		II
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 2555
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			May 7, 2012
			Mrs. Feinstein
			 introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To extend the temporary suspension of duty
		  on certain parts and accessories of measuring or checking
		  instruments.

		1.Certain parts and accessories of measuring
			 or checking instruments
			(a)In generalHeading 9902.23.86 of the Harmonized Tariff
			 Schedule of the United States (relating to parts or accessories of instruments
			 or apparatus for measuring or checking electrical quantities, such instruments
			 or apparatus specially designed for telecommunications (provided for in
			 subheading 9030.90.88) (but not including subassemblies containing one or more
			 printed circuit assemblies for such instruments or apparatus (provided for in
			 subheading 9030.90.88)) is amended by striking the date in the effective period
			 column and inserting 12/31/2015.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by
			 subsection (a) applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from
			 warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the date of the
			 enactment of this Act.


		III
		109th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 545
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			July 31, 2006
			Ms. Stabenow (for
			 herself, Mr. Isakson,
			 Mr. Chambliss, and
			 Mr. Levin) submitted the following
			 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

		RESOLUTION
		Recognizing the life and achievements of
		  Will Keith Kellogg.

		Whereas Will Keith Kellogg was born on April 7, 1860, and
			 died at the age of 91 on October 6, 1951;
		Whereas W.K. Kellogg believed that—
			(1)a proper diet
			 plays an important role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle; and
			(2)breakfast is the
			 most important meal of the day;
			Whereas W.K. Kellogg developed the now world-famous
			 Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cereal in his Battle Creek, Michigan, production facility
			 on April 1, 1906;
		Whereas, for 100 years, the Kellogg Company has provided
			 citizens of the United States and countries around the world with nutritious
			 food products;
		Whereas, throughout its development, the Kellogg Company
			 has set milestones in consumer awareness of proper nutrition by—
			(1)becoming the
			 first company to include a nutrition facts label on its ever-changing and
			 innovative packaging; and
			(2)adhering to the
			 strict values of quality and health consciousness that W.K. Kellogg had always
			 valued;
			Whereas, while the citizens of the United States struggled
			 during the time of economic depression and stagnation during the 1930s, W.K.
			 Kellogg famously announced I’ll invest my money in
			 people.;
		Whereas W.K. Kellogg started the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
			 to operate separately from the Kellogg Company, and led the foundation by
			 adhering to the guiding principle of helping people to help
			 themselves;
		Whereas today, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is 1 of the
			 largest philanthropic institutions in the world, funding projects throughout
			 the world in—
			(1)health;
			(2)education;
			(3)agriculture;
			(4)leadership;
			 and
			(5)youth
			 development;
			Whereas the assets of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation were
			 nearly $6,000,000,000 when the foundation approached its 75th Anniversary in
			 2005;
		Whereas, during those 75 years of service, the foundation
			 donated more than $3,000,000,000 to help people help themselves;
		Whereas, during the Second World War, the production
			 facilities of the Kellogg Company were used to assist the Armed Forces in many
			 engineering efforts;
		Whereas, during that time, the products of the Kellogg
			 Company became a common item in packages sent by families to soldiers serving
			 overseas;
		Whereas W.K. Kellogg was later awarded the Army-Navy
			 E Flag for Excellence for his valuable contributions to the
			 United States during the Second World War;
		Whereas, throughout its history, the Kellogg Company
			 introduced many of their most famous and successful cereals and characters,
			 including—
			(1)Tony the Tiger;
			 and
			(2)Snap, Crackle,
			 and Pop;
			Whereas, in 1969, astronauts on board the Apollo 11
			 breakfasted on cereal produced by the Kellogg Company during their successful
			 mission to the moon, thereby making it the first breakfast cereal ever to reach
			 outer space;
		Whereas the Kellogg Company opened a new headquarters
			 facility in Battle Creek;
		Whereas, throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Kellogg
			 Company continued its commitment to social responsibility by supporting
			 numerous organizations, including—
			(1)the United Negro
			 College Fund;
			(2)the Statue of
			 Liberty-Ellis Island renewal project; and
			(3)organizations
			 that sought to end the policy of apartheid that was enforced by the Government
			 of South Africa;
			Whereas today, the Kellogg Company produces more than 40
			 different cereals on 6 continents, and markets the products of the company in
			 more than 180 countries;
		Whereas the Kellogg Company employs 25,000 people
			 throughout the world; and
		Whereas the Kellogg Company currently has production
			 facilities in 13 states, including—
			(1)California;
			(2)Georgia;
			(3)Illinois;
			(4)Kansas;
			(5)Kentucky;
			(6)Michigan;
			(7)Nebraska;
			(8)New
			 Jersey;
			(9)North
			 Carolina;
			(10)Ohio;
			(11)Pennsylvania;
			(12)Tennessee;
			 and
			(13)Washington: Now,
			 therefore, be it

		That the Senate recognizes—
			(1)the great
			 contributions of Will Keith Kellogg to—
				(A)the citizens of
			 the United States; and
				(B)the people of the
			 world;
				(2)the 100th
			 anniversary of the creation of the first flaked breakfast cereal, which
			 occurred on April 1, 2006; and
			(3)the achievements
			 of W.K. Kellogg and the benefits enjoyed by all those touched by his
			 life.


