117 S2105 IS: Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act
U.S. Senate
2021-06-17
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.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2105IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 17, 2021Mr. Casey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsA BILLTo enhance mental health and psychosocial support within United States foreign assistance programs.1.Short titlesThis Act may be cited as the Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act.2.Findings; sense of congress(a)FindingsCongress finds the following:(1)According to the 2016 Global Burden of Disease Study, an estimated 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide have a mental health or substance use disorder. Mental disorders are major contributors to the global burden of disease, and depression is among the primary causes of illness and disability in adolescents.(2)An individual’s mental health is a complex interaction between genetic, neuropsychological, and environmental factors, and environmental and social factors, from the early years through childhood and adolescence, can have long-term impacts on mental health.(3)According to a Lancet Commission report, allocations for mental health have never risen above 1 percent of health-related global development assistance. Estimates indicate that child and adolescent mental health receives just 0.1 percent of health-related global development assistance.(4)The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1,000,000,000,000 in lost productivity each year. According to Lancet, mental health disorders are projected to cost the global economy $16,000,000,000,000 between 2010 and 2030, in part due to the early age of onset.(5)According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half of mental health disorders emerge by age 14, and 14 percent of children and adolescents worldwide experience mental health conditions, the majority of whom do not seek care, receive care, or have access to care.(6)Exposure to violence and early childhood adversity, including trauma, has been linked to negative, lasting effects on physical and mental health. Early childhood adversity can impact brain development, nervous and immune system functioning, the onset of mental health conditions, and future behaviors. The United Nations asserts that widespread school closures due to COVID–19, which have affected roughly 1,500,000,000 school-aged children, have placed many children at higher risk of exposure to traumas, such as household violence, abuse, neglect, and food insecurity.(7)According to the United Nations, more than 1 out of every 5 individuals in conflict-affected areas has a mental health disorder. Roughly 1,500,000,000, or 2 out of every 3 of the world’s children under 18 years of age live in countries affected by conflict, and more than 1 out of every 6 children live in conflict zones. A greater number of children live in areas affected by armed conflict and war now than at any other point this century. The mental health burden in conflict-affected contexts is twice the global average.(8)Gender, age, disability status, race and ethnicity, and other identity characteristics contribute to different risks and needs for mental health and psychosocial support. Research has shown that harmful gender norms contribute to higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in women and girls, while socialization of boys and men contributes to higher prevalence of substance use disorders.(9)Risks and experiences of gender-based violence, particularly sexual violence, are a key driver of mental health and psychosocial support needs for children. Girls account for 98 percent of verified incidents of conflict-related sexual violence. According to the World Health Organization, 35 percent of women globally face sexual and/or intimate partner violence in their lifetime and these survivors can, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, experience mental health problems such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, signifying the urgent need for age and gender-responsive mental health and psychosocial support services.(10)According to the World Health Organization, risk factors that increase susceptibility to mental health disorders include poverty and hunger, chronic health conditions, trauma or maltreatment, social exclusion and discrimination, and exposure to and displacement by war or conflict. These risk factors, along with demographic risk factors, manifest at all stages in life. Preliminary research already illustrates that the COVID–19 pandemic has increased communities’, families’, and individuals’ risk factors for multiple types of adversity and compounded preexisting conditions and vulnerabilities.(11)Crisis situations put parents and caregivers under mental and psychosocial duress, which can prevent them from providing the protection, stability and nurturing care their children need during and after an emergency. The Lancet Commission estimates that between 15 and 23 percent of children globally live with a parent with a mental disorder, and parental ill health can impact the emotional and physical development of children and predispose these children to mental health problems. Numerous and compounding stressors and uncertainty caused by COVID–19 have exacerbated distress and further impede caregivers’ ability to provide responsive care to their children.(12)Investments in the mental health, resilience, and well-being of the children in a country to ensure that they continue to thrive into adulthood and contribute to their societies can help break cycles of poverty, violence, and trauma and further the country’s future potential.(13)Investments in protecting and improving mental health in a country across the life course must take into account the need to target vulnerable populations and address social, environmental, and other risk factors in conjunction with other sectors and local partners.(b)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—(1)ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to thrive and reach their fullest potential is a critical component of sustainable international development, and the global public good benefits from investment in child and adolescent mental health;(2)mental health is integral and essential to overall health outcomes and other development objectives;(3)mental health is an issue of critical and growing importance for United States foreign assistance that requires a coordinated strategy to ensure that programming funded by the United States Government is evidence-based, culturally competent, and trauma-informed;(4)the United States Government foreign assistance strategy should include a mental health and psychosocial support component;(5)the redesign of the United States Agency for International Development (referred to in this Act as USAID) reflects the nexus between humanitarian and development interventions and should be applied to all mental health and psychosocial support efforts of United States foreign assistance programs; and(6)ongoing efforts to improve social service workforce development and local capacity building are essential to expanding mental health and psychosocial support activities across all United States foreign assistance programs.3.Coordinator for mental health and psychosocial supportSection 135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2152f) is amended—(1)by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and(2)by inserting after subsection (e) the following:(f)Coordinator for mental health and psychosocial support(1)AppointmentThe Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to appoint a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Coordinator (referred to in this section as the MHPSS Coordinator).