrestrial 
organisms at sites selected under subsection (a)(2), including 
through--
            (1) measurement and recording of total mercury and 
        methylmercury concentrations in zooplankton and other 
        invertebrates;
            (2) measurement and recording of total mercury and 
        methylmercury concentrations in yearling fish;
            (3) measurement and recording of total mercury and 
        methylmercury concentrations in commercially, recreationally, 
        or conservation relevant fish;
            (4) measurement and recording of total mercury 
        concentrations in selected insect- and fish-eating birds; and
            (5) measurement and recording of total mercury 
        concentrations in selected insect- and fish-eating mammals.

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a scientific advisory 
committee, to be known as the ``Mercury Monitoring Advisory 
Committee'', to advise the Administrator and the heads of the 
applicable Federal agencies on the establishment, site selection, 
measurement, recording protocols, data integration, standardization 
protocols, reporting, funding, and operation of the national mercury 
monitoring program established under this Act.
    (b) Membership.--The Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee shall 
consist of scientists who are not employees of the Federal Government, 
including--
            (1) 3 scientists appointed by the Administrator;
            (2) 2 scientists appointed by the Director of the United 
        States Fish and Wildlife Service;
            (3) 2 scientists appointed by the Director of the United 
        States Geological Survey;
            (4) 2 scientists appointed by the Director of the National 
        Park Service; and
            (5) 2 scientists appointed by the Administrator of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

SEC. 5. REPORTS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall transmit to Congress 
a report on the mercury monitoring program established under this Act, 
including trend data. Once every 4 years, such a report shall include 
an assessment of the reduction in mercury deposition rates that must be 
achieved in order to prevent adverse human and ecological effects.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
            (1) for fiscal year 2013, $37,000,000;
            (2) for fiscal year 2014, $29,000,000; and
            (3) for fiscal year 2015, $29,000,000.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Applicable federal agency.--The term ``applicable 
        Federal agency'' may include the United States Fish and 
        Wildlife Service, the United States Geological Survey, the 
        National Park Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, and any other Federal agency, bureau, or 
        department the Administrator determines relevant.
            (3) Ecoregion.--The term ``ecoregion'' means a large, as 
        determined by the Administrator, area of land and water that 
        contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural 
        communities, including similar land forms, climate, ecological 
        processes, and vegetation.
            (4) Mercury export.--The term ``mercury export'' means 
        mercury flux from a watershed to the corresponding water body, 
        or from one water body to another (such as a lake to a river), 
        generally expressed as mass per unit time.
            (5) Mercury flux.--The term ``mercury flux'' means the rate 
        of transfer of mercury between ecosystem components (such as 
        between water and air), or between portions of ecosystem 
        components, expressed in terms of mass per unit time or mass 
        per unit area per time.
            (6) Mercury monitoring advisory committee.--The term 
        ``Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee'' means the Mercury 
        Monitoring Advisory Committee established under section 4.
            (7) Surface sediment.--The term ``surface sediment'' means 
        sediment in the uppermost 2 centimeters of a lakebed or 
        riverbed.

Ex Output:

Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a long-term national-scale mercury monitoring program that monitors long-term changes in: (1) mercury levels in air and watersheds, and (2) mercury and methylmercury levels in water and soil and in aquatic and terrestrial organisms.

Requires the Administrator to: (1) select multiple monitoring sites representing different U.S. ecoregions that include national parks, wildlife refuges, national estuarine reserves, and other sensitive ecological areas in which substantive changes are expected from reductions in domestic mercury emissions; (2) establish and publish standardized measurement protocols for the program; and (3) establish a centralized database for environmental mercury data.

Establishes a Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee to advise the Administrator on the establishment, site selection, measurement, recording protocols, data integration, standardization protocols, reporting, funding, and operation of the program.

Requires the Administrator to report on the program every two years and include, every four years, an assessment of the reduction in mercury deposition rates that must be achieved in order to prevent adverse human and ecological effects.