		IV
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. RES. 1719
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			November 16, 2010
			Mr. Honda (for
			 himself, Mr. Carson of Indiana, and
			 Mr. Ellison) submitted the following
			 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		RESOLUTION
		Recognizing the cultural and religious
		  significance of Eid al-Adha and wishing Muslim-Americans and Muslims around the
		  world a prosperous holiday.

		Whereas Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of the Sacrifice, is
			 an Islamic holiday which honors Abraham’s symbolic sacrifice of his son to God,
			 as referenced in the Quran, Old Testament, and New Testament;
		Whereas Abraham is a respected figure in Christianity,
			 Judaism, and Islam;
		Whereas for more than 14 centuries, Eid al-Adha has been
			 observed;
		Whereas Eid al-Adha is a holiday of great importance to
			 millions of Muslim-Americans and approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims around the
			 world;
		Whereas during Eid al-Adha, Muslim-Americans recognize the
			 importance of sacrifice, freedom, and justice;
		Whereas Eid al-Adha is celebrated around the world with
			 prayers, charity and social events;
		Whereas many communities across the United States hold
			 day-long festivals in observance of Eid al-Adha;
		Whereas Islam is one of the world’s major religions,
			 sharing the belief in one God and one humanity;
		Whereas Muslim-Americans have made significant
			 contributions to the flourishing of the United States, including as ambassadors
			 to foreign nations, award winning scientists, doctors, and engineers, and
			 athletes;
		Whereas Muslim-Americans have contributed to the defense
			 of the United States with an estimated 10,000 Muslim-Americans serving in the
			 United States Armed Forces; and
		Whereas Muslim-Americans contribute to the success and
			 pluralism of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

		That the House of
			 Representatives—
			(1)recognizes the cultural and religious
			 significance of Eid al-Adha;
			(2)expresses its
			 appreciation and respect for the contributions of Muslim-Americans to the
			 United States; and
			(3)wishes Muslim-Americans and Muslims around
			 the world who observe Eid al-Adha a prosperous holiday.


		II

		109th CONGRESS

		1st Session

		S. 815

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 15, 2005

			Mr. Thomas (for himself,

			 Ms. Snowe, Mr.

			 Enzi, Mr. Bingaman,

			 Mr. Alexander, Mr. Talent, Mr.

			 Ensign, and Mr. Smith)

			 introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the

			 Committee on

			 Finance

		A BILL

		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a

		  15-year applicable recovery period for depreciation of certain electric

		  transmission property.

		1.Electric transmission

			 property treated as 15-year property

			(a)In

			 generalSubparagraph (E) of section 168(e)(3) of the Internal

			 Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to classification of certain property) is

			 amended by striking and at the end of clause (v), by striking

			 the period at the end of clause (vi) and by inserting , and, and

			 by adding at the end the following new clause:

					(vii)any section

				1245 property (as defined in section 1245(a)(3)) used in the transmission at 69

				or more kilovolts of electricity for sale the original use of which commences

				with the taxpayer after the date of the enactment of this

				clause.

					.

			(b)Alternative

			 systemThe table contained in section 168(g)(3)(B) of the

			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating

			 to subparagraph (E)(vi) the following:

								(E)(vii)30.

					.

			(c)Effective

			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to property

			 placed in service after the date of the enactment of this Act, in taxable years

			 ending after such date.