(2)Specific dutiesThe duties of the MHPSS Coordinator shall include—(A)establishing and chairing the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working Group authorized under section 4 of the Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act;(B)guiding, overseeing, and directing mental health and psychosocial support programming and integration across United States foreign assistance programming;(C)serving as the main point of contact on mental health and psychosocial support in the Bureau for Global Health, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, regional bureaus, the Office of Education, the Inclusive Development Hub in the Bureau of Development, Democracy, and Innovation, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and other interagency or presidential initiatives;(D)promoting best practices, coordination and reporting in mental health and psychosocial support programming across both development and humanitarian foreign assistance programs;(E)providing direction, guidance, and oversight on the integration of mental health and psychosocial support in both development and humanitarian foreign assistance programs; and(F)participating in the Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity Interagency Working Group.(3)Focus populationsAlong with a general focus on mental health and psychosocial support, the MHPSS Coordinator should pay special attention to mental health and psychosocial support in the context of family and children, including—(A)meeting the needs of adult caretakers and children, including families and adults who are long-term caretakers;(B)children and others who are separated from a family unit; and(C)other specific populations in need of mental health and psychosocial support, such as crisis affected communities, displaced populations, gender-based violence survivors, and individuals and households coping with the consequences of diseases, such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and COVID–19..4.Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working Group(a)EstablishmentThe Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (referred to in this Act as the USAID Administrator), in cooperation with the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Coordinator, shall establish the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working Group, which shall include representatives from every United States Agency for International Development bureau and from the Department of State, to ensure continuity and sustainability of mental health and psychosocial support across foreign assistance programs.(b)RequirementsThe Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working Group—(1)should include representation at the Deputy Assistant Administrator level from every United States Agency for International Development bureau;(2)shall promote and encourage dialogue across the interagency on mental health and psychosocial support program development and best practices;(3)shall coordinate the implementation and continuity of mental health and psychosocial support programs—(A)within USAID;(B)between the USAID and the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State; and(C)in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Mental Health, as appropriate.5.Integration of mental health and psychosocial support(a)Statement of policyIt is the policy of the United States to integrate mental health and psychosocial support across all foreign assistance programs funded by the United States Government.(b)Implementation of policyThe USAID Administrator and the Secretary of State shall—(1)require all USAID and Department of State regional bureaus and missions to utilize such policy for local capacity building, as appropriate, for mental health and psychosocial support programming;(2)ensure that all USAID and Department of State mental health and psychosocial support programming—(A)is evidence-based and culturally competent;(B)responds to all types of childhood adversity; and(C)includes trauma-specific interventions in accordance with the recognized principles of a trauma-informed approach, whenever applicable; and(3)integrate the Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity Strategy into its official policy.6.Briefing requirements(a)USAID briefingNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the USAID Administrator and the Secretary of State shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives regarding—(1)the progress made in carrying out section 5(b); and(2)any barriers preventing the full integration of the strategy referred to in section 5(b)(3).(b)Briefing on spendingThe USAID Administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, as necessary and appropriate, shall annually brief the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives during each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 regarding the amount of United States foreign assistance spent during the most recently concluded fiscal year on child mental health and psychosocial support programming.(c)USAID and Department of State briefingsNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, annually thereafter for the following 5 fiscal years, and subsequently, as requested, the USAID Administrator and the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Coordinator appointed pursuant to section 135(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by section 3, shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives regarding—(1)how USAID and the Department of State have integrated mental health and psychosocial programming, including child-specific programming, into their development and humanitarian assistance programs across health, education, nutrition, and child protection sectors;(2)the metrics of success of the Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity Strategy;(3)the mental health outcomes pertaining to the evidence-based strategic objectives upon which such strategy is built;(4)where trauma-specific strategies are being implemented, and how best practices for trauma-informed programming are being shared across programs;(5)barriers preventing full integration of child mental health and psychosocial support into programs for children and youth and recommendations for its expansion;(6)any unique barriers to the expansion of mental health and psychosocial support programming in conflict and humanitarian settings and how such barriers are being addressed;(7)the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on mental health and psychosocial support programming; and(8)funding data, including a list of programs to which USAID and the Department of State have obligated funds during the most recently concluded fiscal year to improve access to, and the quality of, mental health and psychosocial support programming in development and humanitarian contexts.


