instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Secret Service Protective Privilege 
Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The physical safety of the Nation's top elected 
        officials is a public good of transcendent importance.
            (2) By virtue of the critical importance of the Office of 
        the President, the President and those in direct line of the 
        Presidency are subject to unique and mortal jeopardy--jeopardy 
        that in turn threatens profound disruption to our system of 
        representative government and to the security and future of the 
        Nation.
            (3) The physical safety of visiting heads of foreign states 
        and foreign governments is also a matter of paramount 
        importance. The assassination of such a person while on 
        American soil could have calamitous consequences for our 
        foreign relations and national security.
            (4) Given these grave concerns, Congress has provided for 
        the Secret Service to protect the President and those in direct 
        line of the Presidency, and has directed that these officials 
        may not waive such protection. Congress has also provided for 
        the Secret Service to protect visiting heads of foreign states 
        and foreign governments.
            (5) The protective strategy of the Secret Service depends 
        critically on the ability of its personnel to maintain close 
        and unremitting physical proximity to the protectee.
            (6) Secret Service personnel must remain at the side of the 
        protectee on occasions of confidential conversations and, as a 
        result, may overhear top secret discussions, diplomatic 
        exchanges, sensitive conversations, and matters of personal 
        privacy.
            (7) The necessary level of proximity can be maintained only 
        in an atmosphere of complete trust and confidence between the 
        protectee and his or her protectors.
            (8) If a protectee has reason to doubt the confidentiality 
        of actions or conversations taken in sight or hearing of Secret 
        Service personnel, the protectee may seek to push the 
        protective envelope away or undermine it to the point at which 
        it could no longer be fully effective.
            (9) The possibility that Secret Service personnel might be 
        compelled to testify against their protectees could induce 
        foreign nations to refuse Secret Service protection in future 
        state visits, making it impossible for the Secret Service to 
        fulfill its important statutory mission of protecting the life 
        and safety of foreign dignitaries.
            (10) A privilege protecting information acquired by Secret 
        Service personnel while performing their protective function in 
        physical proximity to a protectee will preserve the security of 
        the protectee by lessening the incentive of the protectee to 
        distance Secret Service personnel in situations in which there 
        is some risk to the safety of the protectee.
            (11) Recognition of a protective function privilege for the 
        President and those in direct line of the Presidency, and for 
        visiting heads of foreign states and foreign governments, will 
        promote sufficiently important interests to outweigh the need 
        for probative evidence.
            (12) Because Secret Service personnel retain law 
        enforcement responsibility even while engaged in their 
        protective function, the privilege must be subject to a crime/
        treason exception.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to facilitate the relationship of trust and confidence 
        between Secret Service personnel and certain protected 
        officials that is essential to the ability of the Secret 
        Service to protect these officials, and the Nation, from the 
        risk of assassination; and
            (2) to ensure that Secret Service personnel are not 
        precluded from testifying in a criminal investigation or 
        prosecution about unlawful activity committed within their view 
        or hearing.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTIVE FUNCTION PRIVILEGE.

    (a) Admissibility of Information Acquired by Secret Service 
Personnel While Performing Their Protective Function.--Chapter 203 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
3056 the following:
``Sec. 3056A. Testimony by Secret Service personnel; protective 
              function privilege
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Protectee.--The term `protectee' means--
                    ``(A) the President;
                    ``(B) the Vice President (or other officer next in 
                the order of succession to the Office of President);
                    ``(C) the President-elect;
                    ``(D) the Vice President-elect; and
                    ``(E) visiting heads of foreign states or foreign 
                governments who, at the time and place concerned, are 
                being provided protection by the United States Secret 
                Service.
            ``(2) Secret service personnel.--The term `Secret Service 
        personnel' means any officer or agent of the United States 
        Secret Service.
    ``(b) General Rule of Privilege.--Subject to subsection (c), 
testimony by Secret Service personnel or former Secret Service 
personnel regarding information affecting a protectee that was acquired 
during the performance of a protective function in physical proximity 
to the protectee shall not be received in evidence or otherwise 
disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or before any 
court, grand jury, department, officer, agency, regulatory body, or 
other authority of the United States, a State, or a political 
subdivision thereof.
    ``(c) Exceptions.--There is no privilege under this section--
            ``(1) with respect to information that, at the time the 
        information was acquired by Secret Service personnel, was 
        sufficient to provide reasonable grounds to believe that a 
        crime had been, was being, or would be committed; or
            ``(2) if the privilege is waived by the protectee or the 
        legal representative of a protectee or deceased protectee.
    ``(d) Concurrent Privileges.--The proximity of Secret Service 
personnel to a protectee engaged in a privileged communication with 
another shall not, by itself, defeat an otherwise valid claim of 
privilege.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 
203 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 3056 the following:

``3056A. Testimony by Secret Service personnel; protective function 
                            privilege.''.

SEC. 4. APPLICATION.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply to any 
proceeding commenced on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
answer:
Secret Service Protective Privilege Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit testimony by Secret Service personnel or former personnel regarding information affecting a protectee (defined as the President, Vice President, and specified other officials) that was acquired during the performance of a protective function in physical proximity to the protectee from being received in evidence or otherwise disclosed in any proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, officer, agency, regulatory body, or other authority of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof. 
Makes exceptions: (1) with respect to information that, at the time it was acquired by Secret Service personnel, was sufficient to provide reasonable grounds to believe that a crime had been, was being, or would be committed; or (2) if the privilege is waived by the protectee or the legal representative of a protectee or deceased protectee. 
Specifies that the proximity of Secret Service personnel to a protectee engaged in a privileged communication with another shall not, by itself, defeat an otherwise valid claim of privilege.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Keeping Families 
Together Act of 2005''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Restoration of definition of aggravated felony (repeal of 
                            section 321 of IIRIRA).
Sec. 3. Restoration of detention policy.
Sec. 4. Repeal of time stop provisions.
Sec. 5. Repeal of section 101(a)(48).
Sec. 6. Restoration of section 212(c).
Sec. 7. Restoration of judicial review provisions.
Sec. 8. Post-proceeding relief for affected aliens.

SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF DEFINITION OF AGGRAVATED FELONY (REPEAL OF 
              SECTION 321 OF IIRIRA).

    (a) In General.--Effective as if included in the enactment of the 
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
(division C of Public Law 104-208), section 321 of such Act is repealed 
and the provisions of law amended by such section are restored as if 
such section had not been enacted.
    (b) Restoration of Rights.--Any alien whose legal permanent 
resident status, application for permanent residence, or application 
for cancellation of removal, was affected by the changes in the 
definition of ``aggravated felony'' made by such section 321 may apply 
to the Secretary of Homeland Security to be considered for adjustment 
of status or cancellation of removal in conformance with the provisions 
of section 101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 
restored by subsection (a).

SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF DETENTION POLICY.

    (a) In General.--Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Detention of Criminal Aliens.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
        take into custody any alien convicted of an aggravated felony 
        upon release of the alien (regardless of whether or not such 
        release is on parole, supervised release, or probation, and 
        regardless of the possibility of rearrest or further 
        confinement in respect of the same offense). Notwithstanding 
        subsection (a) or section 241(a) but subject to paragraph (2), 
        the Secretary of Homeland Security shall not release such felon 
        from custody.
            ``(2) Non-release.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
        not release from custody any who has been convicted of an 
        aggravated felony, either before or after a determination of 
        removability, unless--
                    ``(A)(i) the alien was lawfully admitted, or
                    ``(ii) the alien was not lawfully admitted but the 
                alien cannot be removed because the designated country 
                of removal will not accept the alien; and
                    ``(B) the alien satisfies the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security that the alien will not pose a danger to the 
                safety of other persons or of property and is likely to 
                appear for any scheduled proceeding.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be 
effective as if included in the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

SEC. 4. REPEAL OF TIME STOP PROVISIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 240A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(d)) is repealed.
    (b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall be 
effective as if included in the enactment of subtitle A of title III of 
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 
1996.

SEC. 5. REPEAL OF SECTION 101(A)(48).

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (48) of section 101(a)(48) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is repealed.
    (b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall take 
effect as if included in the enactment of section 322(a) of the Illegal 
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

SEC. 6. RESTORATION OF SECTION 212(C).