116 HR 1689 IH: Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-03-12
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.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1689IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 12, 2019Mr. Deutch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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 establish the Climate Change Advisory Commission to develop recommendations, frameworks, and
			 guidelines for projects to respond to the impacts of climate change, to
			 issue Federal obligations, the proceeds of which shall be used to fund
			 projects that aid in adaptation to climate change, and for other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of contents
 (a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2019. (b)Table of contents  Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. TITLE I—Climate Change Advisory Commission Sec. 101. Establishment of Climate Change Advisory Commission. Sec. 102. Duties. Sec. 103. Commission personnel matters. Sec. 104. Funding. Sec. 105. Termination. TITLE II—Climate Change Resiliency Fund Sec. 201. Climate Change Resiliency Fund. Sec. 202. Compliance with Davis-Bacon Act. Sec. 203. Funding. TITLE III—Revenue Sec. 301. Climate change obligations. Sec. 302. Promotion. 2.DefinitionsExcept as otherwise provided, in this Act:
 (1)CommissionThe term Commission means the Climate Change Advisory Commission established by section 101(a). (2)FundThe term Fund means the Climate Change Resiliency Fund established by section 201(a)(1).
			(3)Qualified climate change adaptation purpose
 (A)In generalThe term qualified climate change adaptation purpose means an objective with a demonstrated intent to reduce the economic, social, and environmental impact of the adverse effects of climate change.
 (B)InclusionsThe term qualified climate change adaptation purpose includes— (i)infrastructure resiliency and mitigation;
 (ii)improved disaster response; and (iii)ecosystem protection.
 (4)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce. IClimate Change Advisory Commission 101.Establishment of Climate Change Advisory Commission (a)In generalThere is established a commission to be known as the Climate Change Advisory Commission.
 (b)MembershipThe Commission shall be composed of 11 members— (1)who shall be selected from the public and private sectors and institutions of higher education; and
 (2)of whom— (A)3 shall be appointed by the President, in consultation with the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force;
 (B)2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (C)2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
 (D)2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; and (E)2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
 (c)TermsEach member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. (d)Initial appointmentsEach member of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
 (e)VacanciesA vacancy on the Commission— (1)shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
 (2)shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (f)Initial meetingNot later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission.
 (g)MeetingsThe Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (h)QuorumA majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
 (i)Chairperson and Vice ChairpersonThe Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the Commission.
 102.DutiesThe Commission shall— (1)establish recommendations, frameworks, and guidelines for a Federal investment program funded by revenue from climate change obligations issued under section 301 for States, municipalities, and other public entities, including utility districts, transit authorities, and multistate regulatory bodies that—
 (A)improves and adapts energy, transportation, water, and general infrastructure impacted or expected to be impacted due to climate variability; and
 (B)integrates best available science, data, standards, models, and trends that improve the resiliency of infrastructure systems described in subparagraph (A); and
 (2)identify categories of the most cost-effective investments and projects that emphasize multiple benefits to commerce, human health, and ecosystems.
				103.Commission personnel matters
				(a)Compensation of members
 (1)Non-federal employeesA member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
 (2)Federal employeesA member of the Commission who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee of the Federal Government.
 (b)Travel expensesA member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
				(c)Staff
 (1)In generalThe Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate such personnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.
					(2)Compensation
 (A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates.
 (B)Maximum rate of payThe rate of pay for personnel shall not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
 104.FundingThe Commission shall use amounts in the Fund to pay for all administrative expenses of the Commission.
 105.TerminationThe Commission shall terminate on such date as the Commission determines after the Commission carries out the duties of the Commission under section 102.
			IIClimate Change Resiliency Fund
			201.Climate Change Resiliency Fund
				(a)Establishment
 (1)In generalThere is established within the Department of Commerce the Climate Change Resiliency Fund. (2)Responsibility of the SecretaryThe Secretary shall take such action as the Secretary determines to be necessary to assist in implementing the establishment of the Fund in accordance with this Act.
 (b)Climate change adaptation projectsThe Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, shall carry out a program to provide funds to eligible applicants to carry out projects for a qualified climate change adaptation purpose.
 (c)Eligible entitiesAn entity eligible to participate in the program under subsection (b) shall include— (1)a Federal agency;
 (2)a State or a group of States; (3)a unit of local government or a group of local governments;
 (4)a utility district; (5)a tribal government or a consortium of tribal governments;
 (6)a State or regional transit agency or a group of State or regional transit agencies; (7)a nonprofit organization;
 (8)a special purpose district or public authority, including a port authority; and (9)any other entity, as determined by the Secretary.
 (d)ApplicationAn eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application for a project for a qualified climate change adaptation purpose at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including data relating to any benefits, such as economic impact or improvements to public health, that the project is expected to provide.
 (e)SelectionThe Secretary shall select projects from eligible entities to receive funds under this section based on criteria and guidelines determined and published by the Commission.
 (f)Non-Federal funding requirementIn order to receive funds under this section, an eligible entity shall provide funds for the project in an amount that is equal to not less than 25 percent of the amount of funds provided under this section.
 (g)Maintenance of effortAll amounts deposited in the Fund in accordance with section 301(a) shall be used only to fund new projects in accordance with this Act.
 (h)Applicability of Federal lawNothing in this Act waives the requirements of any Federal law (including regulations) that would otherwise apply to a qualified climate change project that receives funds under this section.
				202.Compliance with Davis-Bacon Act
 (a)In generalAll laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors on projects funded directly by or assisted in whole or in part by and through the Fund pursuant to this title shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of part A of title 40, United States Code.
 (b)Labor standardsWith respect to the labor standards specified in this section, the Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code.
 203.FundingThe Secretary shall use funds made available to the Secretary and not otherwise obligated to carry out the program under section 201(b).
			IIIRevenue
			301.Climate change obligations
 (a)In generalNot later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate (referred to in this title as the Secretary) shall issue obligations under chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code (referred to in this title as climate change obligations), the proceeds from which shall be deposited in the Fund.
 (b)Full faith and creditPayment of interest and principal with respect to any climate change obligation issued under this section shall be made from the general fund of the Treasury of the United States and shall be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
 (c)Exemption from local taxationAll climate change obligations issued by the Secretary, and the interest on or credits with respect to such obligations, shall not be subject to taxation by any State, county, municipality, or local taxing authority.
				(d)Amount of Climate Change Obligations
 (1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), the aggregate face amount of the climate change obligations issued annually under this section shall be $200,000,000.
 (2)Additional obligationsFor any calendar year in which all of the obligations issued pursuant to paragraph (1) have been purchased, the Secretary may issue additional climate change obligations during such calendar year, provided that the aggregate face amount of such additional obligations does not exceed $800,000,000.
 (e)FundingThe Secretary shall use funds made available to the Secretary and not otherwise obligated to carry out the purposes of this section.
				302.Promotion
 (a)In generalThe Secretary shall promote the purchase of climate change obligations through such means as are determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the amount expended for such promotion not to exceed $10,000,000 for any fiscal year during the period of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
 (b)Donated advertisingIn addition to any advertising paid for with funds made available under subsection (c), the Secretary shall solicit and may accept the donation of advertising relating to the sale of climate change obligations.
 (c)Authorization of appropriationsFor each fiscal year during the period of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this section.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5467
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 28, 2010
			Mrs. McCarthy of New
			 York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Education and
			 Labor

