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

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Student Loan Refinancing 
Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION.

    Section 459B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087i-
2) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``section'' and 
        inserting ``subsection'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``this section'' and 
        inserting ``subsection (a)'' each place the term appears; and
            (3) by inserting at the end the following:
    ``(c) Temporary Loan Consolidation Authority for Certain Loans Made 
After July 1, 2006.--
            ``(1) Loan consolidation authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A borrower who has 1 or more 
                loans in a category described in subparagraph (B) may 
                consolidate all of the loans of the borrower that are 
                described in subparagraph (B) into a Federal Direct 
                Consolidation Loan during the period described in 
                subparagraph (C).
                    ``(B) Categories of loans that may be 
                consolidated.--The categories of loans that may be 
                consolidated under subparagraph (A) are loans made on 
                or after July 1, 2006, that are--
                            ``(i) loans made under this part;
                            ``(ii) loans purchased by the Secretary 
                        pursuant to section 459A; and
                            ``(iii) loans made under part B that are 
                        held by an eligible lender, as such term is 
                        defined in section 435(d).
                    ``(C) Time period in which loans may be 
                consolidated.--
                            ``(i) Federal direct loans.--In the case of 
                        a borrower who has 1 or more loans described 
                        under subparagraph (B)(i), the Secretary 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) consolidate the loans 
                                described under subparagraph (B)(i) not 
                                later than 90 days after the date of 
                                enactment of the Federal Student Loan 
                                Refinancing Act; and
                                    ``(II) notify the borrower, in 
                                writing, prior to such consolidation 
                                that--
                                            ``(aa) the borrower's loans 
                                        under this part have been 
                                        consolidated at a lower 
                                        interest rate; and
                                            ``(bb) the borrower's 
                                        repayment plan and the other 
                                        terms and conditions of the 
                                        borrower's loan remain 
                                        unchanged.
                            ``(ii) Other loans.--In the case of a 
                        borrower who has 1 or more loans described 
                        under clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (B), 
                        the Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) initiate the loan 
                                consolidation process for the loans 
                                described under clause (ii) or (iii) of 
                                subparagraph (B), not later than 90 
                                days after the date of enactment of the 
                                Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act, 
                                by sending a completed loan 
                                consolidation application to the 
                                borrower;
                                    ``(II) notify the borrower, as part 
                                of such application, that a fee will be 
                                assessed and that the interest rate of 
                                the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan 
                                will be set in accordance with 
                                paragraph (2); and
                                    ``(III) notify the borrower, as 
                                part of such application, that if the 
                                borrower wishes to consolidate in 
                                accordance with the completed 
                                application, the borrower must endorse 
                                the application and submit the 
                                application to the Secretary not more 
                                than 6 months after receipt of the 
                                application.
            ``(2) Terms of loans.--The following terms and conditions 
        shall apply to a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan made under 
        this subsection:
                    ``(A) The applicable rate of interest on a Federal 
                Direct Consolidation Loan made under this subsection 
                shall be--
                            ``(i) 4 percent; or
                            ``(ii) in a case in which the weighted 
                        average of the interest rates on the 
                        outstanding loans of a borrower that will be 
                        consolidated is less than 4 percent, the lesser 
                        of--
                                    ``(I) the weighted average of the 
                                interest rates on the outstanding loans 
                                of a borrower that will be 
                                consolidated; or
                                    ``(II) a rate of interest equal 
                                to--
                                            ``(aa) 4 percent; minus
                                            ``(bb) 0.4 percent of the 
                                        principal balance of the 
                                        consolidation loan, at the time 
                                        of consolidation.
                    ``(B) In the case of a loan consolidated under 
                paragraph (1)(C)(ii), an origination fee equal to 0.4 
                percent of the principal balance of the consolidation 
                loan, at the time of consolidation, will be added to 
                the principal balance of the loan, and the Secretary 
                shall use the fee to cover the cost of making and 
                servicing the loan.
                    ``(C) If 1 or more of the loans being consolidated 
                is a loan described under paragraph (1)(B)(iii), the 
                interest rate on the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan 
                under this subsection shall be reduced by 0.25 percent.
                    ``(D) Any benefit a borrower is receiving or 
                earning at the time a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan 
                is issued under this subsection shall not be affected 
                by consolidation under this section, including benefits 
                such as a deferment or forbearance, accumulation of 
                monthly payments as part of the public service loan 
                forgiveness program under section 455(m), accumulation 
                of monthly payments toward a loan discharge under the 
                income-based repayment plan under section 493C, 
                participation in a particular repayment plan, and other 
                benefits to the borrower.''.

