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

Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform 
Protection Act of 2011'' or the ``STANDUP Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has 
        reported that--
                    (A) motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of 
                death of Americans between 15 and 20 years of age;
                    (B) between 1999 and 2009, more than 90,000 
                Americans were killed in motor vehicle crashes 
                involving drivers between 15 and 20 years of age, an 
                average of 155 deaths per week;
                    (C) drivers between 16 and 20 years of age have a 
                fatality rate that is 4 times higher than the rate for 
                drivers between 25 and 70 years of age; and
                    (D) teenage drivers who are 16 years of age have a 
                motor vehicle crash rate that is almost 10 times higher 
                than the crash rate for drivers between 30 and 60 years 
                of age.
            (2) The National Transportation Safety Board found that 
        during the most recent 10-year period--
                    (A) teen drivers comprised less than 7 percent of 
                the driving population and accounted for more than 13 
                percent of drivers involved in all deadly crashes; and
                    (B) more than 20 percent of all highway fatalities 
                occurred in crashes that involved teen drivers.
            (3) Analysis by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 
        Research Institute shows that--
                    (A) teenage drivers comprise approximately 40 
                percent of the fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in 
                which they are involved; and
                    (B) the other 60 percent of the fatalities in those 
                crashes are--
                            (i) passengers who were riding in the 
                        vehicle with the teen driver;
                            (ii) drivers and passengers in other 
                        vehicles involved in a crash with the teen 
                        driver's vehicle; and
                            (iii) pedestrians.
            (4) According to the Insurance Institute for Highway 
        Safety--
                    (A) the chance that a vehicle driven by a 16- or 
                17-year-old will be involved in an accident--
                            (i) doubles when there are 2 other teens in 
                        the vehicle; and
                            (ii) quadruples when there are 4 teens in 
                        the vehicle;
                    (B) States with strong nighttime driving 
                restrictions experience lower fatal crash rates among 
                drivers ages 15 to 17 years old; and
                    (C) a higher age requirement for licensing teen 
                drivers is correlated with a lower number of fatal 
                crashes per capita.
            (5) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has 
        found that distraction caused by cellular phones is significant 
        enough to degrade driver performance, and is particularly 
        dangerous for inexperienced drivers between 15 and 20 years of 
        age.
            (6) That National Transportation Safety Board has found 
        that although only 20 percent of driving by teenage drivers 
        occurs at night, more than 50 percent of the motor vehicle 
        crash fatalities involving teenage drivers occur at night.
            (7) According to a 2007 report from the Texas 
        Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University--
                    (A) teenage drivers in rural areas are less likely 
                to be aware of the risks and dangers associated with 
                driving, placing them at higher risk of involvement in 
                crashes;
                    (B) teen drivers are more likely than other 
                drivers--
                            (i) to drive with other teenage passengers;
                            (ii) to drive late at night;
                            (iii) to exceed the speed limit;
                            (iv) to use cell phones while driving; and
                            (v) to fail to use seat belts while 
                        driving.
            (8) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
        reports that although 23 percent of the population of the 
        United States lives in rural areas, 57 percent of all traffic 
        fatalities occur on rural roads, underscoring the elevated 
        crash risk for teen drivers in rural areas.
            (9) The American Academy of Pediatrics has found evidence 
        that the area of the brain responsible for planning, impulse 
        control, and executive decisionmaking does not fully mature 
        until a person is between 20 and 25 years of age, placing teen 
        drivers at greater risk of being involved in an accident.
            (10) The Journal of the American Medical Association 
        reports that after Michigan and North Carolina adopted 
        comprehensive graduated driver licensing systems in 1997, 
        crashes involving 16-year-old drivers decreased by 25 percent 
        in Michigan and by 27 percent in North Carolina.
            (11) According to the Office of the Illinois Secretary of 
        State, teen driving deaths dropped by over 40 percent in 
        Illinois in the first full year following the 2007 
        implementation of a stronger graduated driver licensing law.
            (12) The National Transportation Safety Board reports that 
        over 40 States and the District of Columbia have implemented 
        some type of 3-stage graduated driver licensing system. 
        However, most States have not yet enacted all of the lifesaving 
        safety features of graduated driver licensing laws recommended 
        by the National Transportation Safety Board and supported by 
        research to protect the lives of teenage and novice drivers.
            (13) A 2010 national survey by the Insurance Institute of 
        Highway Safety indicates that--
                    (A) parents of teens favor graduated driver 
                licensing laws that are as strict or stricter than 
                those that currently exist in any State;
                    (B) \2/3\ of parents of teens believe that young 
                drivers should begin learning to drive at 16 years of 
                age or older;
                    (C) more than \1/2\ of parents of teens believe 
                that the minimum licensing age should be 17 years of 
                age or older;
                    (D) 90 percent of parents of teens support a 
                restriction on unsupervised nighttime driving;
                    (E) more than 75 percent of parents of teens 
                believe that the restriction on unsupervised nighttime 
                driving should begin at 10 p.m. or earlier;
                    (F) 89 percent of parents of teens support 
                restrictions on teen passengers; and
                    (G) more than 75 percent of parents of teens 
                believe that teen drivers should not be permitted to 
                more than 1 teen passenger in their vehicle.