		A BILL
		To authorize the Secretary of Education to award
		  contracts to nonprofit organizations with national experience that enter into
		  partnerships with local educational agencies to turn around low-performing
		  public high schools.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Turning Around Low-Performing Public
			 High Schools Act.
		2.FindingsThe Congress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)Only 70 percent of
			 United States students graduate on time with a regular diploma and about
			 1,200,000 students drop out regularly. Almost 50 percent of public high school
			 students in the 50 largest cities of the United States fail to graduate.
			(2)Only 50 percent of
			 all Black students and 53 percent of Hispanic students graduate from high
			 school. Males fare even worse, with only 43 percent of Black male students and
			 48 percent of Hispanic male students graduating.
			(3)High school
			 dropouts are more likely to live in poverty, join gangs, and use drugs. They
			 are more than 8 times as likely to be in jail as a person with a diploma. This
			 results in a lifetime cost for a dropout who moves to a life of crime and drugs
			 of $1,700,000 to $2,300,000.
			(4)High school
			 turnaround requires a systematic and comprehensive approach that addresses
			 changes in instructional improvement and structural changes in the school
			 organization.
			(5)Effective
			 turnaround organizations that partner with low-performing local educational
			 agencies and schools can build the capacity of the agencies and schools to
			 reform services and systems.
			(6)Turnaround partner
			 organizations with experience and expertise at the high school level that have
			 the capacity and flexibility to work nationally are in short supply.
			(7)Although the funds
			 made available under section 14006 of division A of the American Recovery and
			 Reinvestment Act of 2009 are designed to help States reform low-performing
			 schools, not all States will qualify to receive the funds, even though they
			 contain low-performing high schools.
			(8)Not all failing
			 high schools are eligible to receive school improvement grants under section
			 1003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
			(9)The challenge of
			 high school turnaround exceeds the capacity of many local educational agencies,
			 requiring the expertise of external partnership organizations.
			(10)Alternative turnaround strategies that do
			 not involve charter schools or were not addressed in the American Recovery and
			 Reinvestment Act of 2009 turnaround model are needed to be able reach all
			 low-performing public high schools.
			3.High school
			 turnaround
			(a)PurposesThe
			 purposes of this section are—
				(1)to turn around
			 low-performing high schools and increase graduation rates and college readiness
			 for poor and minority graduating high school students;
				(2)to improve teacher
			 and principal quality in high schools that serve students at risk of dropping
			 out of school;
				(3)to provide support
			 and assistance to organizations that serve as high school turnaround partners
			 for schools and local educational agencies that may not be eligible to receive
			 funds made available under section 14006 of division A of the American Recovery
			 and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in order to improve secondary school graduation,
			 postsecondary program attendance, and postsecondary completion rates for
			 low-income students; and
				(4)to promote the establishment of new
			 programs to implement high school turnaround that do not involve charter
			 schools or were not addressed in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
			 2009 turnaround model.
				(b)DefinitionsIn
			 this section:
				(1)Comprehensive
			 high school turnaround modelThe term comprehensive high
			 school turnaround model means a research-based high school turnaround
			 model that—
					(A)defines and guides
			 school turnaround, enabling schools to develop strategies for school design
			 that are customized to meet the unique needs of schools and local educational
			 agencies; and
					(B)includes the
			 following:
						(i)Establishment of a 5-year partnership
			 between a school district partnership turnaround organization and a local
			 educational agency that begins with a planning period during which the school
			 district turnaround partnership organization works with the local educational
			 agency and school staff to assist them to articulate a school vision, identify
			 staff, recruit students, and implement parent outreach.
						(ii)A
			 college preparatory instructional program that encourages students to view
			 themselves as future college students, and prepares students for admission to,
			 and success in, college.
						(iii)A
			 student support structure that personalizes the educational experience,
			 providing students with a caring, safe, and supportive learning
			 environment.
						(iv)A
			 staffing structure that—
							(I)personalizes the
			 school environment;
							(II)creates strong,
			 long-term connections between students and their teachers and
			 counselors;
							(III)ensures that the
			 support network is engaged and knowledgeable;
							(IV)generates strong
			 relationships that enable teachers to elicit higher levels of student
			 performance; and
							(V)can include
			 maintaining the same set of core subject teachers and guidance counselors
			 throughout the four years of high school.
							(v)Standards of
			 professional practice to build capacity as a professional community and develop
			 a sense of collective responsibility for student and school outcomes.
						(vi)An
			 extended day and extended school year to enable staff to provide students with
			 structured time, individual attention, and other supports necessary for their
			 success with the school’s challenging, college-preparatory curriculum.
						(vii)An
			 expectation that parents will take an active role in school activities to share
			 their knowledge of their child with teachers and counselors and to give staff
			 feedback on their children’s experience and progress.
						(viii)Use of multiple
			 mechanisms to assess a school’s organizational and program
			 effectiveness.
						(2)Low-income
			 studentThe term low-income student means a
			 student who is determined by a local educational agency to be from a low-income
			 family using the measures described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and
			 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)).
				(3)School district
			 partnership turnaround organizationThe term school
			 district partnership turnaround organization means a nonprofit
			 education organization that—
					(A)has as its primary
			 purpose the improvement of secondary school graduation and postsecondary
			 attendance and completion rates for low-income students;