SEC. 3. EXEMPTIONS FROM OTHER LAWS.

    (a) Exemption From the Paperwork Reduction Act.--Chapter 35 of 
title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to this Act.
    (b) Inapplicability of Rulemaking Requirements.--Sections 482(c) 
and 492 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1089(c), 1098a) 
and section 553 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the 
amendments made by this Act, or to any regulations promulgated under 
such amendments.
[A]: Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers that received loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (DL) or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program on or after July 1, 2006, to consolidate those loans as Federal Direct Consolidation Loans.  It directs the Department of Education (ED) to consolidate DLs, and send a completed loan consolidation application to FFEL borrowers, within 90 days of this bill's enactment. It gives FFEL borrowers six months after their receipt of such application to endorse it and submit it to ED if they wish to consolidate their loans. The bill sets the interest rate on Federal Direct Consolidation Loans at 4% or, if the weighted average of the interest rates of the loans being consolidated is less than 4%, the lesser of: (1) that weighted average, or (2) an interest rate equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation. It adds an origination fee equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation if an FFEL is being consolidated. It reduces the interest rate on a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan by 0.25% if one or more of the loans being consolidated is an FFEL held by an eligible lender. The bill prohibits any benefit a borrower is receiving or earning when issued a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan from being affected by the consolidation.


[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prepare, Ready, Equip, and Prevent 
Areas at Risk of Emergency Wildfires Act of 2015'' or the ``PREPARE Act 
of 2015''.

SEC. 2. WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

    Title II of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 203 the following:

``SEC. 203A. WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator of 
        the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
            ``(2) the term `community wildfire protection plan' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests 
        Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511);
            ``(3) the term `eligible recipient' means a State or an 
        Indian tribal government;
            ``(4) the term `local multi-hazard mitigation plan' means a 
        mitigation plan developed by a local government under section 
        322(b) that addresses wildfire mitigation;
            ``(5) the term `State mitigation plan' means a mitigation 
        plan developed by a State under section 322(c) that addresses 
        wildfire mitigation; and
            ``(6) the term `tribal mitigation plan' means a mitigation 
        plan developed by a tribal government under section 322(b) that 
        addresses wildfire mitigation.
    ``(b) Establishment of Wildfire Mitigation Grant Program.--The 
President, acting through the Administrator, shall establish a pilot 
program to make grants to eligible recipients for wildfire mitigation.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--A grant under this section may be used by an 
eligible recipient--
            ``(1) to reduce the hazardous fuel load by reducing the use 
        of fuels that may contribute to catastrophic wildfires in high-
        risk areas;
            ``(2) to invest in personnel and organizations to conduct 
        wildfire mitigation;
            ``(3) to invest in vehicles and other equipment to conduct 
        wildfire mitigation;
            ``(4) to mitigate against damage from runoff into waterways 
        and floods caused by erosion from wildfires;
            ``(5) to build essential community collaboration and 
        outline the necessary groundwork systems in anticipation of 
        future fires; and
            ``(6) at the discretion of the Governor of a State or the 
        Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government, and in 
        consultation with the Administrator, for any other wildfire 
        mitigation activities in the State or area under the 
        jurisdiction of the Indian tribal government, as applicable, 
        unless otherwise prohibited by law.
    ``(d) Eligibility for Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Eligibility.--An eligible recipient shall be 
                eligible for assistance under this section if the 
                section 420 grant ratio for the eligible recipient is 
                equal to or greater than 125 percent of the population 
                ratio of the eligible recipient.
                    ``(B) Ratios.--For purposes of subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) the section 420 grant ratio shall be 
                        equal to the quotient of--
                                    ``(I) the number of declarations 
                                for a grant under section 420 received 
                                by the eligible recipient during the 10 
                                years prior to the date on which an 
                                application for assistance is submitted 
                                under this section, divided by
                                    ``(II) the total number of 
                                declarations for a grant under section 
                                420 in the United States during the 10 
                                years prior to the date on which an 
                                application for assistance is submitted 
                                under this section; and
                            ``(ii) the population ratio of the eligible 
                        recipient shall be equal to the quotient of--
                                    ``(I) the population of the State 
                                or the area under the jurisdiction of 
                                the Indian tribal government, as 
                                applicable, based on the most recent 
                                data available from the Bureau of the 
                                Census on the date on which an 
                                application for assistance is submitted 
                                under this section, divided by
                                    ``(II) the population of the United 
                                States, based on the most recent data 
                                available from the Bureau of the Census 
                                on the date on which an application for 
                                assistance is submitted under this 
                                section.
            ``(2) Waiver.--The President may waive the requirement of 
        paragraph (1) if an eligible recipient--
                    ``(A) files a petition for waiver of the 
                requirement of paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) demonstrates that significant environmental 
                changes or shifts in forest health put the eligible 
                recipient at an elevated risk for catastrophic 
                wildfires, as determined by the President.
            ``(3) Local assistance.--The Governor of a State may award 
        funds received under this section, to be used solely for the 
        purposes set forth under subsection (c), to--
                    ``(A) any county or municipality in that State with 
                a community wildfire protection plan or a local multi-
                hazard mitigation plan;
                    ``(B) any Indian tribal government in that State 
                with a tribal mitigation plan; or
                    ``(C) any other entity that is explicitly 
                referenced in and central to, in the determination of 
                the Governor, the design of a community wildfire 
                protection plan or a local multi-hazard mitigation 
                plan.
    ``(e) Criteria for Assistance.--In determining whether to award a 
grant to an eligible recipient under this section, the President 
shall--
            ``(1) give preference to--
                    ``(A) an eligible recipient with a high level of 
                need for assistance based on the best scientific data 
                available;
                    ``(B) an eligible recipient that previously 
                received a grant under this section and effectively 
                used the Federal funds for wildfire mitigation 
                activities in the State or area under the jurisdiction 
                of the Indian tribal government, as applicable, as 
                determined by the President; and
            ``(2) consider environmental conditions in a State or an 
        area under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribal government, as 
        applicable, including environmental changes, deteriorating 
        forest health, and overall wildfire risk.
    ``(f) Application for Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--To request a grant under this section, 
        an eligible recipient shall submit an application to the 
        Administrator in such form, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Administrator may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Contents.--In addition to any other requirements that 
        may be specified by the Administrator, an eligible recipient 
        submitting an application for a grant under this section shall 
        demonstrate that--
                    ``(A) in the case of an eligible recipient that is 
                a State--
                            ``(i) the State has a State mitigation 
                        plan;
                            ``(ii) the State shall provide matching 
                        non-Federal funds equal to not less than 25 
                        percent of the amount of Federal funds made 
                        available under this subsection;
                            ``(iii) a county or municipality that may 
                        receive funds from the grant has a community 
                        wildfire protection plan or a local multi-
                        hazard mitigation plan; and
                            ``(iv) an Indian tribal government that may 
                        receive funds from the grant has a tribal 
                        mitigation plan; and
                    ``(B) in the case of an eligible recipient that is 
                an Indian tribal government--
                            ``(i) the Indian tribal government has a 
                        tribal mitigation plan; and
                            ``(ii) the Indian tribal government shall--
                                    ``(I) provide matching non-Federal 
                                funds equal to not less than 25 percent 
                                of the amount of Federal funds made 
                                available under this subsection; or
                                    ``(II) if the Indian tribal 
                                government is a small impoverished 
                                community, as defined in section 
                                203(a), provide non-matching Federal 
                                funds equal to not less than 10 percent 
                                of the amount of Federal funds made 
                                available under this subsection.
    ``(g) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of receipt of a 
grant under this section, the recipient shall submit to the 
Administrator a report, which shall be made publically available, on 
the use of funds made available under the grant.
    ``(h) Funding for Assistance.--
            ``(1) Predisaster mitigation fund.--Subject to the 
        availability of funds in the National Predisaster Mitigation 
        Fund established under section 203(i), the Administrator shall 
        use not less than $20,000,000 and not more than $30,000,000 
        from unobligated amounts in the National Predisaster Mitigation 
        Fund for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021 in carrying out 
        this section.
            ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall 
        be construed to increase the amount of appropriations 
        authorized for the Department of Homeland Security in any given 
        fiscal year.''.