SEC. 3. STATE GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSING LAWS.

    (a) Minimum Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--A State is in compliance with this section 
        if the State has a graduated driver licensing law that requires 
        novice drivers younger than 21 years of age to comply with the 
        2-stage licensing process described in paragraph (2) before 
        receiving an unrestricted driver's license.
            (2) Licensing process.--A State is in compliance with the 
        2-stage licensing process described in this paragraph if the 
        State's driver's license laws include--
                    (A) a learner's permit stage that--
                            (i) commences at 16 years of age or older;
                            (ii) is at least 6 months in duration;
                            (iii) prohibits the driver from using a 
                        cellular telephone or any communications device 
                        in a nonemergency situation; and
                            (iv) remains in effect until--
                                    (I) the commencement of the 
                                intermediate stage; or
                                    (II) the driver reaches 18 years of 
                                age;
                    (B) an intermediate stage that--
                            (i) commences immediately after the 
                        expiration of the learner's permit stage;
                            (ii) is at least 6 months in duration;
                            (iii) prohibits the driver from using a 
                        cellular telephone or any communications device 
                        in a nonemergency situation;
                            (iv) prohibits driving at night;
                            (v) prohibits the driver from operating a 
                        motor vehicle with more than 1 non-familial 
                        passenger younger than 21 years of age unless a 
                        licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age 
                        is in the motor vehicle; and
                            (vi) remains in effect until the driver 
                        reaches 18 years of age; and
                    (C) any other requirement that the Secretary of 
                Transportation may require, including--
                            (i) in the learner's permit stage--
                                    (I) at least 40 hours of behind-
                                the-wheel training with a licensed 
                                driver who is at least 21 years of age;
                                    (II) a driver training course; and
                                    (III) a requirement that any such 
                                driver be accompanied and supervised by 
                                a licensed driver who is at least 21 
                                years of age at all times while such 
                                driver is operating a motor vehicle; 
                                and
                            (ii) in the learner's permit or 
                        intermediate stage, a requirement that, in 
                        addition to any other penalties imposed by 
                        State law, the grant of an unrestricted 
                        driver's license be automatically delayed for 
                        any individual who, during the learner's permit 
                        or intermediate stage, is convicted of a 
                        driving-related offense, such as--
                                    (I) driving while intoxicated;
                                    (II) misrepresentation of his or 
                                her true age;
                                    (III) reckless driving;
                                    (IV) driving without wearing a seat 
                                belt;
                                    (V) speeding; or
                                    (VI) any other driving-related 
                                offense, as determined by the 
                                Secretary.
    (b) Rulemaking.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section in 
        accordance with the notice and comment provisions under section 
        553 of title 5, United States.
            (2) Exception.--A State that otherwise meets the minimum 
        requirements set forth in subsection (a) shall be deemed by the 
        Secretary to be in compliance with this section regardless of 
        whether a State law, which was enacted by the State before 
        January 1, 2011, establishes a class of license that permits 
        licensees younger than 18 years of age to drive a motor vehicle 
        in connection with work performed on or for the operation of a 
        farm owned by family members who are directly related to the 
        licensees.

