114 HR 3873 IH: International Cyber Policy Oversight Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-11-02
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3873
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			November 2, 2015
			Mr. McCaul introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

		A BILL
		To require the Secretary of State to produce a comprehensive strategy relating to United States
			 international policy with regard to cyberspace, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the International Cyber Policy Oversight Act of 2015. 2.Department of State international cyberspace policy strategy (a)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall produce a comprehensive strategy, with a classified annex if necessary, relating to United States international policy with regard to cyberspace.
 (b)ElementsThe strategy required in subsection (a) shall include the following: (1)A review of actions and activities undertaken by the Secretary of State to date to support the goal of the President’s International Strategy for Cyberspace, released in May 2011, to work internationally to promote an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable information and communications infrastructure that supports international trade and commerce, strengthens international security, and fosters free expression and innovation.
 (2)A plan of action to guide the Secretary of State’s diplomacy with regard to countries, including conducting bilateral and multilateral activities to develop the norms of responsible international behavior in cyberspace, and status review of existing discussions in multilateral fora to obtain agreements on international norms in cyberspace.
 (3)A review of the alternative concepts with regard to international norms in cyberspace offered by other prominent country actors.
 (4)A detailed description of threats to United States national security in cyberspace from other countries, state-sponsored actors and private actors, to United States Federal and private sector infrastructure, United States intellectual property, and the privacy of United States citizens.
 (5)A review of policy tools available to the President to deter countries, state-sponsored actors, and private actors, including those outlined in Executive Order 13694, released on April 1, 2015.
 (6)A review of resources required by the Secretary of State, including the Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, to conduct activities to build responsible norms of international cyber behavior.
 (c)ConsultationThe Secretary of State shall consult, as appropriate, with other United States Government agencies, the United States private sector, and United States nongovernmental organizations with recognized credentials and expertise in foreign policy, national security, and cybersecurity.
 (d)ReleaseThe Secretary of State shall publicly release the strategy required in subsection (a) and brief the appropriate congressional committees upon its release, including on the classified annex, if the strategy includes such an annex.


114 SRES 301 IS: Calling on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation to modify the accreditation standards of the Council to prevent the standards from negatively impacting Alaska Native and Native American teacher candidates.
U.S. Senate
2015-10-30
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Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 301IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESOctober 30, 2015Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Schatz) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsRESOLUTIONCalling on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation to modify the accreditation
			 standards of the Council to prevent the standards from negatively
			 impacting Alaska Native and Native American teacher candidates.

 Whereas Alaska Natives and Native Americans are underrepresented in the profession of teaching; Whereas Alaska Native and Native American students benefit academically from the cultural perspectives of Alaska Native and Native American teachers;
 Whereas Alaska Native and Native American teachers often serve as positive role models for Alaska Native and Native American students;
 Whereas increasing the number of Alaska Native and Native American teachers working in native communities empowers tribes, benefits native youth, and strengthens tribal self-sufficiency;
 Whereas the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (referred to in this preamble as the Council) is the sole accrediting body for educator preparation programs at institutions of higher education in the United States;
 Whereas the Council approved new accreditation standards in 2013 and plans for the standards to be fully implemented by 2020;
 Whereas the 2013 accreditation standards of the Council require that institutions of higher education, when accepting candidates to their schools of education, ensure that the group average performance on assessments such as the ACT and SAT is—
 (1)in the top 50 percent from 2016–2017; (2)in the top 40 percent of the distribution from 2018–2019; and
 (3)in the top 33 percent of the distribution by 2020; Whereas because of social, academic, and economic barriers, the average ACT and SAT scores of Alaska Natives and Native Americans are disproportionately lower than other categories of students;
 Whereas Alaska Native and Native American students have disproportionately inadequate access to exam preparation opportunities and 21st century technology and are less likely to take the ACT or SAT than other categories of students;
 Whereas no definitive research or data has shown that performance on the ACT or SAT is an effective indicator of the likelihood of success of a prospective student in an educator preparation program or as a teacher;
 Whereas the 2013 accreditation standards of the Council— (1)will force institutions of higher education to accept fewer Alaska Native and Native American students into teacher preparation programs in order to retain accreditation;
 (2)will result in fewer Alaska Natives and Native Americans gaining acceptance into those programs; and
 (3)will exacerbate the already low representation of Alaska Natives and Native Americans in the teaching community;
 Whereas the Federal Government has a trust responsibility to support the education of Alaska Natives and Native Americans; and
 Whereas the Council should recognize the negative impact of the standards of the Council on Alaska Native and Native American teacher candidates: Now, therefore, be it

 That the Senate calls on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation—
 (1)to consult with tribes and native organizations; (2)to jointly develop changes to the accreditation standards of the Council to ensure that Alaska Native and Native American teacher candidates will not be negatively impacted by the standards; and
 (3)to adopt changes to the accreditation standards of the Council expeditiously.


		II
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1059
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			March 29, 2007
			Mrs. Clinton (for
			 herself and Mr. Kerry) introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Energy and Natural
			 Resources

		A BILL
		To amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to
		  improve Federal building energy efficiency standards, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Zero-Emissions Building Act of
			 2007.
		2.Improvement of
			 Federal building energy efficiency standards
			(a)StandardsSection
			 305(a)(3)(A)(i) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C.
			 6834(a)(3)(A)(i)) is amended—
				(1)in subclause (I),
			 by striking and at the end;
				(2)by redesignating
			 subclause (II) as subclause (III); and
				(3)by inserting
			 after subclause (I) the following:

						(II)the buildings be
				designed so that the greenhouse gas emissions (as measured by the fossil
				fuel-generated energy consumption of the buildings) are reduced, as compared to
				the fossil fuel-generated energy consumption by a similar Federal building
				during fiscal year 2003 (as measured by Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption
				Survey data from the Energy Information Agency), by the percentage specified in
				the following table:

										Fiscal
						YearPercentage
						Reduction

										200750

										201060

										201570

										202080

										202590

										2030100

						;
				and.
				(b)Application to
			 major renovationsSection 305(a)(3)(A)(i) of the Energy
			 Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6834(a)(3)(A)(i)) is amended—
				(1)by inserting
			 and Federal buildings undergoing major renovations after
			 for new Federal buildings; and
				(2)in subclause
			 (III) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), by inserting and major
			 renovations of buildings after all new and replacement
			 buildings.
				(c)ComplianceSection
			 305(a)(3) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6834(a)(3))
			 is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(D)ComplianceA
				Federal agency may achieve the energy efficiency performance standards required
				under this paragraph by implementing a building design that uses—
						(i)design methods
				and energy efficiency technologies to reduce energy demand, including building
				orientation, window glazing, light scoops, or skylights;
						(ii)on-site,
				renewable energy generation technologies, including ground source heat pumps
				and passive solar or solar photovoltaics; or
						(iii)any of the
				methods or technologies described in clause (i) or (ii) at Federal facilities
				not covered by subparagraph (A)(i) to produce energy savings that are in
				addition to the energy savings required under this paragraph (as in effect
				prior to the amendments made by section 2 of the
				Zero-Emissions Building Act of
				2007) or planned prior to the date of enactment of that
				Act.
						.
			(d)Effective
			 datesSection 305(a)(3)(A) of the Energy Conservation and
			 Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6834(a)(3)(A)) is amended by striking date of
			 enactment of this paragraph each place it appears and inserting
			 date of enactment of the Zero-Emissions Building Act of
			 2007.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2909
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			September 13, 2011
			Mr. Sherman (for
			 himself, Ms. Kaptur,
			 Mr. DeFazio,
			 Mr. Jones, and
			 Mr. Rohrabacher) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in
			 addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently
			 determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
			 fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