    (a) In General.--Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by inserting after subsection (b) the 
following new subsection:
    ``(c) Aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who 
temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of 
deportation or removal, and who are returning to a lawful 
unrelinquished domicile of seven consecutive years, may be admitted in 
the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security without regard to 
the provisions of subsection (a) (other than paragraphs (3) and 
(10)(C)). Nothing contained in this subsection shall limit the 
authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to exercise the 
discretion vested in him under section 211(b). The first sentence of 
this subsection shall not apply to an alien who has been convicted of 
one or more aggravated felonies and has served for such felony or 
felonies a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies 
as of April 24, 1996, as if section 440(d) of the Antiterrorism and 
Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-132) and section 
304(b) of Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act 
of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104-208) had not been enacted.

SEC. 7. RESTORATION OF JUDICIAL REVIEW PROVISIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 242 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1252) is amended to read as follows:

                 ``judicial review of orders of removal

    ``Sec. 242.  (a) The procedure prescribed by, and all the 
provisions of chapter 158 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply 
to, and shall be the sole and exclusive procedure for, the judicial 
review of all final orders of removal heretofore or hereafter made 
against aliens within the United States pursuant to administrative 
proceedings under section 240 of this Act or comparable provisions of 
any prior Act, except that--
            ``(1) a petition for review may be filed not later than 90 
        days after the date of the issuance of the final removal order, 
        or, in the case of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony 
        not later than 30 days after the issuance of such order;
            ``(2) the venue of any petition for review under this 
        section shall be in the judicial circuit in which the 
        administrative proceedings before an immigration judge were 
        conducted in whole or in part, or in the judicial circuit 
        wherein is the residence, as defined in this Act, of the 
        petitioner, but not in more than one circuit;
            ``(3) the action shall be brought against the Department of 
        Homeland Security, as respondent. Service of the petition to 
        review shall be made upon the Secretary of Homeland Security of 
        the United States and upon the official of the Department of 
        Homeland Security in charge of the district in which the office 
        of the clerk of the court is located. The service of the 
        petition for review upon such official of the Service shall 
        stay the removal of the alien pending determination of the 
        petition by the court, unless the court otherwise directs or 
        unless the alien is convicted of an aggravated felony, in which 
        case the Service shall not stay the removal of the alien 
        pending determination of the petition of the court unless the 
        court otherwise directs;
            ``(4) except as provided in clause (B) of paragraph (5) of 
        this subsection, the petition shall be determined solely upon 
        the administrative record upon which the removal order is based 
        and the Secretary of Homeland Security's findings of fact, if 
        supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on 
        the record considered as a whole, shall be conclusive;
            ``(5) whenever any petitioner, who seeks review of an order 
        under this section, claims to be a national of the United 
        States and makes a showing that his claim is not frivolous, the 
        court shall (A) pass upon the issues presented when it appears 
        from the pleadings and affidavits filed by the parties that no 
        genuine issue of material fact is presented; or (B) where a 
        genuine issue of material fact as to the petitioner's 
        nationality is presented, transfer the proceedings to a United 
        States district court for the district where the petitioner has 
        his residence for hearing de novo of the nationality claim and 
        determination as if such proceedings were originally initiated 
        in the district court under the provisions of section 2201 of 
        title 28, United States Code. Any such petitioner shall not be 
        entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a) of 
        this Act or otherwise;
            ``(6) whenever a petitioner seeks review of an order under 
        this section, any review sought with respect to a motion to 
        reopen or reconsider such an order shall be consolidated with 
        the review of the order;
            ``(7) if the validity of a removal order has not been 
        judicially determined, its validity may be challenged in a 
        criminal proceeding against the alien for violation of 
        subsection (a) or (b) of section 243 of this Act only by 
        separate motion for judicial review before trial. Such motion 
        shall be determined by the court without a jury and before the 
        trial of the general issue. Whenever a claim to United States 
        nationality is made in such motion, and in the opinion of the 
        court, a genuine issue of material fact as to the alien's 
        nationality is presented, the court shall accord him a hearing 
        de novo on the nationality claim and determine that issue as if 
        proceedings had been initiated under the provisions of section 
        2201 of title 28, United States Code. Any such alien shall not 