117 S790 IS: Federal Advisory Committee Transparency Act
U.S. Senate
2021-03-17
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.

II
117th CONGRESS1st Session
S. 790
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 17 (legislative day, March 16), 2021
Mr. Portman (for himself and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL
To amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes.

1.Short title; table of contents
(a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Federal Advisory Committee Transparency Act. (b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Ensuring independent advice and expertise.
Sec. 3. Preventing efforts to circumvent the Federal Advisory Committee Act and public disclosure.
Sec. 4. Increasing transparency of advisory committees.
Sec. 5. Managing Federal advisory committees.
Sec. 6. Comptroller General review and reports.
Sec. 7. Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act to trade advisory committees.
Sec. 8. Definitions.
Sec. 9. Technical and conforming amendments.
Sec. 10. Effective date.
Sec. 11. No additional funds authorized.
Sec. 12. Determination of budgetary effects.
2.Ensuring independent advice and expertise
(a)Bar on political litmus testsSection 9 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1)in the section heading, by inserting MEMBERSHIP; after ADVISORY COMMITTEES;;
(2)by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and (3)by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)Appointments made without regard to political affiliation or activityAll appointments to advisory committees shall be made without regard to political affiliation or political campaign activity, unless required by Federal statute.. (b)Minimizing conflicts of interestSection 9 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by inserting after subsection (b) (as added by such subsection (a)) the following:

(c)Public nominations of committee members
(1)Before making an appointment to an advisory committee, the head of an agency shall— (A)solicit nominations for potential committee members;
(B)if the head of the agency is required to publish a notice under subsection (a)(2), include in the notice a solicitation for nominations of potential committee members; and (C)provide in the notice under subparagraph (B) a mechanism for interested persons to comment through a publicly available website of the agency.
(2)The head of an agency shall consider any comments submitted in accordance with paragraph (1)(C) in appointing the members of an advisory committee. (3)The head of an agency shall solicit nominations under paragraph (1) not less frequently than once every 2 years.
(4)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if a vacancy in an advisory committee occurs before the next scheduled solicitation for nominations under this subsection, an agency may appoint a member from among individuals that were previously nominated to be a member of the advisory committee. (d)Designation of committee members (1)An individual appointed to an advisory committee who is not a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be designated as—
(A)a special Government employee, if the individual is providing advice based on the individual’s expertise or experience; or (B)a representative, if the individual is representing the views of an entity or entities outside of the Federal Government.
(2)An agency may not designate committee members as representatives to avoid subjecting them to Federal ethics rules and requirements. (3)The designated agency ethics official for each agency shall review the members of each advisory committee that reports to the agency to determine whether each member’s designation is appropriate, and to redesignate members if appropriate. The designated agency ethics official shall certify to the head of the agency that such review has been made—
(A)following the initial appointment of members; and (B)at the time a committee’s charter is renewed, or, in the case of a committee with an indefinite charter, every 2 years.
(4)The head of each agency shall inform each individual who is not a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the Federal Government appointed to an advisory committee that reports to the agency whether the individual is appointed as a special Government employee or as a representative. The agency head shall provide each committee member with an explanation of the differences between special Government employees and representatives and a summary of applicable ethics requirements. The agency head, acting through the designated agency ethics official, shall obtain signed and dated written confirmation from each committee member that the member received and reviewed the information required by this paragraph. (5)The Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall provide guidance to agencies on what to include in the summary of ethics requirements required by paragraph (4).
(6)The head of each agency shall, to the extent practicable, develop and implement strategies to minimize the need for written determinations under section 208(b)(3) of title 18, United States Code. Strategies may include such efforts as improving outreach efforts to potential committee members and seeking public input on potential committee members. (7)Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to supersede the inapplicability of this Act with respect to peer review groups appointed under paragraph (16) of section 402(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 282(b)), as described in the flush text following paragraph (25)(B) of such section..
(c)Regulations implementing FACASection 7(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting promulgate regulations and after The Administrator shall. (d)Ensuring independent advice and recommendationsThe Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—
(1)in section 8— (A)in the section heading, by inserting INDEPENDENT ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS; after RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCY HEADS;;
(B)by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and (C)by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)The head of each agency shall ensure that the agency does not interfere with the free and independent participation, expression of views, and deliberation by committee members. Each advisory committee shall include a statement describing the process used by the advisory committee in formulating the advice and recommendations when they are transmitted to the agency.; and (2)in section 10—
(A)in the section heading, by inserting ; CHAIR after ATTENDANCE; and (B)by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection:

(g)The chair shall not be an employee of the agency to which the advisory committee reports, unless— (1)a statute specifically authorizes selection of such an employee as the chair; or
(2)the head of the agency directs an employee to serve as the chair.. 3.Preventing efforts to circumvent the Federal Advisory Committee Act and public disclosure (a)SubcommitteesSection 4 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