SEC. 3. WILDFIRE MITIGATION ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Hazard Mitigation Assistance.--Whether or not a major 
disaster is declared, the President may provide hazard mitigation 
assistance in accordance with section 404 in any area affected by a 
fire for which assistance was provided under this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 404(a) (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a))--
                    (A) by inserting before the first period ``, or any 
                area in which assistance was provided under section 
                420''; and
                    (B) in the third sentence, by inserting ``or event 
                under section 420'' after ``major disaster'' each place 
                that term appears; and
            (2) in section 322 (e)(1) (42 U.S.C. 5165(e)(1)), by 
        inserting ``or event under section 420'' after ``major 
        disaster'' each place that term appears.

SEC. 4. FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall amend 
subsection (a) of section 206.48 of title 44, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 
consider, in evaluating a Governor's request for major disaster 
assistance under the Public Assistance Program, whether--
            (1) post-fire flooding occurred within 5 years, and as a 
        result, of a single wildfire event in the State; and
            (2) the State received fire management assistance under 
        section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) related to the major 
        disaster for which the Governor is requesting assistance under 
        the Public Assistance Program.

SEC. 5. POST-FIRE FUNDING GUIDE.

    (a) Creation and Distribution.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall create and make publically available 
a post-fire recovery funding and resource guide for local communities.
    (b) Involvement by Local Leaders.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall create the guide under subsection (a) 
in collaboration with local leaders who have experienced wildfires in 
their communities and who understand the requirements for the use of 
Federal disaster funds.
    (c) Updates.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall update the guide under subsection (a) as programs and 
resources change.
[A]: Prepare, Ready, Equip, and Prevent Areas at Risk of Emergency Wildfires Act of 2015 or the PREPARE Act of 2015  Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a pilot program to make grants to states or Indian tribal governments for wildfire mitigation. Permits a grant to be used: (1) to reduce the use of fuels that may contribute to catastrophic wildfires in high-risk areas; (2) to invest in personnel, organizations, vehicles, and other equipment to conduct wildfire mitigation; (3) to mitigate against damage from runoff into waterways and floods caused by erosion from wildfires; (4) to build essential community collaboration and outline the necessary groundwork systems in anticipation of future fires; and (5) for other wildlife mitigation activities at the discretion of the governor of a state or the chief executive of an Indian tribal government. Sets forth a grant eligibility requirement based on specified ratios of the relative population of, and the relative number fire management assistance grants received in the previous 10 years by, a prospective recipient. Authorizes the President to waive that requirement if a recipient demonstrates that significant environmental changes or shifts in forest health put the recipient at an elevated risk for catastrophic wildfires. Allows the governor of a state to award grant funds to: (1) any county or municipality with a community wildfire protection plan or a local multi-hazard mitigation plan, (2) any Indian tribal government with a tribal mitigation plan, or (3) any other entity that is explicitly referenced in and central to the design of a community wildfire protection plan or a local multi-hazard mitigation plan. Directs FEMA, in awarding such grants, to: (1) give preference to a recipient that has a high level of need for assistance based on the best scientific data available or that used previous grant funds efficiently and effectively for wildfire mitigation activities, and (2) consider environmental conditions in a state or area. Directs FEMA to use specified unobligated amounts in the National Predisaster Mitigation Fund for each of FY2016-FY2021 in carrying out this Act. Amends the Stafford Act to authorize the President, whether or not a major disaster is declared, to provide hazard mitigation assistance in any area affected by a fire for which assistance was otherwise provided. Directs FEMA to require FEMA, in evaluating a governor's request for major disaster assistance under the Public Assistance Program, to consider whether: (1) post-fire flooding occurred within five years of, and as a result of, a single wildfire event in the state; and (2) the state received fire management assistance related to the major disaster for which the governor is requesting assistance. Directs FEMA to create and make publicly available a post-fire recovery funding and resource guide for local communities.


[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ethics Reform Act of 1995''.

 TITLE I--TERMINATION OF COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT IN 
                      THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEC. 101. EXERCISE OF CONGRESSIONAL RULEMAKING POWER.

    The provisions of this title amending the Rules of the House of 
Representatives are enacted by Congress--
            (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of 
        Representatives and the Senate, respectively, and as such they 
        shall be considered a part of the rules of the House of 
        Representatives and such rules shall supersede other rules only 
        to the extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
            (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
        the House of Representatives to change such rules at any time 
        in the same manner and to the same extent as in the case of any 
        other rule of such House.