        be entitled to have such issue determined under section 360(a) 
        of this Act or otherwise. If no such hearing de novo as to 
        nationality is conducted, the determination shall be made 
        solely upon the administrative record upon which the removal 
        order is based and the Secretary of Homeland Security's 
        findings of fact, if supported by reasonable, substantial, and 
        probative evidence on the record considered as a whole, shall 
        be conclusive. If the removal order is held invalid, the court 
        shall dismiss the indictment and the United States shall have 
        the right to appeal to the court of appeals within 30 days. The 
        procedure on such appeals shall be as provided in the Federal 
        rules of criminal procedure. No petition for review under this 
        section may be filed by any alien during the pendency of a 
        criminal proceeding against such alien for violation of 
        subsection (a) or (b) of section 243 of this Act;
            ``(8) nothing in this section shall be construed to require 
        the Secretary of Homeland Security to defer removal of an alien 
        after the issuance of a removal order because of the right of 
        judicial review of the order granted by this section, or to 
        relieve any alien from compliance with subsections (a) and (b) 
        of section 243 of this Act. Nothing contained in this section 
        shall be construed to preclude the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security from detaining or continuing to detain an alien or 
        from taking the alien into custody pursuant to section 241 of 
        this Act at any time after the issuance of a removal order;
            ``(9) it shall not be necessary to print the record or any 
        part thereof, or the briefs, and the court shall review the 
        proceedings on a typewritten record and on typewritten briefs; 
        and
            ``(10) any alien held in custody pursuant to an order of 
        removal may obtain judicial review thereof by habeas corpus 
        proceedings.
    ``(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any alien 
against whom a final order of removal has been made heretofore or 
hereafter under the provisions of section 235 of this Act or comparable 
provisions of any prior Act may obtain judicial review of such order by 
habeas corpus proceedings and not otherwise.
    ``(c) An order of removal shall not be reviewed by any court if the 
alien has not exhausted the administrative remedies available to the 
alien as of right under the immigration laws and regulations or if the 
alien has departed from the United States after the issuance of the 
order. Every petition for review or for habeas corpus shall state 
whether the validity of the order has been upheld in any prior judicial 
proceeding, and, if so, the nature and date thereof, and the court in 
which such proceeding took place. No petition for review or for habeas 
corpus shall be entertained if the validity of the order has been 
previously determined in any civil or criminal proceeding, unless the 
petition presents grounds which the court finds could not have been 
presented in such prior proceeding, or the court finds that the remedy 
provided by such prior proceeding was inadequate or ineffective to test 
the validity of the order.
    ``(d)(1) A petition for review or for habeas corpus on behalf of an 
alien against whom a final order of removal has been issued pursuant to 
section 238(b) may challenge only--
            ``(A) whether the alien is in fact the alien described in 
        the order;
            ``(B) whether the alien is in fact an alien described in 
        section 238(b)(2);
            ``(C) whether the alien has been convicted of an aggravated 
        felony and such conviction has become final; and
            ``(D) whether the alien was afforded the procedures 
        required by section 238(b)(4).
    ``(2) No court shall have jurisdiction to review any issue other 
than an issue described in paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to 
determinations pending on or after such date with respect to which--
            (1) a final administrative decision has been/not been 
        rendered as of such date; or
            (2) such a decision has been rendered but the period for 
        seeking judicial review of the decision has not expired.

SEC. 8. POST-PROCEEDING RELIEF FOR AFFECTED ALIENS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 240(c)(6) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(6)) or any other 
limitation imposed by law on motions to reopen removal proceedings, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a process (whether 
through permitting the reopening of a removal proceeding or otherwise) 
under which an alien--
            (1) who is (or was) in removal proceedings before the date 
        of the enactment of this Act (whether or not the alien has been 
        removed as of such date); and
            (2) whose eligibility for cancellation of removal has been 
        established by this Act;
may apply (or reapply) for cancellation of removal under section 
240A(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(a)) as a 
beneficiary of the relief provided under this Act.
    (b) Parole.--The Secretary of Homeland Security should exercise the 
parole authority under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)(A)) for the purpose of permitting 
aliens removed from the United States to participate in the process 
established under subsection (a).
answer:
Keeping Families Together Act of 2005 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Act) to repeal the provision amending the definition of "aggravated felony," and restore provisions of law amended by such provision as if it had not been enacted, including residency-or status-related rights of an affected legal alien.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise detention of criminal alien provisions, effective as if included in the Act.