(a)ApplicationThe provisions of this Act or of any rule, order, or regulation promulgated under this Act shall apply to each advisory committee, including any subcommittee or subgroup thereof, except to the extent that any Act of Congress establishing any such advisory committee specifically provides otherwise. Any subcommittee or subgroup that reports to a parent committee established under section 9(a) is not required to comply with section 9(f).. (b)Committees created under contractSection 3(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (C) by adding at the end the following: An advisory committee is considered to be established by an agency, agencies, or the President if it is formed, created, or organized under contract, other transactional authority, cooperative agreement, grant, or otherwise at the request or direction of an agency, agencies, or the President..
(c)Advisory committees containing special government employeesSection 4 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:  (d)Special government employeesCommittee members appointed as special Government employees shall not be considered full-time or permanent part-time officers or employees of the Federal Government for purposes of determining the applicability of this Act under section 3(2)..
4.Increasing transparency of advisory committees
(a)Information requirementSection 11 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended to read as follows:  11.Disclosure of information (a)In generalWith respect to each advisory committee, the head of the agency to which the advisory committee reports shall make publicly available in accordance with subsection (b) the following information:
(1)The charter of the advisory committee. (2)A description of the process used to establish and appoint the members of the advisory committee, including the following:
(A)The process for identifying prospective members. (B)The process of selecting members for balance of viewpoints or expertise.
(C)The reason each member was appointed to the committee. (D)A justification of the need for representative members, if any.
(3)A list of all current members, including, for each member, the following: (A)The name of any person or entity that nominated the member.
(B)Whether the member is— (i)designated as a special Government employee;
(ii)a representative; or (iii)a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(C)In the case of a representative, the individuals or entity whose viewpoint the member represents. (4)A list of all members designated as special Government employees for whom written certifications were made under section 208(b) of title 18, United States Code, a copy of each such certification, a summary description of the conflict necessitating the certification, and the reason for granting the certification.
(5)Any recusal agreement made by a member or any recusal known to the agency that occurs during the course of a meeting or other work of the committee. (6)A summary of the process used by the advisory committee for making decisions.
(7)Detailed minutes of all meetings of the committee and a description of committee efforts to make meetings accessible to the public using online technologies (such as video recordings) or other techniques (such as audio recordings). (8)Any written determination by the President or the head of the agency to which the advisory committee reports, pursuant to section 10(d), to close a meeting or any portion of a meeting and the reasons for such determination.
(9)Notices of future meetings of the committee. (10)Any additional information considered relevant by the head of the agency to which the advisory committee reports.
(b)Manner of disclosure
(1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), the head of an agency shall make the information required to be disclosed under subsection (a) available electronically on a publicly available website of the agency and to the Administrator at least 15 calendar days before each meeting of an advisory committee. If the head of the agency determines that such timing is not practicable for any required information, such head shall make the information available as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours before the next meeting of the committee. An agency may withhold from disclosure any information that would be exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code. (2)Website availabilityThe head of an agency shall make available electronically, on a publicly available website of the agency, detailed minutes and, to the extent available, a transcript or audio or video recording of each advisory committee meeting not later than 45 calendar days after such meeting.
(3)Grant reviewsIn the case of grant reviews, disclosure of information required by subsection (a)(3) may be provided in the aggregate rather than by individual grant. (c)Provision of information by administrator of general servicesThe Administrator shall provide, on a publicly available website of the General Services Administration, electronic access to the information made available by each agency under this section.
(d)Availability of meeting materials
(1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2) and where prohibited by contractual agreements entered into prior to the effective date of the Federal Advisory Committee Transparency Act, agencies and advisory committees shall make available to any person, at actual cost of duplication, copies of advisory committee meeting materials. (2)ApplicabilityNothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the disclosure of information that is protected from mandatory disclosure by statute..
(b)Charter filingSubsection (f) of section 9 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), as redesignated by section 2(a) of this Act, is amended to read as follows:  (f)No advisory committee shall meet or take any action until an advisory committee charter has been filed with the Administrator, the head of the agency to whom any advisory committee reports, and the standing committees of the Senate and of the House of Representatives having legislative jurisdiction of such agency. Such charter shall contain the following information in the following order:
(1)The committee’s official designation. (2)The authority under which the committee is established.
(3)The committee’s objectives and the scope of its activity. (4)A description of the duties for which the committee is responsible, and, if such duties are not solely advisory, a specification of the authority for such functions.
(5)The agency or official to whom the committee reports. (6)The agency responsible for providing the necessary support for the committee.
(7)The responsibilities of the officer or employee of the Federal Government designated under section 10(e). (8)The estimated number and frequency of committee meetings.
(9)The period of time necessary for the committee to carry out its purposes. (10)The committee’s termination date, if less than 2 years from the date of the committee’s establishment.
(11)The estimated number of members and a description of the expertise needed to carry out the objectives of the committee. (12)A description of whether the committee will be composed of full- or part-time Government employees, special Government employees, representatives, or a combination of categories.
(13)Whether the agency intends to create subcommittees and if so, the agency official authorized to exercise such authority. (14)The estimated annual operating costs in dollars and full-time equivalent positions for such committee.
(15)The recordkeeping requirements of the committee. (16)The date the charter is filed.A copy of any such charter shall also be furnished to the Library of Congress..
5.Managing Federal advisory committees
(a)Committee management officersSubsection (c) of section 8 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), as redesignated by section 2(d) of this Act, is amended to read as follows:  (c)The head of each agency that has an advisory committee shall designate an Advisory Committee Management Officer who shall—
(1)be a senior official who is— (A)an expert in implementing the requirements of this Act and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act; and
(B)the primary point of contact for the General Services Administration; (2)ensure the establishment, management, and supervision of the advisory committees of the agency, including establishing procedures, performance measures, and outcomes for such committees;
(3)ensure the assembly and maintenance of the reports, records, and other papers (including advisory committee meeting materials) of any such committee during its existence; (4)ensure any such committee and corresponding agency staff adhere to the provisions of this Act and any regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act;
(5)ensure the maintenance of records on each employee of any such committee and completion of training required for any such employee; (6)be responsible for providing the information required in section 7(b) of this Act to the Administrator; and
(7)carry out, on behalf of that agency, the provisions of section 552 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to the reports, records, and other papers described in paragraph (3).. 6.Comptroller General review and reports (a)ReviewThe Comptroller General of the United States shall review compliance by agencies with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), as amended by this Act, including whether agencies are appropriately appointing advisory committee members who are not full-time or permanent part-time officers or employees of the Federal Government as either special Government employees or representatives.
(b)ReportThe Comptroller General shall submit to the committees described in subsection (c) two reports on the results of the review, as follows: (1)The first report shall be submitted not later than 1 year after the date of promulgation of regulations under section 7(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), as amended by section 2(c).
(2)The second report shall be submitted not later than 5 years after such date of promulgation of regulations. (c)CommitteesThe committees described in this subsection are the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
7.Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act to trade advisory committeesSection 135(f)(2)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(f)(2)(A)) is amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) of sections 10 and 11 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and inserting subsections (a) and (b) of section 10 and subsections (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9), (b)(2), and (d) of section 11 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 8.DefinitionsSection 3 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)The term special Government employee has the meaning given that term in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code.. 9.Technical and conforming amendmentsSection 7(d)(1) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—
(1)in subparagraph (A), by striking the rate specified for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 and inserting the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315; and (2)in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking handicapped individuals (within the meaning of section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794)) and inserting individuals with disabilities (as defined in section 7(20) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(20)).
10.Effective dateThis Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 11.No additional funds authorizedNo additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.
12.Determination of budgetary effectsThe budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 931 et seq.), shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2362
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 12, 2009
			Mr. Heller (for
			 himself, Ms. Berkley, and
			 Ms. Titus) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Natural Resources