		A BILL
		To withdraw normal trade relations treatment from the
		  products of the People’s Republic of China, to provide for a balanced trade
		  relationship between that country and the United States, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Emergency China Trade
			 Act.
		2.FindingsCongress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)The United States and the People’s Republic
			 of China are among the world’s largest economies and are among the world’s
			 largest producers and consumers of goods.
			(2)The Government of
			 the People’s Republic of China has pursued an international trade policy that
			 violates its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization and other
			 international organizations, which has resulted in a perpetual, historically
			 high trade imbalance with the United States that threatens the stability of the
			 global economy.
			(3)As members of both
			 the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund, the People’s
			 Republic of China has assumed a series of international legal obligations to
			 eliminate all subsidies for exports and to facilitate international trade. The
			 People’s Republic of China has failed to do so.
			(4)The Chinese
			 Government continues to maintain control over the decisions of Chinese
			 enterprises through ownership, board membership, and coercion.
			(5)The Chinese
			 Government, directly and indirectly, facilitates unfair requirements for
			 coproduction agreements between United States companies and Chinese
			 entities.
			(6)Since 1994, the
			 People’s Republic of China has repeatedly intervened in currency markets and
			 taken measures that have significantly misaligned the value of its currency
			 against the United States dollar and other currencies. This policy by the
			 People’s Republic of China has resulted in substantial undervaluation of the
			 renminbi by up to 40 percent or more.
			3.Sense of
			 CongressIt is the sense of
			 Congress that—
			(1)a persistent trade deficit with the
			 People’s Republic of China is harmful to the long-term health of the United
			 States economy and must be corrected; and
			(2)the President
			 should begin immediate, expedited negotiations with the People’s Republic of
			 China that are designed to eliminate the trade deficit within 4 years.
			4.Withdrawal of
			 normal trade relations treatment from the People’s Republic of
			 ChinaNotwithstanding the
			 provisions of title I of Public Law 106–286, title IV of the Trade Act of 1974,
			 or any other provision of law, upon the expiration of the 6-month period
			 beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act—
			(1)normal trade
			 relations treatment shall not apply to the products of the People’s Republic of
			 China, and normal trade relations treatment may not thereafter be extended to
			 the products of that country; and
			(2)the column 2 rate of duty under the
			 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States shall apply to the products of
			 the People’s Republic of China.
			5.Balanced trade
			 relations with the People’s Republic of China
			(a)In
			 generalThe President shall, upon the enactment of this Act, take
			 the necessary steps to negotiate a trade relationship with the People’s
			 Republic of China that will achieve and maintain balanced trade between the
			 United States and the People’s Republic of China within four years after the
			 date of the enactment of this Act.
			(b)Submission of
			 implementing legislation
				(1)In
			 generalUpon conclusion of the negotiations specified in
			 subsection (a), the President shall submit implementing legislation to
			 Congress.
				(2)Implementing
			 legislationFor purposes of this section, the term
			 implementing legislation means legislation that only contains
			 provisions that are necessary to carry out any agreements negotiated under
			 subsection (a).
				(3)Expedited
			 consideration
					(A)In the house of
			 representativesFor the purpose of expediting the consideration
			 and enactment of implementing legislation submitted under paragraph (1), a
			 motion to proceed to the consideration of such implementing legislation after
			 it has been reported by the appropriate committee shall be treated as highly
			 privileged in the House of Representatives.
					(B)In the
			 senateImplementing legislation submitted under paragraph (1)
			 shall be considered in the Senate in accordance with the provisions of section
			 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of
			 1976.
					(c)Effect of
			 enactment of implementing legislationUpon the enactment of
			 implementing legislation under this section, section 4 shall cease to be
			 effective.
			6.DefinitionsIn this Act, the term balanced
			 trade means a balance of trade between the United States and the
			 People’s Republic of China that ensures the value of United States goods
			 exported from the United States, on a balance of payment basis, is equal in
			 value to goods imported from the People’s Republic of China, on a balance of
			 payment basis.


		IV
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. RES. 460
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			November 4, 2011
			Ms. Wasserman Schultz
			 (for herself and Ms. Granger)
			 submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		RESOLUTION
		Expressing support for designation of 2012
		  as the Year of the Girl and celebrating the 100th anniversary of
		  Girl Scouts of the USA.

		Whereas for more than 100 years, Girl Scouts of the USA
			 has inspired generations of girls to lead with courage, confidence, and
			 character;
		Whereas the Girl Scout Movement began on March 12, 1912,
			 when Savannah, Georgia, native Juliette Daisy Gordon Low gathered
			 18 girls to provide them the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and
			 spiritually;
		Whereas Daisy Low’s goal was to bring together girls of
			 all backgrounds to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness as well as prepare
			 them for future roles as professional women and for active citizenship outside
			 the home;
		Whereas within just a few years, there were nearly 70,000
			 Girl Scouts nationwide, including the territory of Hawaii;
		Whereas the first African-American troops were established
			 in 1917, and by 1920, troops for girls with disabilities were
			 established;
		Whereas today, more than 50,000,000 women in the United
			 States are Girl Scout alumnae, and 3,300,000 girls and adult volunteers are
			 active members;
		Whereas Girl Scouts live in every corner of the United
			 States, Puerto Rico, United States territories, and more than 90 countries
			 overseas;
		Whereas Girl Scouts is the largest member of the World
			 Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a global movement comprised of more
			 than 10,000,000 girls in 145 countries worldwide;
		Whereas Girl Scouts’ robust program helps girls develop as
			 leaders and build confidence by learning new skills;
		Whereas the award winning Girl Scout Leadership Program
			 helps girls discover themselves and their values, connect with others, and take
			 action to make the world a better place;
		Whereas this leadership model helps girls develop skills
			 such as critical thinking, problem solving, cooperation and team building,
			 conflict resolution, advocacy, and other important life skills;
		Whereas core programs around Science, Technology,
			 Engineering and Math (STEM), environmental stewardship, healthy living,
			 financial literacy, and global citizenship help girls develop a solid
			 foundation in leadership;
		Whereas Girl Scouts’ STEM programming, first introduced in
			 1913 with the electrician and flyer badges, offers
			 girls of every age science, technology, engineering, and math activities that
			 are relevant to everyday life;
		Whereas these award-winning programs help girls build
			 strong, hands-on foundations to become future female leaders and meet the
			 growing need for skilled science and technology professionals in the United
			 States;
		Whereas healthy living programs help Girl Scouts build the
			 skills they need to keep their bodies healthy, their minds engaged, and their
			 spirits positive and teaches girls about fitness and nutrition, body image,
			 self esteem, and relational issues, especially bullying;
		Whereas through the 100th Anniversary Take Action Project,
			 Forever Green, Girl Scouts is honoring Daisy Low’s commitment to the outdoors
			 by engaging families, friends, and communities to improve the environment and
			 protect its natural resources;
		Whereas Girl Scouts’ financial literacy programming,
			 notably, the iconic Girl Scout cookie sale, helps girls set financial goals and
			 gain the confidence they need to ultimately take control of their own financial
			 future;
		Whereas this beloved United States tradition has a proven
			 legacy, more than 80 percent of highly successful businesswomen were Girl
			 Scouts;
		Whereas Girl Scouts has also helped millions of young
			 girls become good global citizens through international exchanges, travel, take
			 action and service projects, and newer programs like twinning and
			 virtual Girl Scout troops;
		Whereas Girl Scouts has helped girls advance diversity in
			 a multicultural world, connect with their communities, locally and globally,
			 and feel empowered to make a difference in the world;
		Whereas the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in
			 Girl Scouting, requires girls to make a measurable and sustainable difference
			 in their community, assess a need and design a solution, find the resources and
			 the support to make it happen, complete the project, and also inspire others to
			 sustain it;
		Whereas the Gold Award honors leadership in the Girl Scout
			 tradition and Gold Award recipients have already changed the world as high
			 school students;
		Whereas two-thirds of the Nation’s most accomplished women
			 in public service were Girl Scouts;
		Whereas Girl Scouts’ research shows that Girl Scouts
			 alumnae have a positive sense of self, are engaged in community service, are
			 civically engaged, have attained high levels of education, and are successful
			 on a number of economic indicators;
		Whereas beyond its outstanding program, Girl Scouts has
			 evolved into the premier expert on girls’ healthy growth and
			 development;
		Whereas since its founding in 2000, the Girl Scout
			 Research Institute has become an internationally recognized center for original
			 research, research reviews, and surveys that provide significant insights into
			 the lives of girls;
		Whereas Girl Scouts’ research informs not only Girl
			 Scouts’ program development and delivery, but also helps bring girls’ voices to
			 key issues in the public sphere;
		Whereas by bringing greater attention to girls’ health,
			 education, and developmental needs, Girl Scouts is the voice for girls with
			 policymakers, business leaders, educators, and all other stakeholders who care
			 about girls’ healthy growth and development;
		Whereas Girl Scouts ensures that issues, such as STEM
			 education, bullying prevention, unhealthy perceptions of beauty as portrayed by
			 the media, and many other important issues, are brought to the public’s
			 attention, and addressed through public policy at the national, State, and
			 local level; and
		Whereas Girl Scouts of the USA is recognizing its 100th
			 anniversary by designating 2012 as the Year of the Girl: Now,
			 therefore, be it