Repeals, as if included in the Act: (1) certain provisions respecting termination of continuous presence or physical presence in the United States; and (2) the definition of "conviction."

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to admit certain lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens returning to the United States who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation or removal, effective as of a specified date, as if certain sections of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 had not been enacted.

Revises provisions respecting judicial review of removal orders.

Requires the Secretary to establish a post-proceeding removal relief process for affected aliens.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on 
Natural Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Establishment.
Sec. 4. Membership.
Sec. 5. Duties of the Commission.
Sec. 6. Report.
Sec. 7. Powers of the Commission.
Sec. 8. Commission personnel matters.
Sec. 9. Termination.
Sec. 10. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, which struck the 
        United States in 2005, caused, by some estimates, in excess of 
        $200,000,000,000 in total economic losses;
            (2) many meteorologists predict that the United States is 
        in a period of increased hurricane activity;
            (3) the Federal Government and State governments have 
        provided billions of dollars to pay for losses from natural 
        catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic 
        eruptions, tsunamis, tornados, flooding, wildfires, droughts, 
        and other natural catastrophes;
            (4) many Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to 
        obtain and afford property and casualty insurance coverage;
            (5) some insurers are not renewing insurance policies, are 
        excluding certain risks, such as wind damage, and are 
        increasing rates and deductibles in some markets;
            (6) the inability of property and business owners in 
        vulnerable areas to obtain and afford property and casualty 
        insurance coverage endangers the national economy and public 
        health and safety;
            (7) almost every State in the United States is at risk of a 
        natural catastrophe, including hurricanes, earthquakes, 
        volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, tornados, flooding, wildfires, 
        droughts, and other natural catastrophes;
            (8) building codes and land use regulations play an 
        indispensable role in managing catastrophe risks, by preventing 
        building in high risk areas and ensuring that appropriate 
        mitigation efforts are completed where building has taken 
        place;
            (9) several proposals have been introduced in Congress to 
        address the affordability and availability of natural 
        catastrophe insurance across the United States, but there is no 
        consensus on what, if any, role the Federal Government should 
        play; and
            (10) an efficient and effective approach to assessing 
        natural catastrophe risk management and insurance is to 
        establish a nonpartisan commission to study the management of 
        natural catastrophe risk, and to require such commission to 
        timely report to Congress on its findings.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a nonpartisan Commission on Natural 
Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance (in this Act referred to as 
the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 16 members, 
of whom--
            (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
        the Senate;
            (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the Senate;
            (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives;
            (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the House of Representatives;
            (5) 2 members shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate;
            (6) 2 members shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of 
        the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
        Senate;
            (7) 2 members shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
        Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (8) 2 members shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of 
        the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (b) Qualification of Members.--
            (1) In general.--Members of the Commission shall be 
        appointed under subsection (a) from among persons who--
                    (A) have expertise in insurance, reinsurance, 
                insurance regulation, policyholder concerns, emergency 
                management, risk management, public finance, financial 
                markets, actuarial analysis, flood mapping and 
                planning, structural engineering, building standards, 
                land use planning, natural catastrophes, meteorology, 
                seismology, environmental issues, or other pertinent 
                qualifications or experience; and
                    (B) are not officers or employees of the United 
                States Government or of any State government.
            (2) Diversity.--In making appointments to the Commission--
                    (A) every effort shall be made to ensure that the 
                members are representative of a broad cross section of 
                perspectives within the United States; and
                    (B) each member of Congress described in subsection 
                (a) shall appoint not more than 1 person from any 
                single primary area of expertise described in paragraph 
                (1)(A) of this subsection.
    (c) Period of Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
        appointed for the duration of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall not 
        affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as 
        the original appointment.
    (d) Quorum.--
            (1) Majority.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
        shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number, as determined 
        by the Commission, may hold hearings.
            (2) Approval actions.--All recommendations and reports of 
        the Commission required by this Act shall be approved only by a 
        majority vote of all of the members of the Commission.
    (e) Chairperson.--The Commission shall, by majority vote of all of 
the members, select 1 member to serve as the Chairperson of the 
Commission (in this Act referred to as the ``Chairperson'').
    (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of its 
Chairperson or a majority of the members.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall examine the risks posed to the United States 
by natural catastrophes, and means for mitigating those risks and for 
paying for losses caused by natural catastrophes, including assessing--
            (1) the condition of the property and casualty insurance 
        and reinsurance markets prior to and in the aftermath of 
        Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005, and the 4 major 
        hurricanes that struck the United States in 2004;
            (2) the current condition of, as well as the outlook for, 
        the availability and affordability of insurance in all regions 
        of the country;
            (3) the current ability of States, communities, and 
        individuals to mitigate their natural catastrophe risks, 
        including the affordability and feasibility of such activities;
            (4) the ongoing exposure of the United States to natural 
        catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic 
        eruptions, tsunamis, tornados, flooding, wildfires, droughts, 
        and other natural catastrophes;
            (5) the catastrophic insurance and reinsurance markets and 
        the relevant practices in providing insurance protection to 
        different sectors of the American population;
            (6) implementation of a catastrophic insurance system that 
        can resolve key obstacles currently impeding broader 
        implementation of catastrophic risk management and financing 
        with insurance;
            (7) the financial feasibility and sustainability of a 
        national, regional, or other pooling mechanism designed to 
        provide adequate insurance coverage and increased underwriting 
        capacity to insurers and reinsurers, including private-public 
        partnerships to increase insurance capacity in constrained 
        markets;
            (8) methods to promote public insurance policies to reduce 
        losses caused by natural catastrophes in the uninsured sectors 
        of the American population;
            (9) approaches for implementing a public or private 
        insurance scheme for low-income communities, in order to 
        promote risk reduction and insurance coverage in such 
        communities;
            (10) the impact of Federal and State laws, regulations, and 
        policies (including rate regulation, market access 
        requirements, reinsurance regulations, accounting and tax 
        policies, State residual markets, and State catastrophe funds) 
        on--
                    (A) the affordability and availability of 
                catastrophe insurance;
                    (B) the capacity of the private insurance market to 
                cover losses inflicted by natural catastrophes;
                    (C) the commercial and residential development of 
                high-risk areas; and
                    (D) the costs of natural catastrophes to Federal 
                and State taxpayers;
            (11) the present and long-term financial condition of State 
        residual markets and catastrophe funds in high-risk regions, 
        including the likelihood of insolvency following a natural 
        catastrophe, the concentration of risks within such funds, the 
        reliance on post-event assessments and State funding, and the 
        adequacy of rates;
            (12) the role that innovation in financial services could 
        play in improving the affordability and availability of natural 
        catastrophe insurance, specifically addressing measures that 
        would foster the development of financial products designed to 
        cover natural catastrophe risk, such as risked-linked 
        securities;
            (13) the need for strengthened land use regulations and 
        building codes in States at high risk for natural catastrophes, 
        and methods to strengthen the risk assessment and enforcement 
        of structural mitigation and vulnerability reduction measures, 
        such as zoning and building code compliance;
            (14) the benefits and costs of proposed Federal natural 
        catastrophe insurance programs (including the Federal 
        Government providing reinsurance to State catastrophe funds, 
        private insurers, or other entities), specifically addressing 
        the costs to taxpayers, tax equity considerations, and the 
        record of other government insurance programs (particularly 
        with regard to charging actuarially sound prices);
            (15) the ability of the United States private insurance 
        market--
                    (A) to cover insured losses caused by natural 
                catastrophes, including an estimate of the maximum 
                amount of insured losses that could be sustained during 
                a single year and the probability of natural 
                catastrophes occurring in a single year that would 
                inflict more insured losses than the United States 
                insurance and reinsurance markets could sustain; and
                    (B) to recover after covering substantial insured 
                losses caused by natural catastrophes;
            (16) the impact that demographic trends could have on the 
        amount of insured losses inflicted by future natural 
        catastrophes;
            (17) the appropriate role, if any, for the Federal 
        Government in stabilizing the property and casualty insurance 
        and reinsurance markets; and
            (18) the role of the Federal, State, and local governments 
        in providing incentives for feasible risk mitigation efforts.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    On December 1, 2008, the Commission shall submit to the Committee 
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a final report 
containing--
            (1) a detailed statement of the findings and assessments 
        conducted by the Commission pursuant to section 5; and
            (2) any recommendations for legislative, regulatory, 
        administrative, or other actions at the Federal, State, or 
        local levels that the Commission considers appropriate, in 
        accordance with the requirements of section 5.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Meetings; Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit 
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the 
purposes of this Act. Members may attend meetings of the Commission and 
vote in person, via telephone conference, or via video conference.
    (b) Authority of Members or Agents of the Commission.--Any member 
or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 
any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this Act.
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--
            (1) Authority.--Notwithstanding any provision of section 
        552a of title 5, United States Code, the Commission may secure 
        directly from any department or agency of the United States any 
        information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out 
        this Act.
            (2) Procedure.--Upon request of the Chairperson, the head 
        of such department or agency shall furnish to the Commission 
        the information requested.
    (d) 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 Federal Government.
    (e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, any administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.
    (f) Acceptance of Gifts.--The Commission may accept, hold, 
administer, and utilize gifts, donations, and bequests of property, 
both real and personal, for the purposes of aiding or facilitating the 
work of the Commission. The Commission shall issue internal guidelines 
governing the receipt of donations of services or property.
    (g) Volunteer Services.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section 
1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and 
utilize the services of volunteers serving without compensation. The 
Commission may reimburse such volunteers for local travel and office 
supplies, and for other travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States 
Code.
    (h) Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949.--
Subject to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 
1949, the Commission may enter into contracts with Federal and State 
agencies, private firms, institutions, and individuals for the conduct 
of activities necessary to the discharge of its duties and 
responsibilities.
    (i) Limitation on Contracts.--A contract or other legal agreement 
entered into by the Commission may not extend beyond the date of the 
termination of the Commission.