		A BILL
		To amend the Energy and Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize
		  a provision relating to geothermal lease revenue, to direct the Secretary of
		  the Interior to establish a pilot project to streamline certain Federal
		  renewable energy permitting processes, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Renewable Energy Permitting Act of
			 2009.
		2.DefinitionsIn this Act:
			(1)Pilot
			 ProjectThe term Pilot Project means the pilot
			 project to improve Federal renewable energy permit coordination established
			 under section 3(a).
			(2)SecretaryThe
			 term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
			3.Pilot project to
			 improve Federal renewable energy permit coordination
			(a)EstablishmentDuring
			 the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2018, the Secretary shall establish and
			 carry out a pilot project to improve Federal renewable energy permit
			 coordination.
			(b)Memorandum of
			 understanding
				(1)In
			 generalNot later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
			 this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for
			 purposes of this section with—
					(A)the Secretary of
			 Agriculture;
					(B)the Administrator
			 of the Environmental Protection Agency; and
					(C)the Chief of
			 Engineers.
					(2)State
			 participationThe Secretary may request that the Governors of the
			 States of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Wyoming be signatories to the
			 memorandum of understanding described in paragraph (1).
				(c)Designation of
			 qualified staff
				(1)In
			 generalNot later than 30 days after the date on which the
			 memorandum of understanding under subsection (b) is signed, all Federal
			 signatory parties shall, if appropriate, assign to each of the field offices
			 specified in subsection (d) an employee who has expertise in the regulatory
			 issues relating to the office in which the employee is employed, including, as
			 applicable, particular expertise in—
					(A)the consultations
			 and the preparation of biological opinions under section 7 of the Endangered
			 Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536);
					(B)permits under
			 section 404 of Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344);
					(C)regulatory matters
			 under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.);
					(D)planning under
			 section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a);
			 and
					(E)the preparation of
			 analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
			 seq.).
					(2)DutiesEach
			 employee assigned under paragraph (1) shall—
					(A)not later than 90
			 days after the date of assignment, report to field managers of the Bureau of
			 Land Management in the office to which the employee is assigned;
					(B)be responsible for
			 all issues relating to the jurisdiction of the home office or agency of the
			 employee; and
					(C)participate as
			 part of the team of personnel working on proposed energy projects, planning,
			 and environmental analyses.
					(d)Field
			 officesThe field offices referred to in subsection (c)(1) shall
			 include offices in, at a minimum, the States of Arizona, California, Nevada,
			 and Wyoming.
			(e)Additional
			 personnelThe Secretary shall assign to each field office
			 specified in subsection (d) any additional personnel that are necessary to
			 ensure the effective implementation of—
				(1)the Pilot Project;
			 and
				(2)other programs
			 administered by the field offices, including inspection and enforcement
			 relating to renewable energy development on Federal land, in accordance with
			 the multiple use mandate of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
			 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
				(f)Distribution of
			 solar and wind energy rental income
				(1)In
			 generalSubject to paragraphs (2) through (5) and notwithstanding
			 any other provision of law, for fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year
			 thereafter, of the amount of solar and wind energy rental income collected by
			 the Bureau of Land Management (in lieu of depositing all of the income into the
			 general fund of the Treasury)—
					(A)50 percent shall
			 be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury to the 1 or more States within the
			 boundaries of which the income is derived;
					(B)25 percent shall
			 be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury to the 1 or more counties within which
			 the income is derived;
					(C)(i)in the case of each of
			 fiscal years 2009 through 2018, 20 percent or $5,000,000, whichever is less,
			 shall be deposited in a special fund in the Treasury, to be known as the
			 Renewable Energy Permit Processing Improvement Fund; and
						(ii)in the case of fiscal year 2019
			 and each fiscal year thereafter, 20 percent shall remain in the general fund of
			 the Treasury; and
						(D)5 percent shall be