SEC. 4. INCENTIVE GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--For each of the first 3 fiscal years beginning 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall award a grant to any State that submits an 
application under subsection (b) if that State is in compliance with 
section 3(a) on or before the first day of that fiscal year.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Any State desiring a grant under this 
        section shall submit an application to the Secretary of 
        Transportation at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Secretary may require, including a 
        certification by the Governor of the State that the State is in 
        compliance with section 3(a).
            (2) Review.--The Secretary shall review each State 
        application and determine whether or not the State is in 
        compliance with section 3(a).
    (c) Grants.--Amounts appropriated to carry out this section for 
each fiscal year shall be apportioned to each State that is in 
compliance with section 3(a) in an amount determined by multiplying--
            (1) the amount appropriated to carry out this section for 
        such fiscal year; by
            (2) the ratio that the amount of funds apportioned to each 
        such State for such fiscal year under section 402 of title 23, 
        United States Code, bears to the total amount of funds 
        apportioned to all such States for such fiscal year under such 
        section.
    (d) Use of Funds.--Amounts received by a State from a grant awarded 
under this section may be used for--
            (1) enforcing a 2-stage licensing process that complies 
        with section 3(a)(2);
            (2) training for law enforcement personnel and other 
        relevant State agency personnel relating to the enforcement 
        described in paragraph (1);
            (3) publishing relevant educational materials that pertain 
        directly or indirectly to the State graduated driver licensing 
        law; and
            (4) carrying out other administrative activities that the 
        Secretary considers relevant to the State's 2-stage licensing 
        process.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $25,000,000, out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the 
Mass Transit Account), to carry out this section during each fiscal 
year described in subsection (a).

SEC. 5. WITHHOLDING OF FUNDS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Fourth fiscal year.--On the first day of the fourth 
        fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, the Secretary shall withhold 3 percent of the amount 
        otherwise required to be apportioned to any State for such 
        fiscal year under each of the paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of 
        section 104(b) of title 23, United States Code, if the State is 
        not in compliance with section 3(a) on the first day of such 
        fiscal year.
            (2) Fifth fiscal year.--On the first day of the fifth 
        fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, the Secretary shall withhold 5 percent of the amount 
        otherwise required to be apportioned to any State for such 
        fiscal year under each of the paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of 
        section 104(b) of title 23, United States Code, if that State 
        is not in compliance with section 3(a) on the first day of such 
        fiscal year.
            (3) Sixth and subsequent fiscal years.--On the first day of 
        each fiscal year after the fifth fiscal year beginning after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
        withhold 10 percent of the amount otherwise required to be 
        apportioned to any State for such fiscal year under each of the 
        paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of section 104(b) of title 23, 
        United States Code, if that State is not in compliance with 
        section 3(a) on the first day of such fiscal year.
    (b) Period of Availability of Withheld Funds.--
            (1) Funds withheld before the end of the sixth fiscal 
        year.--Any amount withheld from any State under subsection (a) 
        on or before the last day of the sixth fiscal year beginning 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall remain 
        available for distribution to the State under subsection (c) 
        until the end of the third fiscal year following the fiscal 
        year for which such amount is appropriated.
            (2) Funds withheld after the sixth fiscal year.--Any amount 
        withheld under subsection (a)(2) from any State after the end 
        of the sixth fiscal year beginning after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, may not be distributed to the State.
    (c) Apportionment of Withheld Funds After Compliance.--
            (1) In general.--If, before the last day of the period for 
        which funds withheld under subsection (a) remain available to a 
        State under subsection (b), the State comes into compliance 
        with section 3(a), the Secretary of Transportation shall, on 
        the first day on which the Secretary determines the State has 
        come into compliance, distribute to the State any amounts 
        withheld under subsection (a) that remains available for 
        apportionment to the State.
            (2) Period of availability of subsequently apportioned 
        funds.--Any amount distributed under paragraph (1) shall remain 
        available for expenditure by the State until the end of the 
        third fiscal year following the year for which the funds are so 
        apportioned. Any amount not expended by the State by the end of 
        such period shall revert back to the Treasury of the United 
        States.
            (3) Effect of noncompliance.--If a State is not in 
        compliance with section 3(a) at the end of the period for which 
        any amount withheld under subsection (a) remains available for 
        distribution to the State under subsection (b), such amount 
        shall revert back to the Treasury of the United States.