SEC. 102. TERMINATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL 
              CONDUCT.

    (a) Termination.--
            (1) Rules.--Rule X of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives is amended--
                    (A) in clause 1--
                            (i) by striking paragraph (p); and
                            (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (q), (r), 
                        and (s) as paragraphs (p), (q), and (r), 
                        respectively; and
                    (B) in clause 4--
                            (i) by striking paragraph (e); and
                            (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (f), (g), 
                        (h), and (i) as paragraphs (e), (f), (g), and 
                        (h), respectively.
            (2) Law.--The Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-
        194) is amended by striking subsections (b), (c), (d), and (i) 
        of section 803 (2 U.S.C. 29d).
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Rules.--
                    (A) Clause 3(e) of rule VI of the Rules of the 
                House of Representatives is amended --
                            (i) by striking ``Committee on Standards of 
                        Official Conduct'' and inserting ``Independent 
                        Commission on Congressional Ethics''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``clause 4(e)(1)(C) of 
                        rule X'' and inserting ``section 203(3) the 
                        Ethics Reform Act of 1995''.
                    (B) Clause 1(m)(1) of rule X of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``(other than rules or joint rules 
                relating to the Code of Official Conduct)''.
                    (C) Clause 6(a) of rule X of such Rules is 
                amended--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (2); and
                            (ii) by striking ``(1)''.
                    (D) Clause 2(e)(2) of rule XI of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``, except that in the case of 
                records in the Committee on Standards of Official 
                Conduct'' and all that follows through ``prior approval 
                of the committee''.
                    (E) Clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``, with the exception of the 
                Committee on Standards of Official Conduct,''.
                    (F) Clause 2(i)(1) of rule XI of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``the Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct,''.
                    (G) Clause 4(a) of rule XI of such Rules is 
                amended--
                            (i) by striking ``and the Committee on 
                        Standards of Official Conduct'' and all that 
                        follows;
                            (ii) by inserting ``and'' before ``the 
                        Committee on Rules''; and
                            (iii) by striking the semicolon after 
                        ``order of business'' and inserting a period.
                    (H) Clause 6(a)(2) of rule XI of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``the Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct and''.
                    (I) Clause 7(d) of rule XIII is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``and the Committee on 
                        Standards of Official Conduct,''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and'' before ``the 
                        Committee on Rules''.
                    (J) Clause 1 of rule XXXII of such Rules is amended 
                by striking ``Committee on Standards of Official 
                Conduct'' and inserting ``Independent Commission on 
                Congressional Ethics''.
                    (K) Clause 4 of rule XLIII of such Rules is amended 
                by striking ``Committee on Standards of Official 
                Conduct pursuant to clause 4(e)(1)(E) of rule X'' and 
                inserting ``Committee on Rules''.
                    (L) Clause 12(b) of rule XLIII of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct'' and inserting ``Independent 
                Commission on Congressional Ethics''.
                    (M) Clause (1) of rule XLIV of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct'' and inserting ``Independent 
                Commission on Congressional Ethics''.
                    (N) Clause 2(5) of rule XLVII of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct'' and inserting ``Independent 
                Commission on Congressional Ethics''.
                    (O) Clause 5 of rule XLVIII of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``of the Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct and''.
                    (P) Clause 7(d) of rule XLVIII of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct'' and inserting ``Independent 
                Commission on Congressional Ethics''.
                    (Q) Clause 7(e) of rule XLVIII of such Rules is 
                amended by striking ``Committee on Standards of 
                Official Conduct'' and inserting ``Independent 
                Commission on Congressional Ethics''.
                    (R) Clause 13 of rule LI of such Rules is amended 
                by striking ``and the Rules of the House Committee on 
                Standards of Official Conduct''.
            (2) Law.--The following provisions are each amended by 
        striking ``the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of 
        the House of Representatives'' and inserting ``the Independent 
        Commission on Congressional Ethics'':
                    (A) Section 5(e) of Public Law 93-191 (2 U.S.C. 
                501(e)).
                    (B) Section 7342(a)(6)(A) of title 5, United States 
                Code.
                    (C) Section 7353(d)(1) of title 5, United States 
                Code.
                    (D) Section 103(j)(1) of the Ethics in Government 
                Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
                    (E) Section 109(1) of the Ethics in Government Act 
                of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
                    (F) Section 109(18)(B) of the Ethics in Government 
                Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
                    (G) Section 111(2) of the Ethics in Government Act 
                of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
                    (H) Section 503(1)(A) of the Ethics in Government 
                Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 103. REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    Any reference in a law, regulation, document, paper, or other 
record of the United States to the ``Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct of the House of Representatives'' shall be deemed to be a 
reference to the ``Independent Commission on Congressional Ethics''.