		That the House of
			 Representatives—
			(1)recognizes the importance of empowering
			 girls to lead with courage, confidence, and character;
			(2)congratulates Girl
			 Scouts of the USA on its 100th anniversary; and
			(3)supports the
			 Year of the Girl.


I114th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6032IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 14, 2016Mr. Perlmutter introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for purchase of data breach insurance.
1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Data Breach Insurance Act. 2.Credits for purchase of data breach insurance (a)In generalSubpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business related credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

45S.Data breach insurance
(a)In generalFor purposes of section 38, the data breach insurance credit determined under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to 15 percent of the aggregate premiums paid or incurred by the taxpayer during such taxable year for qualified data breach insurance. (b)Qualified data breach insurance (1)In generalFor purposes of this section, the term qualified data breach insurance means coverage provided by an insurance company for expenses or losses in connection with the theft, loss, disclosure, inaccessibility, or manipulation, of data.
(2)Cybersecurity framework requirementSuch term shall not include coverage for any period unless the taxpayer has adopted, and is in compliance with, one of the following with respect to such period:  (A)Version 1.0 of the Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as in effect on February 12, 2014, or subsequent versions or iterations.
(B)Any similar standard specified by the Secretary (after consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Commerce) for purposes of this paragraph. (3)Insurance companyThe term insurance company means any corporation subject to tax under subchapter L (or which would be so subject if such corporation were a domestic corporation).
(4)Treatment of insurance covering more than dataIn the case of coverage under which amounts are payable for other than expenses or losses described in paragraph (1)— (A)no amount shall be treated as premiums for qualified data breach insurance unless the charge for such insurance is either separately stated in the contract, or furnished to the policyholder by the insurance company in a separate statement,
(B)the amount taken into account as the premium paid or incurred for such insurance shall not exceed such charge, and (C)no amount shall be treated as paid or incurred for such insurance if the amount specified in the contract (or furnished to the policyholder by the insurance company in a separate statement) as the charge for such insurance is unreasonably large in relation to the total charges under the contract.
(c)Premiums must be trade or business expensePremiums shall be taken into account under subsection (a) only if such premiums are paid or incurred in the ordinary course of the taxpayer’s trade or business. (d)TerminationNo credit shall be determined under this section for any taxable year beginning after the date which is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section..
(b)Conforming amendments
(1)Section 38(b) of such Code is amended by striking plus at the end of paragraph (35), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (36), and inserting , plus, and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:  (37)the data breach insurance credit determined under section 45S..
(2)The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:   Sec. 45S. Data breach insurance.. (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 3131
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			March 17, 2010
			Mrs. Gillibrand
			 introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Energy and Natural
			 Resources

		A BILL
		To direct the Secretary of the Interior to
		  conduct a special resource study to evaluate resources in the Hudson River
		  Valley in the State of New York to determine the suitability and feasibility of
		  establishing the site as a unit of the National Park System, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Hudson River Valley Special Resource
			 Study Act.
		2.DefinitionsIn this Act:
			(1)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the
			 Secretary of the Interior.
			(2)Study areaThe term study area—
				(A)means the portion of the Hudson River that
			 flows from Rodgers Island at Fort Edward to the southern-most boundary of
			 Westchester County, New York; and
				(B)includes any relevant sites and landscapes
			 within the counties in New York that abut the area described in subparagraph
			 (A).
				3.FindingsCongress finds as follows:
			(1)The Hudson River Valley possesses important
			 and unique cultural, historical, natural, recreational and scenic resources
			 that have been central to the development and sustainment of our Nation.
			(2)The Hudson River Valley encompasses a rich
			 array of sensitive natural resources ranging from the River itself and its vast
			 estuarine district, to its wetlands, refuges, parks, forests, farmlands,
			 preserves, cliffs, mountains, and valleys.
			(3)The Hudson River and its tributaries are
			 home to a number of rare and threatened animal species, habitats, and
			 plants.
			(4)The Hudson River Valley is home to myriad
			 biking, heritage, pedestrian and scenic trail systems on the eastern and
			 western sides of the River that are now connected by the Walkway Over the
			 Hudson bridge, which has been designated as a National Recreation Trail.
			(5)Throughout history, the Hudson River Valley
			 has played a central role in the development of our nation, starting from the
			 vibrant Native American communities that first inhabited the land, to Henry
			 Hudson’s voyage up the river later named for him in the vessel Half Moon in
			 1609 and later with the American Revolution, the debate on our Constitution,
			 the first successful steamboat voyage by Robert Fulton in 1807, the Industrial
			 Revolution, and the modern labor and environmental movements.
			(6)The Hudson River Valley gave birth to
			 important movements in American art, architecture and literature through the
			 work of Andrew Jackson Downing, Alexander Jackson Davis, Thomas Cole, Frederick
			 Church and their associates from the Hudson River School of Art, as well as
			 through authors such as Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, William
			 Cullen Bryant, Susan and Anna Warner, and John Burroughs.
			(7)The depictions and descriptions of the
			 Hudson River Valley’s renowned scenery and natural resources played a central
			 role in the recognition of the value of the landscape and the development of an
			 American esthetic and environmental ideal.
			(8)A 1996 National Park Service study called
			 the Hudson River Valley the landscape that defined
			 America..
			(9)The Hudson River Valley has been the
			 subject of multiple State and Federal inventories, studies, and plans that
			 should greatly assist a National Park Service special resource study.
			4.Authorization of study
			(a)In generalAs soon as funds are made available for
			 this purpose, the Secretary shall complete a study of the Hudson River Valley
			 in the State of New York to evaluate—
				(1)the national significance of the area;
			 and
				(2)the suitability and feasibility of
			 designating the area as a unit of the National Park System.
				(b)Study guidelinesIn conducting the study under subsection
			 (a), the Secretary shall—
				(1)use the criteria for the study of areas for
			 potential inclusion in the National Park System included in section 8 of Public
			 Law 91–383, as amended by section 303 of the National Parks Omnibus Management
			 Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–391; 112 Stat. 3501); and
				(2)closely examine park unit models, in
			 particular national river and recreation areas, as well as other landscape
			 protection models, that—
					(A)encompass large areas of non-Federal lands
			 within their designated boundaries;
					(B)foster public and private collaborative
			 arrangements for achieving National Park Service objectives; and
					(C)protect and respect the rights of private
			 land owners.
					5.ReportNot later than 24 months after the date that
			 funds are first made available for this purpose, the Secretary shall submit to
			 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee
			 on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the findings,
			 conclusions, and recommendations of the study authorized by this Act.