			 deposited in a special fund in the Treasury, to be known as the Solar
			 Energy Land Reclamation, Restoration, and Mitigation Fund.
					(2)ValuationTo determine the value of public land for
			 the purpose of determining rental income described in paragraph (1)—
					(A)the value of the public land used for solar
			 energy projects shall be determined by the Bureau of Land Management based on
			 statistics of the National Agricultural Statistical Service;
					(B)the value of the
			 public land used for wind energy projects shall be determined in accordance
			 with the rental schedule established by the Secretary, acting through the
			 Bureau of Land Management, in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act;
			 and
					(C)the value of the
			 public land used for geothermal energy projects shall be determined in
			 accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801 et seq.).
					(3)Renewable Energy
			 Permit Processing Improvement FundAmounts in the Renewable
			 Energy Permit Processing Improvement Fund established under paragraph (1)(C)(i)
			 shall be available to the Secretary for the coordination and processing of
			 renewable energy permits required for renewable energy projects on Federal
			 public land.
				(4)Solar Energy
			 Land Reclamation, Restoration, and Mitigation Fund
					(A)In
			 generalAmounts in the Solar Energy Land Reclamation,
			 Restoration, and Mitigation Fund under paragraph (1)(D) shall be available to
			 the Secretary for the purpose of—
						(i)reclaiming and
			 restoring public land used for the production of solar energy, including land
			 used for ancillary facilities; and
						(ii)mitigating
			 impacts on public land, including protecting other sensitive public land if the
			 land used for solar or wind power generation cannot be adequately restored
			 without the use of funds made available under this paragraph, as determined by
			 the Secretary.
						(B)Maximum
			 amount
						(i)In
			 generalThe total amount of funds deposited in the Solar Energy
			 Land Reclamation, Restoration, and Mitigation Fund under paragraph (1)(D) shall
			 not exceed $50,000,000.
						(ii)Surplus
			 amountsIf the total amount of funds deposited in the Solar
			 Energy Land Reclamation, Restoration, and Mitigation Fund under paragraph
			 (1)(D) is $50,000,000, any additional amounts that would otherwise be deposited
			 in the Fund under paragraph (1)(D) shall remain in the general fund of the
			 Treasury.
						(5)Availability of
			 fundsAmounts under this subsection shall be available for
			 expenditure in accordance with this subsection, without further appropriation
			 and without fiscal year limitation.
				(g)Transfer of
			 fundsFor the purposes of coordination and processing of
			 renewable energy permits required for renewable energy projects on Federal
			 public land under the administration of the Pilot Project offices specified in
			 subsection (d), the Secretary may authorize the expenditure or transfer of such
			 funds as are necessary to—
				(1)the United States
			 Fish and Wildlife Service;
				(2)the Bureau of
			 Indian Affairs;
				(3)the Forest
			 Service;
				(4)the Environmental
			 Protection Agency;
				(5)the Corps of
			 Engineers; and
				(6)the States of
			 Arizona, California, Nevada, and Wyoming (for costs incurred by the States
			 relating to the permitting process).
				(h)FeesDuring
			 the period in which the Pilot Project is authorized, the Secretary shall not
			 implement any regulation or initiate any rulemaking to enable an increase in
			 fees to recover additional costs relating to renewable energy permits required
			 for renewable energy projects on Federal public land.
			(i)Effect on other
			 authorityNothing in this section affects—
				(1)the operation of
			 any Federal or State law; or
				(2)any delegation of
			 authority made by the head of a Federal agency the employees of which are
			 participating in the Pilot Project.
				(j)Length of leases
			 for renewable energy projects on public landThe length of leases
			 for renewable energy projects on public land carried out under this Act shall
			 be determined in accordance with the Federal
			 Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et
			 seq.).
			(k)ReportsNot
			 later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
			 submit to Congress a report that—
				(1)describes the
			 results of the Pilot Project as of the date of the report; and
				(2)makes a
			 recommendation to the President regarding whether the Pilot Project should be
			 implemented throughout the United States.
				(l)Deposit and use
			 of geothermal leave revenuesSection 234 of the Energy Policy Act
			 of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15873) is amended—
				(1)in the section
			 heading, by striking for 5
			 fiscal years; and
				(2)in subsection (a),
			 by striking in the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of
			 enactment of this Act.