SEC. 104. TRANSITION PROVISIONS.

    In the case of investigations pending before the Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct on the day before the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the proceedings shall be continued by the 
Independent Commission on Congressional Ethics.

                 TITLE II--ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established an independent commission within the 
legislative branch of the Federal Government to be known as the 
Independent Commission on Congressional Ethics (in this title referred 
to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 202. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 
five retired or senior Federal judges as follows:
            (1) Two individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House 
        of Representatives.
            (2) Two individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (3) One individual appointed by the individuals appointed 
        under paragraphs (1) and (2).
    (b) Terms.--The term of office for a member of the Commission shall 
be four years. A member shall be eligible for two terms of office.
    (c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Removal.--Any member of the Commission may be removed from 
office by a majority decision of the appointing authorities described 
in subsection (a), but only for--
            (1) disability that substantially prevents the member from 
        carrying out the duties of the member;
            (2) incompetence;
            (3) neglect of duty; or
            (4) malfeasance, including a felony or conduct involving 
        moral turpitude.
    (e) Compensation.--
            (1) Rate of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
        member of the Commission shall serve without pay or benefits.
            (2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission may 
        receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 
        5, United States Code.
    (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum.
    (g) Chairperson.--
            (1) Election.--The Commission shall elect a Chairperson of 
        the Commission from among its members at its first meeting.
            (2) Term.--The term of the Chairperson shall be two years.
    (h) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
        the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
            (2) Initial meeting.--The Commission shall hold its initial 
        meeting not later than 60 days after the date on which 
        appointments are completed.

SEC. 203. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission is authorized--
            (1) to recommend to the House of Representatives, from time 
        to time, such administrative actions as it may deem appropriate 
        to establish or enforce standards of official conduct for 
        Members, officers, and employees of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (2) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any 
        law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable 
        to the conduct of such Member, officer, or employee in the 
        performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
        responsibilities, and after notice and hearing (unless the 
        right to a hearing is waived by the Member, officer, or 
        employee), shall report to the House of Representatives its 
        findings of fact and recommendations, if any, upon the final 
        disposition of any such investigation, and such action as the 
        Commission may deem appropriate in the circumstances;
            (3) to report to the appropriate Federal or State 
        authorities, with the approval of the House of Representatives, 
        any substantial evidence of a violation, by a Member, officer, 
        or employee of the House of Representatives, of any law 
        applicable to the performance of his duties or the discharge of 
        his responsibilities, which may have been disclosed in a 
        Commission investigation;
            (4) to give consideration to the request of any Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives for an 
        advisory opinion with respect to the general propriety of any 
        current or proposed conduct of such Member, officer, or 
        employee and, with appropriate deletions to assure the privacy 
        of the individual concerned, to publish such opinion for the 
        guidance of other Members, officers, and employees of the House 
        of Representatives; and
            (5) to provide information and guidance to Members, 
        officers and employees of the House of Representatives 
        regarding any laws, rules, regulations, and other standards of 
        conduct applicable to such individuals in their official 
        capacities, and develop and carry out periodic educational 
        briefings for Members, officers, and employees of the House of 
        Representatives on those laws, rules, regulations, or other 
        standards.

SEC. 204. PROCEDURAL RULES.