116 S3748 IS: Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act
U.S. Senate
2020-05-14
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3748IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 14, 2020Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Moran, Mr. Coons, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Perdue, Ms. McSally, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Tester, and Mrs. Loeffler) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsA BILLTo award a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dust Off crews of the Vietnam War, collectively, in recognition of their extraordinary heroism and life-saving actions in Vietnam.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act.2.FindingsThe Congress finds that—(1)a United States Army Dust Off crewman (pilot, crew chief, and medic) is a helicopter crew member who served honorably during the Vietnam War aboard a helicopter air ambulance often under the radio call sign Dust Off;(2)Dust Off crews performed aeromedical evacuation for United States, Vietnamese, and allied forces in Southeast Asia from May 1962 through March 1973;(3)nearing the end of World War II, the United States Army began using helicopters for medical evacuation and years later, during the Korean War, these helicopter air ambulances were responsible for transporting 17,700 United States casualties;(4)during the Vietnam War, with the use of helicopter air ambulances, United States Army Dust Off crews pioneered the concept of dedicated and rapid medical evacuation and transported almost 900,000 United States, South Vietnamese, and other allied sick and wounded, as well as wounded enemy forces;(5)helicopters proved to be a revolutionary tool to assist those injured on the battlefield;(6)highly skilled and intrepid, Dust Off crews were able to operate the helicopters and land them on almost any terrain in nearly any weather to pick up wounded, after which the Dust Off crews could provide care to these patients while transporting them to ready medical facilities;(7)the vital work of the Dust Off crews required consistent combat exposure and often proved to be the difference between life and death for wounded personnel;(8)the revolutionary concept of a dedicated combat life-saving system was cultivated and refined by United States Army Dust Off crews during 11 years of intense conflict in and above the jungles of Southeast Asia;(9)innovative and resourceful Dust Off crews in Vietnam were responsible for taking the new concept of helicopter medical evacuation, born just a few years earlier, and revolutionizing it to meet and surpass the previously unattainable goal of delivering a battlefield casualty to an operating table within the vaunted golden hour;(10)some Dust Off units in Vietnam operated so efficiently that they were able to deliver a patient to a waiting medical facility on an average of 50 minutes from the receipt of the mission, which saved the lives of countless personnel in Vietnam, and this legacy continues for modern-day Dust Off crews;(11)the inherent danger of being a member of a Dust Off crew in Vietnam meant that there was a 1 in 3 chance of being wounded or killed;(12)many battles during the Vietnam War raged at night, and members of the Dust Off crews often found themselves searching for a landing zone in complete darkness, in bad weather, over mountainous terrain, and all while being the target of intense enemy fire as they attempted to rescue the wounded, which caused Dust Off crews to suffer a rate of aircraft loss that was more than 3 times that of all other types of combat helicopter missions in Vietnam;(13)the 54th Medical Detachment typified the constant heroism displayed by Dust Off crews in Vietnam, over the span of a 10-month tour, with only 3 flyable helicopters and 40 soldiers in the unit, evacuating 21,435 patients in 8,644 missions while being airborne for 4,832 hours;(14)collectively, the members of the 54th Medical Detachment earned 78 awards for valor, including 1 Medal of Honor, 1 Distinguished Service Cross, 14 Silver Star Medals, 26 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Bronze Star Medals for valor, 4 Air Medals for valor, 4 Soldier’s Medals, and 26 Purple Heart Medals;(15)the 54th Medical Detachment displayed heroism on a daily basis and set the standard for all Dust Off crews in Vietnam;(16)6 members of the 54th Medical Detachment are in the Dust Off Hall of Fame, 3 are in the Army Aviation Hall of Fame, and 1 is the only United States Army aviator in the National Aviation Hall of Fame;(17)Dust Off crew members are among the most highly decorated soldiers in American military history;(18)in early 1964, Major Charles L. Kelly was the Commanding Officer of the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance), Provisional, in Soc Trang, South Vietnam;(19)Major Kelly helped to forge the Dust Off call sign into history as one of the most welcomed phrases to be heard over the radio by wounded soldiers in perilous and dire situations;(20)in 1964, Major Kelly was killed in action as he gallantly maneuvered his aircraft to save a wounded American soldier and several Vietnamese soldiers and boldly replied, after being warned to stay away from the landing zone due to the ferocity of enemy fire, When I have your wounded.;(21)General William Westmoreland, Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (1964–1968), singled out Major Kelly as an example of the greatness of the human spirit and highlighted his famous reply as an inspiration to all in combat;(22)General Creighton Abrams, Westmoreland’s successor (1968–1972), and former Chief of Staff of the United States Army, highlighted the heroism of Dust Off crews, A special word about the Dust Offs … Courage above and beyond the call of duty was sort of routine to them. It was a daily thing, part of the way they lived. That’s the great part, and it meant so much to every last man who served there. Whether he ever got hurt or not, he knew Dust Off was there.;(23)Dust Off crews possessed unique skills and traits that made them highly successful in aeromedical evacuation in Vietnam, including indomitable courage, extraordinary aviation skill and sound judgment under fire, high-level medical expertise, and an unequaled dedication to the preservation of human life;(24)members of the United States Armed Forces on the ground in Vietnam had their confidence and battlefield prowess reinforced knowing that there were heroic Dust Off crews just a few minutes from the fight, which was instrumental to their well-being, willingness to fight, and morale;(25)military families in the United States knew that their loved ones would receive the quickest and best possible care in the event of a war-time injury, thanks to the Dust Off crews;(26)the willingness of Dust Off crews to also risk their lives to save helpless civilians left an immeasurably positive impression on the people of Vietnam and exemplified the finest American ideals of compassion and humanity; and(27)Dust Off crews from the Vietnam War hailed from every State in the United States and represented numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.3.Congressional gold medal(a)Presentation authorizedThe Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the Dust Off crews of the Vietnam War, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service, which saved countless lives and contributed directly to the defense of our country.(b)Design and strikingFor the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.(c)Smithsonian institution(1)In generalFollowing the award of the gold medal in honor of the Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available for display as appropriate and available for research.(2)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should also make the gold medal awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations associated with the Vietnam War, and that preference should be given to locations affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.4.Duplicate medalsThe Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.5.National medalsThe medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national medal for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1780
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 5, 2011
			Ms. Matsui (for
			 herself and Mr. LaTourette) introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Transportation and
			 Infrastructure