Ex Output:
Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act of 2011 or STANDUP Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to award incentive grants to states with graduated driver licensing laws that require novice drivers younger than age 21 to comply with a two-stage licensing process before receiving an unrestricted driver's license.

Requires such laws, at a minimum, to include: (1) a learner's permit stage that commences at age 16 or older, lasts at least six months, prohibits driver use of a cellular phone or other communications device in nonemergency situations, and remains in effect until commencement of the intermediate stage or the driver attains age 18; (2) an intermediate stage in effect until the driver attains age 18 that commences immediately after expiration of the learner's permit stage, lasts at least six months, prohibits driver use of a cellular phone or other communications device in nonemergency situations, prohibits nighttime driving, prohibits more than one non-familial passenger under age 21 unless there is a licensed driver at least age 21 present in the vehicle; and (3) any other requirement that the Secretary may require.

Deems a state that meets such minimum requirements to be in compliance regardless of whether a state law, enacted before January 1, 2011, establishes a class of license that permits licensees younger than age 18 to drive a motor vehicle in connection with work performed on or for the operation of a farm owned by family members of the licensees.

Directs the Secretary to withhold a certain percentage of federal-aid highway funds from states that do not comply with the requirements of this Act.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Independent Ethics Commission Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an independent ethics 
commission within the House of Representatives to be known as the 
Independent Ethics Committee (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').
    (b) Membership and Terms of Office.--(1) The Commission shall 
consist of 9 commissioners, 4 appointed by the Speaker and 4 by the 
minority leader of the House, and one selected by the affirmative vote 
of two-thirds of the 8 appointed commissioners for a term of 5 years. 
No commissioner may serve for more than 5 years.
    (2) Commissioners shall be appointed for terms of 5 years, except 
that of the commissioners first appointed, 2 appointed by the Speaker 
and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 3-year terms and 2 appointed 
by the Speaker and 2 by the minority leader shall be for 4-year terms 
as designated by the Speaker and the minority leader at the time of 
appointment.
    (c) Qualifications.--Only former Federal judges shall be eligible 
for appointment to the Commission.
            (1) Disqualifications for appointments.--
                    (A) Lobbying.--No individual who has been a 
                lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
                of 1995 or engages in, or is otherwise employed in, 
                lobbying of the Congress or who is an agent of a 
                foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents 
                Registration Act within the 4-year period immediately 
                preceding appointment shall be eligible for appointment 
                to, or service on, the Commission.
                    (B) Incompatible office.--No member of the 
                Commission appointed under subsection (b) may be a 
                Member of the House of Representatives or Senator.
            (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Compensation.--Members shall each be entitled to receive the 
daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay in effect for 
Level III of the Executive Schedule for each day (including travel 
time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties 
vested in the Commission.
    (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum.
    (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call a majority of 
its members.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Duties.--The Commission is authorized--
            (1) to receive, monitor, and oversee financial disclosure 
        and other reports filed by Members of the House and officers 
        and employees of the House under the Ethics in Government Act 
        of 1978, and reports filed by registered lobbyists under the 
        Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995;
            (2) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any 
        rule or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of 
        such Member, officer, or employee under House rules in the 
        performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
        responsibilities;
            (3) to present a case of probable ethics violations to the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (4) to make recommendations to the Committee on Standards 
        of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives that it 
        report to the appropriate Federal or State authorities 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 an 
        investigation by the Office;
            (5) to provide information and informal guidance to 
        Members, officers and employees of the House of Representatives 
        regarding any rules 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; and
            (6) to give consideration to the request of any Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives for a 
        formal advisory opinion or other formal ruling, subject to the 
        review of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the 
        House of Representatives, as applicable, 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.

SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission may for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act--
            (1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and 
        places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer 
        such oaths; and
            (2) subject to subsection (b), require, by subpoena or 
        otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and 
        the production of such books, records, correspondence, 
        memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission may 
        determine advisable.
    (b) Subpoenas.--A subpoena may be issued only with a majority of 
the Commission.
    (c) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall furnish 
information deemed necessary by the Commission to enable it to carry 
out its duties.
    (d) Referrals to the Department of Justice.--Whenever the 
Commission has reason to believe that a violation of the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995 may have occurred, that matter may be referred 
to the Department of Justice for it to investigate.
    (e) General Audits.--The Commission shall have the authority to 
conduct general audits of filings under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995.

SEC. 5. INVESTIGATIONS AND INTERACTION WITH THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON 
              STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) Notification.--Whenever the Commission determines that there 
are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation--
            (1) the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards 
        of Official Conduct of this determination;
            (2) the applicable committee may overrule the determination 
        of the Commission if, within 10 legislative days--
                    (A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote 
                of two-thirds of the full committee votes to overrule 
                the determination of the Commission;
                    (B) the committee issues a public report detailing 
                its reasoning for overruling the Commission;
                    (C) the vote of each member of the committee on 
                such roll-call vote is included in the report;
                    (D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their 
                own report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with 
                the majority vote; and
                    (E) if the committee votes to overrule the 
                determination of the Commission pursuant to 
                subparagraph (B), the Commission may publish and make 
                available to the general public a report detailing the 
                reasons that the Commission concluded there were 
                sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation.
    (b) Conducting Investigations.--(1) If the Commission determines 
that there are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation and his 
determination is not overruled under subsection (a)(5), the Commission 
shall conduct an investigation to determine if probable cause exists 
that a violation occurred.
    (2) As part of an investigation, the Commission may--
            (A) administer oaths;
            (B) issue subpoenas;
            (C) compel the attendance of witnesses and the production 
        of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony; and
            (D) take the deposition of witnesses.
    (3) If a person disobeys or refuses to comply with a subpoena, or 
if a witness refuses to testify to a matter, he may be held in contempt 
of Congress.
    (c) Presentation of Case to House Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct.--(1) If the Commission determines, upon conclusion of 
an investigation, that probable cause exists that an ethics violation 
has occurred, the Commission shall notify the Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct of the House of Representatives of this determination.
    (2) The committee may overrule the determination of the Commission 
if, within 10 legislative days--
            (A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote of two-
        thirds of the full committee votes to overrule the 
        determination of the Commission;
            (B) the committee issues a public report detailing its 
        reasoning for overruling the Commission;
            (C) the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-
        call vote is included in the report; and
            (D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their own 
        report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with the 
        majority vote.
    (3) If the committee votes to overrule the determination of the 
Commission pursuant to paragraph (2), the Commission may publish and 
make available to the general public a report detailing the reasons 
that he concluded there were sufficient grounds to present such case to 
the committee.
    (4)(A) If the Commission determines there is probable cause that an 
ethics violation has occurred and the Commission's determination is not 
overruled, the Commission shall present the case and evidence to the 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives to hear and make a determination pursuant to its rules.
    (B) The committee shall vote upon whether the individual who is the 
subject of the investigation has violated any rules or other standards 
of conduct applicable to that individual in his official capacity. Such 
votes shall be a roll-call vote of the full committee, a quorum being 
present. The committee shall issue a public report which shall include 
the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-call vote. 
Dissenting members may issue their own report detailing their own 
reasons for disagreeing with the majority vote.
    (d) Sanctions.--Whenever the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct of the House of Representatives finds that an ethics violation 
has occurred the Commission shall recommend appropriate sanctions to 
the committee and whether a matter should be referred to the Department 
of Justice for investigation.

SEC. 6. PROCEDURAL RULES.