					(B)has a
			 comprehensive high school turnaround model that can be successful in multiple,
			 varied schools and States; and
					(C)has a proven
			 success rate and the ability to implement high school turnaround activities on
			 a large scale.
					(4)SecretaryThe
			 term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.
				(c)Contracts
			 authorizedFrom the amount appropriated to carry out this
			 section, the Secretary is authorized to award 5-year contracts to school
			 district partnership turnaround organizations that employ comprehensive high
			 school turnaround models. Such a contract shall be used to carry out the
			 requirements of subsection (d) and to implement and sustain integrated and
			 sustained education reform services through subcontractor activities described
			 in subsection (e) at low-performing high schools.
			(d)Requirements of
			 contractsA contract referred to in subsection (c) shall require
			 a school district partnership turnaround organization to accomplish the
			 following:
				(1)Partner with local
			 educational agencies that—
					(A)serve a
			 substantial number or percentage of low-income students; and
					(B)have made a
			 commitment to implement a comprehensive high school turnaround model.
					(2)Provide a program
			 based on a comprehensive high school turnaround model that reflects the needs
			 of the local educational agencies.
				(3)Improve teacher
			 quality and develop the capacity of the local educational agencies to continue
			 to implement the comprehensive high school turnaround model after the
			 turnaround partnership has been completed.
				(4)Develop activities
			 for the purpose of implementing new turnaround sites.
				(5)Implement
			 activities for the purpose of promoting greater public awareness of the
			 relationship between personalized and academically rigorous high schools and
			 improved attendance, graduation, and college-going rates for low-income
			 students.
				(e)Activities at
			 each siteAt each turnaround site, the school district
			 partnership turnaround organization shall carry out the following
			 activities:
				(1)Partner with the
			 school community to design and implement a customized plan of how the
			 comprehensive high school turnaround model is to be implemented so as to
			 produce an increase in the number of students who graduate
			 college-ready.
				(2)Train school
			 personnel in establishing and implementing student support structures which
			 will result in greater student engagement and school affiliation and promote
			 school safety.
				(3)Provide student
			 performance data and implementation reports for the purpose of assessing the
			 status of the comprehensive high school turnaround model implementation and
			 school improvement.
				(4)Provide offsite
			 professional development opportunities, school-based, job-embedded professional
			 development, and opportunities for networking with staff from other turnaround
			 schools and local educational agencies.
				(5)Work with local
			 educational agency and school administrators, teachers, and counselors to
			 provide guidance regarding turnaround strategies as well as specific content
			 area development.
				(6)Provide customized
			 professional development activities and technical assistance and onsite
			 coaching to address local needs and interests with the goal of improving
			 teacher quality.
				(7)Provide assistance
			 in designing and implementing parent engagement activities.
				(8)Provide assistance
			 with staff and student recruitment.
				(f)Activities of
			 assisted schoolsEach school assisted under this Act shall carry
			 out the following:
				(1)Assign an
			 administrator as liaison to the school district partnership turnaround
			 organization who will be responsible for ensuring that the required local
			 educational agency policies, schedules, space, staffing, resources, and other
			 supports are in place to facilitate the implementation of the comprehensive
			 high school turnaround model.
				(2)Construct a
			 schedule that includes common planning time for school staff and regular
			 meetings of the administration so that all students realize the maximum benefit
			 from the personalization aspects of the program.
				(3)Assign sufficient
			 teaching staff in the core discipline areas as well as for non-core
			 areas.
				(4)Ensure that
			 teachers have expertise in the areas they teach, demonstrate commitment to the
			 comprehensive high school turnaround model, and meet local certification
			 requirements.
				(5)Assign at least
			 one full-time counselor.
				(6)Design a student
			 support program in collaboration with the school district partnership
			 turnaround organization.
				(7)Schedule and
			 implement parent orientation and engagement activities.
				(8)Ensure that staff
			 and administration commit to attending offsite professional development
			 activities.
				(9)Participate in
			 data collection activities conducted by the school district partnership
			 turnaround organization.
				(g)Limitation on
			 administrative costsOf the
			 funds made available to carry out a contract under this section, a school
			 district partnership turnaround organization shall not use more than 8 percent
			 to pay for administration of the contract.
			(h)Evaluation
				(1)Evaluation by
			 SecretaryThe Secretary shall select an independent entity to
			 evaluate, every 3 years, the performance of students who attend a turnaround
			 school. The evaluation—
					(A)shall be conducted
			 using a rigorous research design for determining the effectiveness of the
			 comprehensive high school turnaround model; and
					(B)shall compare
			 course achievement, secondary school graduation rates, and post-secondary
			 attendance and completion rates of students who attend schools assisted under
			 this section with those indicators for students of similar backgrounds who do
			 not attend such schools.
					(2)Evaluation by
			 organizationA school
			 district partnership turnaround organization—
					(A)shall require each
			 partner school to provide the turnaround organization access to data on student
			 demographics, student attendance, course grades, suspensions, student safety
			 incidents, graduation rates, relevant test scores, teacher retention, and other
			 such agreed upon information needed to prepare implementation reports;
			 and
					(B)shall prepare an
			 annual report describing the implementation of the comprehensive high school
			 turnaround model and student achievement in partner schools.
					(3)Availability of
			 evaluationCopies of any evaluation or report prepared under this
			 subsection shall be made available to the Secretary and the Congress.
				(i)Authorization of
			 appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry
			 out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011 and each of the
			 5 succeeding fiscal years.