		A BILL
		To ensure the safety of all users of the transportation
		  system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older
		  individuals, and individuals with disabilities, as they travel on and across
		  federally funded streets and highways.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Safe and Complete Streets Act of
			 2011.
		2.DefinitionsIn this Act:
			(1)Complete
			 streetThe term complete street means a roadway that
			 safely accommodates all travelers, particularly public transit users,
			 bicyclists, pedestrians (including individuals of all ages and individuals with
			 mobility, sensory, neurological, or hidden disabilities), motorists and freight
			 vehicles, to enable all travelers to use the roadway safely and
			 efficiently.
			(2)Complete streets
			 policy; complete streets principleThe terms complete
			 streets policy and complete streets principle mean a
			 transportation law, policy, or principle at the local, State, regional, or
			 Federal level that ensures—
				(A)the safe and
			 adequate accommodation, in all phases of project planning and development, of
			 all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists,
			 public transit users, children, older individuals, individuals with
			 disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles; and
				(B)the consideration
			 of the safety and convenience of all users in all phases of project planning
			 and development.
				(3)Local
			 jurisdictionThe term local jurisdiction means any
			 unit of local government.
			(4)Metropolitan
			 planning organizationThe term metropolitan planning
			 organization has the meaning given the term in section 134(b) of title
			 23, United States Code.
			(5)RoadwayThe
			 term roadway means—
				(A)the defined
			 Federal functional classification roadway system;
				(B)a roadway system
			 for which funds are provided under the equity bonus program under section 105
			 of title 23, United States Code; and
				(C)each bridge
			 structure providing a connection for such a roadway system.
				(6)SecretaryThe
			 term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.
			(7)Senior
			 managerThe term senior manager means—
				(A)the director of a
			 State department of transportation (or a designee);
				(B)the director of a
			 metropolitan planning organization (or a designee); and
				(C)the director of a
			 regional, county, or city transportation agency that is primarily responsible
			 for planning and approval of transportation projects (or a designee).
				(8)Transportation
			 improvement programThe term transportation improvement
			 program has the meaning given the term TIP in section
			 134(b) of title 23, United States Code.
			3.Complete streets
			 policy
			(a)Law or
			 policyNot later than October 1 of the fiscal year that begins 2
			 years after the date of enactment of this Act each State and metropolitan
			 planning organization shall have in effect—
				(1)in the case of a
			 State—
					(A)a law requiring
			 that, beginning on the effective date of the State law, all transportation
			 projects in the State shall accommodate the safety and convenience of all users
			 in accordance with complete streets principles; or
					(B)an explicit State
			 department of transportation policy that, beginning on the effective date of
			 the policy, all transportation projects in the State shall accommodate the
			 safety and convenience of all users in accordance with complete streets
			 principles; and
					(2)in the case of a
			 metropolitan planning organization, an explicit statement of policy that,
			 beginning on the effective date of the policy, all transportation projects
			 under the jurisdiction of the metropolitan planning organization shall
			 accommodate the safety and convenience of all users in accordance with complete
			 streets principles.
				(b)Inclusions
				(1)In
			 generalA law or policy described in subsection (a) shall—
					(A)apply to each
			 federally funded project of each State department of transportation or
			 metropolitan planning organization transportation improvement program;
					(B)include a
			 statement that each project under the transportation improvement program makes
			 streets or affected rights-of-way accessible to the expected users of that
			 facility, of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit
			 vehicles and users, freight vehicles, and motorists;
					(C)except as provided
			 in paragraph (2), apply to new road construction and road modification
			 projects, including design, planning, construction, reconstruction,
			 rehabilitation, maintenance, and operations, for the entire
			 right-of-way;
					(D)indicate that improvements for the safe and
			 convenient travel by pedestrians or bicyclists of all ages and abilities on or
			 across streets shall be fully assessed, considered, and documented as a routine
			 element of pavement resurfacing projects;
					(E)delineate a clear
			 procedure by which transportation improvement projects may be exempted from
			 complying with complete streets principles, which shall require—
						(i)approval by the
			 appropriate senior manager, in accordance with subsection (d)(2); and
						(ii)documentation,
			 with supporting data, that indicates the basis for such an exemption;
						(F)comply with
			 up-to-date design standards, particularly standards relating to providing
			 access for individuals with disabilities;
					(G)require that
			 complete streets principles be applied in due consideration of the urban,
			 suburban, or rural context in which a project is located;
					(H)include a list of
			 performance standards with measurable outcomes to ensure that the
			 transportation improvement program adheres to complete streets principles;
			 and
					(I)directs agency staff to create an
			 implementation plan.
					(2)ExceptionA
			 law or policy described in subsection (a) shall not apply to a new road
			 construction or modification project for which, as of the effective date of the
			 law or policy, at least 30 percent of the design phase is completed.
				(c)Exemption
			 requirements and proceduresA law or policy described in
			 subsection (a) shall allow for a project-specific exemption from an applicable
			 complete streets policy if—
				(1)(A)an affected roadway
			 prohibits, by law, use of the roadway by specified users, in which case a
			 greater effort shall be made to accommodate those specified users elsewhere,
			 including on roadways that cross or otherwise intersect with the affected
			 roadway;
					(B)the cost to the exempted project in
			 achieving compliance with the applicable complete streets policy would be
			 excessively disproportionate (as defined in the 2001 Department of
			 Transportation Guidance on Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel), as
			 compared to the need or probable use of a particular complete street; or
					(C)the existing and planned population,
			 employment densities, traffic volumes, or level of transit service around a
			 particular roadway is so low, that the expected users of the roadway will not
			 include pedestrians, public transportation, freight vehicles, or bicyclists;
			 and
					(2)the
			 project-specific exemption is approved by—
					(A)a senior manager
			 of the metropolitan planning organization that approved the transportation
			 improvement program containing the exempted project;
					(B)a senior manager
			 of the relevant State department of transportation; or
					(C)in the case of a
			 project for which neither the metropolitan planning organization nor the State
			 department of transportation is the agency with primary transportation planning
			 authority, a senior manager of the regional, county, or city agency responsible
			 for planning and approval of the project.
					(d)IntegrationEach
			 State department of transportation and metropolitan planning organization
			 implementing a complete streets policy shall incorporate complete streets
			 principles into all aspects of the transportation project development,
			 programming, and delivery process, including project planning and
			 identification, scoping procedures, design approvals, design manuals, and
			 performance measures.
			(e)Reports
				(1)In
			 generalEach State department of transportation shall submit to
			 the Secretary a report describing the implementation by the State of measures
			 to achieve compliance with the requirements of this section, at such time, in
			 such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
			 require.
				(2)Determination by
			 SecretaryOn receipt of a report under paragraph (1), the
			 Secretary shall determine whether the applicable State has achieved compliance
			 with the requirements of this section.
				4.Certification
			(a)In
			 generalNot later than 1 year
			 after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a method of
			 evaluating compliance by State departments of transportation and metropolitan
			 planning organizations with the requirements of this Act, including a
			 requirement that each State department of transportation and metropolitan
			 planning organization shall submit to the Secretary a report describing—
				(1)each complete
			 streets policy adopted by the State department of transportation or
			 metropolitan planning organization;
				(2)the means of
			 implementation by the State department of transportation or metropolitan
			 planning organization of the complete streets policy; and
				(3)the process for
			 providing an exemption, from the requirements of the complete streets policy of
			 the State department of transportation or metropolitan planning
			 organization.
				(b)ReportNot
			 later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
			 submit to Congress a report describing—
				(1)the method
			 established under subsection (a);
				(2)the status of
			 activities for adoption and implementation by State departments of
			 transportation and metropolitan planning organizations of complete streets
			 policies;
				(3)the tools and
			 resources provided by the Secretary to State departments of transportation and
			 metropolitan planning organizations to assist with that adoption and
			 implementation; and
				(4)other measures
			 carried out by the Secretary to encourage the adoption of complete streets
			 policies by local jurisdictions.
				5.Accessibility
			 standards
			(a)Final
			 standardsNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
			 this Act, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
			 established by section 502(a)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
			 792(a)(1)) shall promulgate final standards for accessibility of new
			 construction and alteration of pedestrian facilities for public
			 rights-of-way.
			(b)Temporary
			 standardsDuring the period beginning on the date of enactment of
			 this Act and ending on the date on which the Architectural and Transportation
			 Barriers Compliance Board promulgates final standards under subsection (a), a
			 State or metropolitan planning organization shall apply to public
			 rights-of-way—
				(1)the standards for
			 accessible transportation facilities contained in section 37.9 of title 49,
			 Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this
			 Act); or
				(2)if the standards
			 referred to in paragraph (1) do not address, or are inapplicable to, an
			 affected public right-of-way, the revised draft guidelines for accessible
			 public rights-of-way of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers
			 Compliance Board dated November 23, 2005.
				6.Research,
			 technical guidance, and implementation assistance
			(a)Research
				(1)In
			 generalThe Secretary shall conduct research regarding complete
			 streets to assist States, metropolitan planning organizations, and local
			 jurisdictions in developing, adopting, and implementing plans, projects,
			 procedures, policies, and training programs that comply with complete streets
			 principles.
				(2)ParticipationThe
			 Secretary shall solicit participation in the research program under paragraph
			 (1) by—
					(A)the American
			 Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials;
					(B)the Institute of
			 Transportation Engineers;
					(C)the American
			 Public Transportation Association;
					(D)the American
			 Planning Association;
					(E)the National
			 Association of Regional Councils;
					(F)the Association of
			 Metropolitan Planning Organizations;
					(G)the Insurance Institute for Highway
			 Safety;
					(H)the American
			 Society of Landscape Architects;
					(I)representatives of transportation safety,
			 disability, motoring, bicycling, walking, transit user, aging, and air quality
			 organizations; and
					(J)other affected
			 communities.
					(3)RequirementsThe
			 research under paragraph (1) shall—
					(A)be based on the
			 applicable statement of complete streets research needs of the Transportation
			 Research Board, as described in TR Circular E110; and
					(B)seek to develop
			 new areas of inquiry, in addition to that statement.
					(b)Benchmarks and
			 guidance
				(1)In
			 generalThe research conducted under subsection (a) shall be
			 designed to result in the establishment of benchmarks and the provision of
			 practical guidance on methods of effectively implementing complete streets
			 policies and complete streets principles that will accommodate all users along
			 a facility or corridor, including vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and
			 transit users.
				(2)FocusThe
			 benchmarks and guidance under paragraph (1) shall—
					(A)focus on modifying
			 scoping, design, and construction procedures to more effectively combine
			 particular methods of use into integrated facilities that meet the needs of
			 each method in an appropriate balance; and
					(B)indicate the
			 expected operational and safety performance of alternative approaches to
			 facility design.
					(c)Data
			 collectionThe Secretary
			 shall collaborate with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Federal
			 Transit Administration, and appropriate committees of the Transportation
			 Research Board—
				(1)to collect data regarding a baseline
			 nonmotorized and transit use survey to be integrated into the National
			 Household Travel Survey; and
				(2)to develop a
			 survey tool for use by State departments of transportation in identifying the
			 multimodal capacity of State and local roadways.
				(d)Technical
			 guidance
				(1)ReportNot
			 later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
			 shall prepare and make available to all States, metropolitan planning
			 organizations, and local jurisdictions a report that describes the best
			 practices by which transportation agencies throughout the United States have
			 implemented complete streets principles in accordance with, or in anticipation
			 of, the requirements of this Act.
				(2)Topics for
			 emphasisIn preparing the report under paragraph (1), the
			 Secretary shall place particular emphasis on the following topics:
					(A)Procedures for
			 identifying the needs of users of all ages and abilities of a particular
			 roadway.
					(B)Procedures for
			 identifying the types and designs of facilities needed to serve each class of
			 users.
					(C)Safety and other
			 benefits provided by the implementation of complete streets principles.
					(D)Common barriers to
			 the implementation of complete streets principles.
					(E)Procedures for
			 overcoming the most common barriers to the implementation of complete streets
			 principles.
					(F)Procedures for
			 identifying the costs associated with the implementation of complete streets
			 principles.
					(G)Procedures for
			 maximizing local cooperation in the introduction and implementation of complete
			 streets principles.
					(H)Procedures for
			 assessing and modifying the facilities and operational characteristics of
			 existing roadways to improve consistency with complete streets
			 principles.