110 HR 6461 IH: Supporting America’s Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008
U.S. House of Representatives
2008-07-10
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
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6461
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 10, 2008
Mr. Altmire (for himself, Mr. Platts, and Mr. Ryan of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL
To assist volunteer fire companies in coping with the precipitous rise in fuel prices.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Supporting America’s Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008.
2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
(1)According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in 2006 there were—
(A)807,150 volunteer firefighters, nearly 73 percent of all active firefighters; and
(B)19,915 all-volunteer fire companies nationwide, servicing 22.6 percent of the population of the United States and 4,105 companies comprised of a majority of volunteers, servicing 16.3 percent of the population of the United States.
(2)These volunteer companies, especially those serving communities of fewer than 5,000 residents, rely heavily upon fund-raising efforts and other potentially unreliable sources of funding for their basic operating expenses.
(3)According to the Energy Information Administration, between June 2003 and June 2008, the price of regular grade gasoline and diesel fuels rose 171 percent and 229 percent, respectively.
(4)These rising costs represent an unavoidable burden, and have placed serious constraints on the ability of volunteer companies to respond to fire emergencies.
3.Definition of qualified volunteer fire departmentIn this Act, the term qualified volunteer fire department has the same meaning given that term in section 150(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
4.Gasoline and diesel fuel subsidy program
(a)Establishment of baseline
(1)In generalThe Federal Emergency Management Agency shall, for calendar year 2007, determine for each of the 5 Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts the average annual price per gallon for—
(A)gasoline; and
(B)diesel fuel.
(2)Basis for price per gallonThe average annual price per gallon determined under paragraph (1) shall be based solely on data reported by the Energy Information Administration.
(3)BaselineThe price per gallon determined under paragraph (1) shall serve as the baseline fuel cost for each Petroleum Administration for Defense District.
(b)Payments
(1)Submission of receiptsAt the end of each calendar year, each qualified volunteer fire department seeking reimbursement under this section shall submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency all of its receipts and bills of sales documenting the amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel purchased by such department during that calendar year. Each department shall also provide a sum total of the—
(A)aggregate number of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel purchased by the department during that calendar year; and
(B)costs of purchasing such gasoline and diesel fuel.
(2)Determination of subsidy amountsThe Federal Emergency Management Agency shall reimburse a qualified volunteer fire department for 75 percent of the difference between—
(A)the actual expenditures of the department for gasoline and diesel fuel for a calendar year as determined under paragraph (1); and
(B)the amount that such expenditures would have cost had the department determined such expenditures utilizing the baseline fuels costs determined under subsection (a).
(3)Special rule relating to States sales taxIf the State in which a qualified volunteer fire department is located does not charge local or State fuel taxes on such departments when such departments purchase gasoline or diesel fuel, the amount of such omitted sales tax shall be added back in to any determination made under paragraph (2)(A).
(c)RegulationsNot later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to implement and administer the grant and subsidy programs authorized by this section.
5.Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.