117 HRES 588 IH: Honoring the bravery and legacy of the Clinton 12.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-08-17
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.

IV117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 588IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESAugust 17, 2021Mr. Cooper (for himself, Mr. Fleischmann, and Ms. Norton) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryRESOLUTIONHonoring the bravery and legacy of the Clinton 12.Whereas education in the United States is a fundamental right;Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public education is unconstitutional;Whereas the school system in Clinton, Tennessee, began to desegregate in 1956 as the result of a court order;Whereas the students who desegregated Clinton High School were Jo Ann Allen Boyce, Bobby Cain, Anna Therreser Caswell, Minnie Ann Dickey Jones, Gail Ann Epps Upton, Ronald Gordon Hayden, William Latham, Alvah J. McSwain Lambert, Maurice Soles, Robert Thacker, Regina Turner Smith, and Alfred Williams;Whereas these students known as the Clinton 12 were among the first students to desegregate a public high school in Tennessee, and among the first students to desegregate any school in the South after Brown v. Board of Education;Whereas, in August 1956, the Clinton 12 were pursued on their walks to school by white supremacists including the Ku Klux Klan, were threatened with violence, and in some cases were forced to flee the community;Whereas for years the town of Clinton was the target of white supremacy that resulted in the calling of the National Guard to protect the students and culminated in the bombing of Clinton High School in 1958, which was never solved;Whereas amid this racism and violence, the Clinton 12 walked to school to pursue the right to an equal education; andWhereas students across the United States today still face discrimination and inequities in educational opportunities: Now, therefore, be itThat the House of Representatives—(1)honors the members of the Clinton 12;(2)commends their bravery and perseverance in the face of hate;(3)recognizes the courage of their families and friends who were subjected to racially motivated violence and intimidation in the years following the desegregation of Clinton High School;(4)remembers the words of the late Representative John Lewis who said in commemorating the Clinton 12, Thank you for standing up. Thank you for getting in the way. Thank you for being you.; and(5)calls for the fulfillment of the promise by the United States Supreme Court that all students be afforded equal protection under the law, and separate educational facilities are inherently unequal..