113 HR 2304 IH: For the relief of Amer Numan Adi.
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-06-06
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		V
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2304
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			June 6, 2013
			Mr. Ryan of Ohio
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		A BILL
		For the relief of Amer Numan Adi.

		1.Permanent resident status for
			 Amer Numan Adi
			(a)In
			 generalNotwithstanding
			 subsections (a) and (b) of section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
			 Amer Numan Adi shall be eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for
			 adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
			 residence upon filing an application for issuance of an immigrant visa under
			 section 204 of such Act or for adjustment of status to lawful permanent
			 resident.
			(b)Adjustment of
			 statusIf Amer Numan Adi
			 enters the United States before the filing deadline specified in subsection
			 (c), he shall be considered to have entered and remained lawfully and shall, if
			 otherwise eligible, be eligible for adjustment of status under section 245 of
			 the Immigration and Nationality Act as of the date of the enactment of this
			 Act.
			(c)Deadline for
			 application and payment of feesSubsections (a) and (b) shall
			 apply only if the application for issuance of an immigrant visa or the
			 application for adjustment of status is filed with appropriate fees within 2
			 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
			(d)Reduction of
			 immigrant visa numberUpon
			 the granting of an immigrant visa or permanent residence to Amer Numan Adi, the
			 Secretary of State shall instruct the proper officer to reduce by 1, during the
			 current or next following fiscal year, the total number of immigrant visas that
			 are made available to natives of the country of the alien’s birth under section
			 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or, if applicable, the total
			 number of immigrant visas that are made available to natives of the country of
			 the alien’s birth under section 202(e) of such Act.
			(e)Denial of
			 preferential immigration treatment for certain relativesThe natural parents, brothers, and sisters
			 of Amer Numan Adi shall not, by virtue of such relationship, be accorded any
			 right, privilege, or status under the Immigration and Nationality Act.