    (a) Majority Approval.--No resolution, report, recommendation, or 
advisory opinion relating to the official conduct of a Member, officer, 
or employee of the House shall be made by the Commission, and no 
investigation of such conduct shall be undertaken by the Commission, 
unless approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of 
the Commission.
    (b) Investigations.--Except in the case of an investigation 
undertaken by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission may 
undertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of an 
individual Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives 
only--
            (i) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, 
        made by or submitted to a Member of the House of 
        Representatives and transmitted to the Commission by such 
        Member, or
            (ii) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under 
        oath, directly from an individual not a Member of the House of 
        Representatives if the Commission finds that such complaint has 
        been submitted by such individual to not less than three 
        Members of the House who have refused, in writing, to transmit 
        such complaint to the Commission.
    (c) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall 
be undertaken by the Commission of any alleged violation of a law, 
rule, regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of 
the alleged violation; nor shall any investigation be undertaken by the 
Commission of any alleged violation which occurred before the third 
previous Congress unless the Commission determines that the alleged 
violation is directly related to any alleged violation which occurred 
in a more recent Congress.
    (d) Disclosure.--No information or testimony received, or the 
contents of a complaint or the fact of its filing, shall be publicly 
disclosed by any member of the Commission or staff of the Commission 
unless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the full 
Commission.

SEC. 205. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of 
such staff as the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties.
    (b) Detailed Personnel.--The Commission may, with the prior consent 
of the department or agency of the Federal Government concerned, use on 
a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis the services of personnel of 
any such department or agency, including the services of members or 
personnel of the General Accounting Office Personnel Appeals Board.
    (c) Consultants.--In carrying out the functions of the Commission, 
the Commission may procure the temporary (not to exceed one year) or 
intermittent services of consultants.

 TITLE III--DISCHARGE OF COMMISSION REPORT FROM COMMITTEE ON RULES IN 
                      THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEC. 301. DISCHARGE OF COMMITTEE.

    (1) If the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives to which 
the report has been referred has not reported it at the end of 30 
legislative days after the introduction, it is in order to move either 
to discharge the committee from further consideration of the report or 
to discharge the committee from further consideration of any other 
resolution introduced with respect to the same matter, except that a 
motion to discharge--
            (A) may only be made on the second legislative day after 
        the calendar day on which the Member making the motion 
        announces to the House his intention to do so; and
            (B) is not in order after the Committee has reported a 
        resolution with respect to the same matter.
    (2) A motion to discharge under paragraph (1) may be made only by 
an individual favoring the resolution, and is highly privileged in the 
House; and debate thereon shall be limited to not more than 1 hour, the 
time to be divided in the House equally between those favoring and 
those opposing the resolution. An amendment to the motion is not in 
order, and it is not in order to move to reconsider the vote by which 
the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.

SEC. 302. FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    (1) A motion in the House of Representatives to proceed to the 
consideration of the resolution shall be highly privileged and not 
debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, nor shall 
it be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is 
agreed to or disagreed to.
    (2) Debate in the House of Representatives on a resolution shall be 
limited to not more than 6 hours, which shall be divided equally 
between those favoring the resolution and those opposing the 
resolution. A further motion to limit debate shall not be debatable. No 
amendment to, or motion to recommit, the resolution shall be in order. 
It shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which a 
resolution is agreed to or disagreed to.
[A]:
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
     Title I:  Termination of Committee on Standards of Official 
          Conduct in the House of Representatives 
     Title II:  Establishment of Commission 
     Title III:  Discharge of Commission Report from Committee on 
          Rules in the House of Representatives 
Ethics Reform Act of 1995 - 
Title I:  Termination of Committee on Standards of Official Conduct in the House of Representatives
 - Amends:  (1) rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to terminate the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; and (2) the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 to repeal provisions regarding that Committee. 
Makes conforming amendments to the Rules, the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, and other Federal law. 
Title II:  Establishment of Commission
 - Establishes within the legislative branch the Independent Commission on Congressional Ethics.  Sets forth provisions regarding membership and staff of, and procedural rules with respect to, the Commission. 
Sets forth duties of the Commission, including:  (1) recommending to the House appropriate administrative actions to establish or enforce standards of official conduct for Members, officers, and employees of the House; (2) investigating alleged violations and reporting to the House its findings and recommendations; (3) reporting to appropriate Federal or State authorities, with House approval, any substantial evidence of violations; (4) considering requests of any House Member, officer, or employee for an advisory opinion; and (5) providing information and guidance to House Members, officers, and employees regarding laws, rules, regulations, and other standards of conduct applicable to such individuals in their official capacities. 
Title III:  Discharge of Commission Report from Committee on Rules in the House of Representatives
 - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) discharging the Committee from further consideration of a Commission's report or any resolution introduced with respect to a Commission report, recommendation, or advisory opinion; and (2) floor consideration of such a resolution.