116 HR 155 IH: Hearing Protection Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-01-03
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.

I
116th CONGRESS1st Session
H. R. 155
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2019
Mr. Duncan (for himself, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Young, Mr. Abraham, Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Walker, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Latta, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Bishop of Utah, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Comer, Mr. Womack, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Collins of Georgia, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Gibbs, and Mr. Buck) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove silencers from the definition of firearms, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Hearing Protection Act.  2.Equal treatment of silencers and firearms (a)In generalSection 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking (7) any silencer and all that follows through ; and (8) and inserting and (7).
(b)Effective dateThe amendment made by this section shall apply to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.  3.Treatment of certain silencersSection 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f)Firearm silencersA person acquiring or possessing a firearm silencer in accordance with chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, shall be treated as meeting any registration and licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act with respect to such silencer..  4.Preemption of certain state laws in relation to firearm silencersSection 927 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a law of a State or a political subdivision of a State that imposes a tax, other than a generally applicable sales or use tax, on making, transferring, using, possessing, or transporting a firearm silencer in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or imposes a marking, recordkeeping or registration requirement with respect to such a firearm silencer, shall have no force or effect..
5.Destruction of recordsNot later than 365 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall destroy any registration of a silencer maintained in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record pursuant to section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any application to transfer filed under section 5812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that identifies the transferee of a silencer, and any application to make filed under section 5822 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that identifies the maker of a silencer.  6.Amendments to title 18, united states codeTitle 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)in section 921(a), by striking paragraph (24) and inserting the following:  (24) (A)The terms firearm silencer and firearm muffler mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including the keystone part of such a device.
(B)The term keystone part means, with respect to a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, an externally visible part of a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, without which a device capable of silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm cannot be assembled, but the term does not include any interchangeable parts designed to mount a firearm silencer or firearm muffler to a portable firearm.;  (2)in section 922(b)—
(A)in paragraph (1), by striking shotgun or rifle the first place it appears and inserting shotgun, rifle, firearm silencer or firearm muffler; and  (B)in paragraph (3), by striking rifle or shotgun and inserting shotgun, rifle, firearm silencer or firearm muffler; and
(3)in section 923(i)— (A)by striking Licensed and inserting the following:

(1)In the case of a firearm other than a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, licensed; and  (B)by adding at the end the following:

(2)In the case of a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, licensed importers and licensed manufacturers shall identify by means of a serial number engraved or cast on the keystone part of the firearm silencer or firearm muffler, in such manner as the Attorney General shall by regulations prescribe, each firearm silencer or firearm muffler imported or manufactured by such importer or manufacturer, except that, if a firearm silencer or firearm muffler does not have a clearly identifiable keystone part or has multiple keystone parts, licensed importers or licensed manufacturers shall submit a request for a marking variance to the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall grant such a request except on showing good cause that marking the firearm silencer or firearm muffler as requested would not further the purposes of this chapter..  7.Imposition of tax on firearm silencers or firearm mufflers (a)In generalSection 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end of the list relating to Articles taxable at 10 percent the following:
 Firearm silencers or firearm mufflers..  (b)Firearm silencers; firearm mufflersSection 4181 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following:
 For purposes of this part, the terms firearm silencer and firearm muffler mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm..  (c)Conforming amendments (1)Section 4181 of such Code is amended by striking other than pistols and revolvers and inserting other than articles taxable at 10 percent under this section.
(2)Section 4182(b) of such Code is amended by striking firearms, pistols, revolvers, shells, and cartridges and inserting articles described in section 4181 and.  (3)Section 4182(c)(1) of such Code is amended by striking or firearm and inserting firearm, firearm silencer, or firearm muffler,.
(d)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to articles sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer in any calendar quarter beginning more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.  (e)In generalSection 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end of the list relating to Articles taxable at 10 percent the following:
 Firearm silencers or firearm mufflers..


115 HRES 597 IH: Recognizing 500 years since the Protestant Reformation and its significance for many Americans.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-10-31
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.

IV115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 597IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 31, 2017Mr. Grothman (for himself, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Jody B. Hice of Georgia, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. King of Iowa, and Mr. Hunter) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government ReformRESOLUTIONRecognizing 500 years since the Protestant Reformation and its significance for many Americans.