114 S630 IS: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Establishment Act
U.S. Senate
2015-03-03
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 630IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 3, 2015Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mrs. Boxer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo establish the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area.1.Short
 titleThis Act may be cited as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Establishment Act.2.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)Heritage AreaThe term Heritage Area means the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Heritage Area established by section 3(a).(2)Heritage Area
 management planThe term Heritage Area management plan means the plan developed and adopted by the local coordinating entity under this Act.(3)Local coordinating
 entityThe term local coordinating entity means the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area designated by section 3(d).(4)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.(5)StateThe term State means the State of California.3.Sacramento-San
 Joaquin Delta Heritage Area(a)EstablishmentThere is established the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Heritage Area in the State.(b)BoundariesThe boundaries of the Heritage Area shall be in the counties of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo in the State of California, as generally depicted on the map entitled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Proposed Boundary, numbered T27/105,030, and dated October 2012.(c)Availability of
 mapThe map described in subsection (b) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service and the Delta Protection Commission.(d)Local coordinating
 entityThe local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area shall be the Delta Protection Commission established by section 29735 of the California Public Resources Code.(e)Administration(1)AuthoritiesFor purposes of carrying out the Heritage Area management plan, the Secretary, acting through the local coordinating entity, may use amounts made available under this Act to—(A)make grants to the State or a political subdivision of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;(B)enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide technical assistance to, the State or a political subdivision of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties;(C)hire and compensate staff, which shall include individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, and historical resources protection, and heritage programming;(D)obtain money or services from any source including any that are provided under any other Federal law or program;(E)contract for goods or services; and(F)undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that furthers the Heritage Area and is consistent with the approved Heritage Area management plan.(2)DutiesThe local coordinating entity shall—(A)in accordance with subsection (f), prepare and submit a Heritage Area management plan to the Secretary;(B)assist units of local government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in carrying out the approved Heritage Area management plan by—(i)carrying out programs and projects that recognize, protect, and enhance important resource values in the Heritage Area;(ii)establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs in the Heritage Area;(iii)developing recreational and educational opportunities in the Heritage Area;(iv)increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for, natural, historical, scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;(v)protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings in the Heritage Area that are consistent with Heritage Area themes;(vi)ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identifying points of public access, and sites of interest are posted throughout the Heritage Area; and(vii)promoting a wide range of partnerships among governments, organizations, and individuals to further the Heritage Area;(C)consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage Area in the preparation and implementation of the Heritage Area management plan;(D)conduct meetings open to the public at least semiannually regarding the development and implementation of the Heritage Area management plan;(E)for any year that Federal funds have been received under this Act—(i)submit an annual report to the Secretary that describes the activities, expenses, and income of the local coordinating entity (including grants to any other entities during the year that the report is made);(ii)make available to the Secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and(iii)require, with respect to all agreements authorizing expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the organizations receiving the funds make available to the Secretary for audit all records concerning the expenditure of the funds; and(F)encourage by appropriate means economic viability that is consistent with the Heritage Area.(3)Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real
 PropertyThe local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds made available under this Act to acquire real property or any interest in real property.(4)Cost-sharing requirementThe Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using any assistance made available under this Act shall be 50 percent.(f)Heritage area management plan(1)In generalNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary for approval a proposed Heritage Area management plan.(2)RequirementsThe Heritage Area management plan shall—(A)incorporate an integrated and cooperative approach to agricultural resources and activities, flood protection facilities, and other public infrastructure;(B)emphasizes the importance of the resources described in subparagraph (A);(C)take into consideration State and local plans;(D)include—(i)an inventory of—(I)the resources located in the core area described in subsection (b); and(II)any other property in the core area that—(aa)is related to the themes of the Heritage Area; and(bb)should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained because of the significance of the property;(ii)comprehensive policies, strategies and recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area;(iii)a description of actions that governments, private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to protect the natural, historical and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;(iv)a program of implementation for the Heritage Area management plan by the local coordinating entity that includes a description of—(I)actions to facilitate ongoing collaboration among partners to promote plans for resource protection, restoration, and construction; and(II)specific commitments for implementation that have been made by the local coordinating entity or any government, organization, or individual for the first 5 years of operation;(v)the identification of sources of funding for carrying out the Heritage Area management plan;(vi)analysis and recommendations for means by which local, State, and Federal programs, including the role of the National Park Service in the Heritage Area, may best be coordinated to carry out this Act; and(vii)an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area; and(E)recommend policies and strategies for resource management that consider and detail the application of appropriate land and water management techniques, including the development of intergovernmental and interagency cooperative agreements to protect the natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area.(3)RestrictionsThe Heritage Area management plan submitted under this subsection shall—(A)ensure participation by appropriate Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies, including the Delta Stewardship Council, special districts, natural and historical resource protection and agricultural organizations, educational institutions, businesses, recreational organizations, community residents, and private property owners; and(B)not be approved until the Secretary has received certification from the Delta Protection Commission that the Delta Stewardship Council has reviewed the Heritage Area management plan for consistency with the plan adopted by the Delta Stewardship Council pursuant to State law.(4)DeadlineIf a proposed Heritage Area management plan is not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity shall be ineligible to receive additional funding under this Act until the date that the Secretary receives and approves the Heritage Area management plan.(5)Approval or disapproval of heritage area
 management plan(A)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of receipt of the Heritage Area management plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall approve or disapprove the Heritage Area management plan.(B)Criteria for approvalIn determining whether to approve the Heritage Area management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether—(i)the local coordinating entity is representative of the diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including governments, natural and historic resource protection organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and recreational organizations;(ii)the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate opportunity, including public hearings, for public and governmental involvement in the preparation of the Heritage Area management plan; and(iii)the resource protection and interpretation strategies contained in the Heritage Area management plan, if implemented, would adequately protect the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area.(C)Action following disapprovalIf the Secretary disapproves the Heritage Area management plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—(i)advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons for the disapproval;(ii)make recommendations for revisions to the Heritage Area management plan; and(iii)not later than 180 days after the receipt of any proposed revision of the Heritage Area management plan from the local coordinating entity, approve or disapprove the proposed revision.(D)Amendments(i)In generalThe Secretary shall approve or disapprove each amendment to the Heritage Area management plan that the Secretary determines make a substantial change to the Heritage Area management plan.(ii)Use of fundsThe local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds authorized by this Act to carry out any amendments to the Heritage Area management plan until the Secretary has approved the amendments.(g)Relationship to other Federal
 agencies(1)In GeneralNothing in this Act affects the authority of a Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law.(2)Consultation and CoordinationThe head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the local coordinating entity to the maximum extent practicable.(3)Other Federal AgenciesNothing in this Act—(A)modifies, alters, or amends any law or regulation authorizing a Federal agency to manage Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency;(B)limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or(C)modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.(h)Private property and regulatory
			 protections(1)In
 generalSubject to paragraph (2), nothing in this Act—(A)abridges the rights of any property owner (whether public or private), including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the Heritage Area;(B)requires any property owner to permit public access (including access by Federal, State, or local agencies) to the property of the property owner, or to modify public access or use of property of the property owner under any other Federal, State, or local law;(C)alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved land use plan, or other regulatory authority of any Federal, State or local agency, or conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity;(D)authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water rights;(E)diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or(F)creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property.(2)Opt
 outAn owner of private property within the Heritage Area may opt out of participating in any plan, project, program, or activity carried out within the Heritage Area under this Act, if the property owner provides written notice to the local coordinating entity.(i)Evaluation; report(1)In generalNot later than 3 years before the date on which authority for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall—(A)conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; and(B)prepare a report in accordance with paragraph (3).(2)EvaluationAn evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A) shall—(A)assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to—(i)accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the Heritage Area; and(ii)achieving the goals and objectives of the approved Heritage Area management plan;(B)analyze the Federal, State, local, and private investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and(C)review the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area.(3)Report(A)In generalBased on the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area.(B)Required analysisIf the report prepared under subparagraph (A) recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of—(i)ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; and(ii)the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination.(C)Submission to congressOn completion of the report, the Secretary shall submit the report to—(i)the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and(ii)the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.(j)Effect of
 designationNothing in this Act—(1)precludes the local coordinating entity from using Federal funds made available under other laws for the purposes for which those funds were authorized; or(2)affects any water rights or contracts.4.Authorization of
			 appropriations(a)In
 generalThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available for any fiscal year.(b)Cost-Sharing
 requirementThe Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this Act shall be determined by the Secretary, but shall be not more than 50 percent.(c)Non-Federal
 shareThe non-Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this Act may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services.5.Termination of
			 authority(a)In
 generalIf a proposed Heritage Area management plan has not been submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Heritage Area designation shall be rescinded.(b)Funding
 authorityThe authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 877
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 23, 2009
			Mr. Specter introduced
			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		A BILL
		To provide for the non-discretionary Supreme Court review
		  of certain civil actions relating to the legality and constitutionality of
		  surveillance activities.