115 HRES 178 IH: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that before any bill or joint resolution repealing or amending the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 in the House it should be made available on a public website of the House.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-03-08
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.

IV
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 178
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 8, 2017
Mr. Khanna submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules

RESOLUTION
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that before any bill or joint resolution repealing or amending the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 in the House it should be made available on a public website of the House.

That rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:  13. (a)It shall not be in order to consider a bill or joint resolution proposing to repeal or amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148) or the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–152), or part thereof, in the House, in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, or in the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means, unless an easily searchable electronic estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office is made available on a publicly available website of the House.
(b)It shall not be in order to consider a rule or order that waives the application of paragraph (a). .


117 HR 3694 IH: To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative and other heads of Federal agencies, to submit to Congress a report on the impact of a waiver of certain obligations of member nations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on global COVID–19 vaccine access, and for other purposes.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-06-04
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. 3694IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 4, 2021Mr. Carter of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative and other heads of Federal agencies, to submit to Congress a report on the impact of a waiver of certain obligations of member nations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on global COVID–19 vaccine access, and for other purposes.1.Interagency public health report on impact of TRIPS waiver on global COVID–19 vaccine access(a)Report and conclusionNot later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Commerce, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available on a public website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report containing the following:(1)An assessment of how the elimination or waiver described in subsection (b) would impact each of the following during the covered period:(A)Access to COVID–19 vaccines in the United States.(B)Access to COVID–19 vaccines globally.(C)Global COVID–19 vaccine manufacturing capacity.(D)Global supply chains of COVID–19 vaccines and related technologies and the inputs needed to produce those vaccines and related technologies.(E)Exports and imports by the United States of COVID–19 vaccines and related technologies and the inputs needed to produce such vaccines and related technologies.(F)Biopharmaceutical product manufacturing in the United States and the inputs needed to produce biopharmaceutical products.(G)Investment in biopharmaceutical production in the United States and in research and development in biopharmaceutical products to respond to future infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics.(2)The Secretary’s conclusion on whether an elimination or waiver, as described in subsection (b), during the covered period—(A)will materially increase global COVID–19 vaccine access; or(B)will have a negative impact on any of the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (1).(b)USTR OppositionThe United States Trade Representative shall oppose an elimination or waiver of an obligation imposed on members of the World Trade Organization under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights with respect to vaccines intended to prevent or mitigate COVID–19, if the Secretary concludes under subsection (a)(2) that such elimination or waiver—(1)will not materially increase global COVID–19 vaccine access; or(2)will have a negative impact on any of the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of subsection (a)(1).(c)Covered period definedThe term covered period means the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this section and ending on December 31, 2022.


114 HR 1195 : Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Boards Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-04-23
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.

		IIB
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1195
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
		April 23, 2015Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsAN ACT
		To amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to establish advisory boards, and for other
			 purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Boards Act. 2.Establishment of advisory boards within the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (a)In generalThe Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 is amended by inserting after section 1014 (12 U.S.C. 5494) the following new section:

					1014A.Advisory Boards
						(a)Small Business Advisory Board
 (1)EstablishmentThe Director shall establish a Small Business Advisory Board— (A)to advise and consult with the Bureau in the exercise of the Bureau’s functions under the Federal consumer financial laws applicable to eligible financial products or services; and
 (B)to provide information on emerging practices of small business concerns that provide eligible financial products or services, including regional trends, concerns, and other relevant information.
								(2)Membership
 (A)NumberThe Director shall appoint no fewer than 15 and no more than 20 members to the Small Business Advisory Board.
 (B)QualificationMembers appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be representatives of small business concerns that—
 (i)provide eligible financial products or services; (ii)are service providers to covered persons; and
 (iii)use consumer financial products or services in financing the business activities of such concern. (C)Additional considerationsIn appointing members pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Director shall include members representing minority-, women-, and veteran-owned small business concerns and their interests, without regard to party affiliation.
 (3)MeetingsThe Small Business Advisory Board— (A)shall meet from time to time at the call of the Director; and
 (B)shall meet at least twice each year. (b)Credit Union Advisory Council (1)EstablishmentThe Director shall establish a Credit Union Advisory Council to advise and consult with the Bureau on consumer financial products or services that impact credit unions.
 (2)MembershipThe Director shall appoint no fewer than 15 and no more than 20 members to the Credit Union Advisory Council. In appointing such members, the Director shall include members representing credit unions predominantly serving traditionally underserved communities and populations and their interests, without regard to party affiliation.
 (3)MeetingsThe Credit Union Advisory Council— (A)shall meet from time to time at the call of the Director; and
 (B)shall meet at least twice each year. (c)Community Bank Advisory Council (1)EstablishmentThe Director shall establish a Community Bank Advisory Council to advise and consult with the Bureau on consumer financial products or services that impact community banks.
 (2)MembershipThe Director shall appoint no fewer than 15 and no more than 20 members to the Community Bank Advisory Council. In appointing such members, the Director shall include members representing community banks predominantly serving traditionally underserved communities and populations and their interests, without regard to party affiliation.
 (3)MeetingsThe Community Bank Advisory Council— (A)shall meet from time to time at the call of the Director; and
 (B)shall meet at least twice each year. (d)Compensation and travel expensesMembers of the Small Business Advisory Board, the Credit Union Advisory Council, or the Community Bank Advisory Council who are not full-time employees of the United States shall—
 (1)be entitled to receive compensation at a rate fixed by the Director while attending meetings of the Small Business Advisory Board, the Credit Union Advisory Council, or the Community Bank Advisory Council, including travel time; and
 (2)be allowed travel expenses, including transportation and subsistence, while away from their homes or regular places of business.
 (e)DefinitionsIn this section— (1)the term eligible financial product or service means a financial product or service that is offered or provided for use by consumers primarily for personal, family, or household purposes as described in clause (i), (iii), (v), (vi), or (ix) of section 1002(15)(A); and
 (2)the term small business concern has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).. (b)Table of contents amendmentThe table of contents in section 1 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1014 the following new item:

						Sec.1014A. Advisory Boards..
 3.Bureau funding authorityThe Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, under section 1017 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, may not request—
 (1)during fiscal year 2020, an amount that would result in the total amount requested by the Director during that fiscal year to exceed $655,000,000; and
 (2)during fiscal year 2025, an amount that would result in the total amount requested by the Director during that fiscal year to exceed $720,000,000.

	Passed the House of Representatives April 22, 2015.Karen L. Haas,Clerk