SEC. 8. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission.
    (b) Subcommittees.--The Commission may establish subcommittees and 
appoint members of the Commission to such subcommittees as the 
Commission considers appropriate.
    (c) Staff.--Subject to such policies as the Commission may 
prescribe, the Chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of such 
additional personnel as the Chairperson considers appropriate to carry 
out the duties of the Commission. The Commission shall confirm the 
appointment of the executive director by majority vote of all of the 
members of the Commission.
    (d) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--Staff of the 
Commission may be--
            (1) appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
        United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
        service; and
            (2) paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
        subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to 
        classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that an 
        individual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of the 
        annual rate of basic pay prescribed for GS-15 of the General 
        Schedule under section 5332 of that title.
    (e) Experts and Consultants.--In carrying out its objectives, the 
Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services of 
consultants and experts under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for GS-15 of the General 
Schedule under section 5332 of that title.
    (f) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the 
Chairperson, any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the 
Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission--
            (1) on a reimbursable basis; and
            (2) such detail shall be without interruption or loss of 
        civil service status or privilege.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the 
Commission submits its report under section 6.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission, such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act, to remain available 
until expended.
answer:

Commission on Natural Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance Act of 2007 - Establishes the Commission on Natural Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance to report to Congress on its findings and assessments regarding the risks posed to the United States by natural catastrophes, and means for mitigating those risks and paying for losses caused by such catastrophes.

Requires the Commission to assess: (1) the condition of the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance markets prior to and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005, and the four major hurricanes that struck the United States in 2004; (2) the current condition of, as well as the outlook for, the availability and affordability of insurance in all regions of the country; and (3) the current ability of states, communities, and individuals to mitigate their natural catastrophe risks, including the affordability and feasibility of such activities.

Directs the Commission to report its findings and assessments to certain congressional committees on December 1, 2008.