		1.Mandatory Supreme Court
			 Review of Certain Civil ActionsChapter 81 of title 28, United States Code,
			 is amended by inserting at the end the following:

				1260.Mandatory
				supreme court review of certain civil actions concerning surveillance
				activities
					(a)In
				GeneralThe Supreme Court shall, if it has not previously ruled
				on the question, accept jurisdiction over any appeal of an interlocutory or
				final judgment, decree, or order of a court of appeals in any case challenging
				the legality or constitutionality of—
						(1)the President’s
				Surveillance Program, commonly known as the Terrorist Surveillance Program, as
				defined in section 301(a)(3) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of
				1978 Amendments Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–261);
						(2)the statutory
				defenses established in Section 802(a)(4) of the Foreign Intelligence
				Surveillance Act of 1978, as amended by title II of the Foreign Intelligence
				Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–261); or
						(3)any intelligence
				activity involving communications that was authorized by the President during
				the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending at such time as the
				activity was approved by a Federal court.
						(b)Expedited
				ConsiderationThe Supreme Court shall advance on the docket any
				appeal referred to in subsection (a), and expedite the appeal to the greatest
				extent
				possible.
					.
		2.
			 Clerical AmendmentThe chapter
			 analysis for chapter 81 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by
			 inserting at the end the following:

					Sec. 1260. Mandatory Supreme Court review of certain civil
				actions concerning surveillance
				activities.

				.


117 HR 3381 IH: School Bus Safety Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-05-20
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3381IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 20, 2021Mr. Cohen (for himself and Mr. Sires) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue rules requiring the inclusion of new safety equipment in school buses, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the School Bus Safety Act of 2021.2.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)3-point safety beltThe term 3-point safety belt has the meaning given the term Type 2 seat belt assembly in section 571.209 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).(2)Automatic emergency braking systemThe term automatic emergency braking system means a crash avoidance system installed and operational in a vehicle that consists of—(A)a forward collision warning function—(i)to detect vehicles and objects ahead of the vehicle; and(ii)to alert the operator of the vehicle of an impending collision; and(B)a crash-imminent braking function to provide automatic braking when forward-looking sensors of the vehicle indicate that—(i)a crash is imminent; and(ii)the operator of the vehicle is not reacting in a timely or appropriate manner.(3)Event data recorderThe term event data recorder has the meaning given the term in section 563.5(b) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).(4)School busThe term school bus has the meaning given the term schoolbus in section 30125(a) of title 49, United States Code.(5)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.3.School bus safety(a)Seat belt requirementNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final rules prescribing or amending motor vehicle safety standards under chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to require school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 10,000 pounds to be equipped with a 3-point safety belt at each designated seating position.(b)Fire protection requirements(1)Fire suppression systems(A)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue rules prescribing or amending motor vehicle safety standards under chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to require school buses to be equipped with fire suppression systems that, at a minimum, address engine fires.(B)ApplicationThe standards prescribed or amendments made under subparagraph (A) shall apply to school buses manufactured in, or imported into, the United States on or after the effective date of the standards or amendments.(2)Firewalls(A)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue rules prescribing or amending motor vehicle safety standards under chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, for school buses, especially school buses with engines that extend beyond the firewall, to ensure that no hazardous quantity of gas or flame can pass through the firewall from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment.(B)ApplicationThe standards prescribed or amendments made under subparagraph (A) shall apply to school buses manufactured in, or imported into, the United States on or after the effective date of the standards or amendments.(3)Interior flammability and smoke emissions characteristicsNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall amend section 571.302 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 302), to adopt, with respect to a motor vehicle (as defined in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code), performance standards for interior flammability and smoke emissions characteristics that are not less rigorous than the performance standards for interior flammability and smoke emissions characteristics applicable to—(A)a compartment occupied by the crew or passengers of a transport category airplane (within the meaning of part 25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act)) under section 25.853 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act); and(B)a passenger car or locomotive cab (as those terms are defined in section 238.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act)) under section 238.103 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).(c)Other safety equipment requirementsNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final rules—(1)prescribing or amending motor vehicle safety standards under chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, to require school buses to be equipped with—(A)an automatic emergency braking system;(B)an event data recorder; and(C)an electronic stability control system (as defined in section 571.136 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act)); and(2)amending part 383 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to require not less than 30 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction for operators of school buses, which shall be accrued—(A)on public roads; and(B)with a trained instructor who possesses a valid commercial driver’s license with a school bus endorsement.(d)Obstructive sleep apneaNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration shall complete the rulemaking process and publish a final rule with respect to the advance notice of proposed rulemaking entitled Evaluation of Safety Sensitive Personnel for Moderate-to-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (81 Fed. Reg. 12642 (March 10, 2016)).(e)Effective dateThe standards prescribed or amendments made under subsections (a) and (c) shall apply with respect to school buses manufactured in, or imported into, the United States on or after the date that is 1 year after the date on which the Secretary issues the rules required under the applicable subsection.4.Studies(a)Motion-Activated detection systems(1)In generalNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (referred to in this section as the Administrator) shall complete a study with respect to the benefits of requiring school buses manufactured in, or imported into, the United States to be equipped with a motion-activated detection system that is capable of—(A)detecting pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users located near the exterior of the school bus; and(B)alerting the operator of the school bus of the road users described in subparagraph (A).(2)RegulationsNot later than 1 year after the date on which the Administrator completes the study under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall issue rules requiring school buses manufactured in, or imported into, the United States to effectuate that requirement.(b)Safety belt alertNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall complete a study on the benefits of requiring school buses manufactured in, or imported into, the United States to be equipped with a system to alert the operator of the school bus if a passenger in the school bus is not wearing a 3-point safety belt equipped on the school bus.5.Safety grant program(a)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a grant program to provide grants to States to make subgrants to local educational agencies—(1)to assist the local educational agencies in purchasing school buses equipped with—(A)3-point safety belts at each designated seating position; or(B)any other school bus safety feature described in section 3 or 4; and(2)to assist the local educational agencies in modifying school buses already owned by the local educational agency to be equipped with—(A)3-point safety belts at each designated seating position; or(B)any other school bus safety feature described in section 3 or 4.(b)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.