    (a) Majority Approval.--No report or recommendation relating to the 
official conduct of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of 
Representatives 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--
            (1) 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
            (2) upon receipt of a complaint from the chairman of the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
        Representatives, in writing and under oath, made by that 
        committee.
    (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.
    (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 
Commission.

SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff 
as the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties. The 
Commission shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and minority 
leader and shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay 
payable for Level III of the Executive Schedule.

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF 
              THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) House Rules Amendments.--Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives is amended as follows:
            (1) In paragraph (a), strike subparagraphs (1), (2), and 
        (3), and redesignate subparagraphs (4), (5), and (6), as 
        subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.
            (2)(A) Paragraph (b)(1) is amended by striking ``(A)'', by 
        striking ``a resolution, report, recommendation, or'' and 
        inserting ``an'', and by striking ``, or, except as provided in 
        subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation'', and by striking 
        subdivision (B).
            (B) Paragraph (b) is further amended by striking 
        subparagraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) and by redesignating 
        subparagraphs (6) and (7) as subparagraphs (2) and (3), 
        respectively.
            (3) Strike paragraphs (j) (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), and 
        (q).
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of 
1989 (2 U.S.C. 29d) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d).

SEC. 9. ACTION ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) Printing of Reports in Congressional Record.--Upon receipt by 
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives of any report of the Commission, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives shall have the report printed in the 
Congressional Record.
    (b) House Consideration of Independent Ethics Commission 
Recommendations.--Within 14 calendar days after a report referred to in 
subsection (a) is printed in the Congressional Record, that portion of 
the report recommending action by the House of Representatives 
respecting 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 shall be introduced (by request) in the House by the 
Speaker of the House, for himself and the minority leader of the House 
in the form of a resolution. This resolution shall constitute a 
question of privilege under rule IX of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives. Any Member favoring the resolution may call it up as a 
question of privilege but only on the third day after the calendar date 
upon which such Member announces to the House his intention to do so.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect upon the date of its enactment, except 
that sections 3, 4, and 8 shall not take effect immediately prior to 
noon January 3, 2009.

Ex Output:
Independent Ethics Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes within the House of Representatives an Independent Ethics Commission composed only of former federal judges.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. REPEAL OF THE MEDICAL DEVICE EXCISE TAX.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
amended by striking subchapter E.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Subsection (a) of section 4221 of such Code is amended 
        by striking the last sentence.
            (2) Paragraph (2) of section 6416(b) of such Code is 
        amended by striking the last sentence.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of subchapters for chapter 32 of 
such Code is amended by striking the item related to subchapter E.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to sales after December 31, 2014.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USING LAST-IN, FIRST-OUT ACCOUNTING FOR MAJOR 
              INTEGRATED OIL COMPANIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 472 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Major Integrated Oil Companies.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this section, a major integrated oil company (as defined 
in section 167(h)) may not use the method provided in subsection (b) in 
inventorying of any goods.''.
    (b) Effective Date and Special Rule.--
            (1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
        apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.
            (2) Change in method of accounting.--In the case of any 
        taxpayer required by the amendment made by this section to 
        change its method of accounting for its first taxable year 
        beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act--
                    (A) such change shall be treated as initiated by 
                the taxpayer,
                    (B) such change shall be treated as made with the 
                consent of the Secretary of the Treasury, and
                    (C) the net amount of the adjustments required to 
                be taken into account by the taxpayer under section 481 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be taken 
                into account ratably over a period (not greater than 8 
                taxable years) beginning with such first taxable year.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR NEW LEASES AND THE TRANSFER OF LEASES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered lease.--The term ``covered lease'' means a 
        lease for oil or gas production in the Gulf of Mexico that is--
                    (A) in existence on the date of enactment of this 
                Act;
                    (B) issued by the Department of the Interior under 
                section 304 of the Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water 
                Royalty Relief Act (43 U.S.C. 1337 note; Public Law 
                104-58); and
                    (C) not subject to limitations on royalty relief 
                based on market price that are equal to or less than 
                the price thresholds described in clauses (v) through 
                (vii) of section 8(a)(3)(C) of the Outer Continental 
                Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(3)(C)).
            (2) Lessee.--The term ``lessee'' includes any person or 
        other entity that controls, is controlled by, or is in or under 
        common control with, a lessee.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (b) Issuance of New Leases.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall not issue any new 
        lease that authorizes the production of oil or natural gas 
        under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et 
        seq.) to a person described in paragraph (2) unless the person 
        has renegotiated each covered lease with respect to which the 
        person is a lessee to modify the payment responsibilities of 
        the person to require the payment of royalties if the price of 
        oil and natural gas is greater than or equal to the price 
        thresholds described in clauses (v) through (vii) of section 
        8(a)(3)(C) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
        1337(a)(3)(C)).
            (2) Persons described.--A person referred to in paragraph 
        (1) is a person that--
                    (A) is a lessee that--
                            (i) holds a covered lease on the date on 
                        which the Secretary considers the issuance of 
                        the new lease; or
                            (ii) was issued a covered lease before the 
                        date of enactment of this Act, but transferred 
                        the covered lease to another person or entity 
                        (including a subsidiary or affiliate of the 
                        lessee) after the date of enactment of this 
                        Act; or
                    (B) any other person that has any direct or 
                indirect interest in, or that derives any benefit from, 
                a covered lease.
            (3) Multiple lessees.--
                    (A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), if 
                there are multiple lessees that own a share of a 
                covered lease, the Secretary may implement separate 
                agreements with any lessee with a share of the covered 
                lease that modifies the payment responsibilities with 
                respect to the share of the lessee to include price 
                thresholds that are equal to or less than the price 
                thresholds described in clauses (v) through (vii) of 
                section 8(a)(3)(C) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
                Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(3)(C)).
                    (B) Treatment of share as covered lease.--Beginning 
                on the effective date of an agreement under 
                subparagraph (A), any share subject to the agreement 
                shall not constitute a covered lease with respect to 
                any lessees that entered into the agreement.
    (c) Transfers.--A lessee or any other person who has any direct or 
indirect interest in, or who derives a benefit from, a lease shall not 
be eligible to obtain by sale or other transfer (including through a 
swap, spinoff, servicing, or other agreement) any covered lease, the 
economic benefit of any covered lease, or any other lease for the 
production of oil or natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico under the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), unless the lessee 
or other person has--
            (1) renegotiated each covered lease with respect to which 
        the lessee or person is a lessee, to modify the payment 
        responsibilities of the lessee or person to include price 
        thresholds that are equal to or less than the price thresholds 
        described in clauses (v) through (vii) of section 8(a)(3)(C) of 
        the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
        1337(a)(3)(C)); or
            (2) entered into an agreement with the Secretary to modify 
        the terms of all covered leases of the lessee or other person 
        to include limitations on royalty relief based on market prices 
        that are equal to or less than the price thresholds described 
        in clauses (v) through (vii) of section 8(a)(3)(C) of the Outer 
        Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(3)(C)).
    (d) Price Thresholds for Royalty Suspension Provisions.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall agree to a request by 
        any lessee to amend any lease issued for any Central and 
        Western Gulf of Mexico tract during the period of January 1, 
        1996, through November 28, 2000, to incorporate price 
        thresholds applicable to royalty suspension provisions, that 
        are equal to or less than the price thresholds described in 
        clauses (v) through (vii) of section 8(a)(3)(C) of the Outer 
        Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(a)(3)(C)).
            (2) Requirement.--
                    (A) In general.--A lease amended under paragraph 
                (1) shall impose the new or revised price thresholds 
                effective January 1, 2015.
                    (B) Existing lease provisions.--Existing lease 
                provisions for a lease amended under paragraph (1) 
                shall prevail through December 31, 2014.

Ex Output:

This bill repeals the excise tax on medical devices and offsets the cost of such repeal by prohibiting: (1) major integrated oil companies from using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method; and (2) the issuance of new oil or natural gas production leases in the Gulf of Mexico under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to any person who does not renegotiate their existing leases to generate payment of royalties from such leases.