 Whereas, on October 31, 2017, the United States House of Representatives recognizes the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation;
 Whereas the Protestant Reformation lays its roots with Martin Luther’s posting of 95 theses on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg in October of 1517;
 Whereas Martin Luther is the father of the Protestant Reformation and was born in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10, 1483;
 Whereas Martin Luther’s father, Hans Luther, was a prominent copper smelter and hoped that Martin would become a successful lawyer;
 Whereas Martin Luther entered the University of Erfurt in 1501 and received his master’s degree in philosophy in 1505;
 Whereas, in 1505, Martin Luther was nearly struck by lightning as he walked through a thunderstorm; Whereas, after surviving the storm, Martin Luther entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt, Germany, on July 17, 1505, to pursue a career as an Augustinian monk;
 Whereas Martin Luther’s decision to give up his pursuit of being a lawyer and instead pursue a monastic life deeply frustrated and angered his father, Hans Luther;
 Whereas Martin Luther took his final vows as an Augustinian monk in the fall of 1506 and was ordained a priest at Erfurt Cathedral in April of 1507;
 Whereas Martin Luther presided over his first Mass on May 2, 1507, with his now-approving father, Hans Luther, in attendance;
 Whereas Martin Luther was appointed as a substitute lecturer in moral philosophy at the University of Wittenberg in 1508;
 Whereas Martin Luther obtained a bachelor’s degree in theology in 1509; Whereas Martin Luther traveled to Rome to represent the Wittenberg Augustinian monastery before a conference of Catholic churches;
 Whereas members of the congregation were told that they could pay the Church to forgive them of their sins and have their deceased ancestors released from purgatory;
 Whereas Martin Luther’s trip to Rome in 1510 sparked his desire to pursue an even deeper understanding of Christian theology and the Bible;
 Whereas Martin Luther earned a doctorate in theology in October of 1512; Whereas Martin Luther began his lectures on the Old Testament Book of Psalms in 1513;
 Whereas the Book of Psalms became a central pillar in Martin Luther’s theological beliefs; Whereas Martin Luther began his lectures on the New Testament Book of Romans in 1515 and the New Testament Book of Galatians in 1516;
 Whereas Martin Luther cited the Books of Romans and Galatians as the foundation for his beliefs that people can receive salvation by grace alone, through faith alone;
 Whereas the idea that a Christian could receive salvation by grace alone, through faith alone was in contrast with the teaching at the time;
 Whereas the more Martin Luther studied the Books of Romans and Galatians, the more he found issue with the Church of his time;
 Whereas Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517; Whereas the 95 theses were posted in an attempt to spark a conversation in Wittenberg;
 Whereas Martin Luther was ordered to appear in Rome; Whereas Frederick the Wise, a friend of Martin Luther, intervened and successfully suggested that Martin Luther instead appear in front of Cardinal Cajetan in Augsburg, Germany;
 Whereas Martin Luther appealed to the General Counsel in the fall of 1518 and refused to recant; Whereas Martin Luther was given 60 days to recant or risk excommunication;
 Whereas Martin Luther refused to recant; Whereas Martin Luther was excommunicated on January 3, 1521;
 Whereas Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms in April of 1521 and refused to recant; Whereas the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, issued the Edict of Worms on May 25, 1521, which declared Martin Luther a public outlaw and made it illegal to be in possession of Luther’s books;
 Whereas Martin Luther published his German translation of the New Testament on September 21, 1522; Whereas Martin Luther wrote the Personal Prayer Book in 1522, a predecessor of the Small Catechism;
 Whereas the Diet of Speyer in 1526 grants German princes the right to establish religion in their territory;
 Whereas the second Diet of Speyer in April of 1529, resulted in the issue of Protestio, which gave rise to the label Protestant;
 Whereas Martin Luther published the Small Catechism and the Large Catechism in 1529; Whereas Hans Lufft published the first edition of Martin Luther’s complete German Bible in 1534;
 Whereas the first Lutheran church, Torgau Castle Chapel, was built in 1544; Whereas Martin Luther preached his last sermon on February 14, 1546, and died in Eisleben on February 18, 1546;
 Whereas the Protestant Reformation extended beyond Martin Luther and Lutheranism; Whereas Ulrich Zwingli began preaching on the New Testament in 1519;
 Whereas Ulrich Zwingli initiated the Reformation in Zurich in 1522; Whereas John Calvin published the first edition of Institutes of the Christian Religion in 1536;
 Whereas John Calvin initiated the Reformation and the Calvinist movement in Geneva in 1541; Whereas Thomas Münzer began preaching against infant baptism in 1521;
 Whereas the Anabaptist movement formally began in 1525, when George Blaurock was rebaptized by Conrad Grebel;
 Whereas William Tyndale visited Martin Luther in Wittenberg in 1525; Whereas, influenced by Martin Luther’s translation, William Tyndale printed an English translation of the New Testament in Worms in 1525;
 Whereas, by 1526, the first copies of the English-translated New Testament had been smuggled into England;
 Whereas William Tyndale was convicted of heresy and executed in Vilvoorde in 1536; Whereas it is reported that William Tyndale’s last words were, Lord, open the King of England’s eyes;
 Whereas over 18,000 copies of the English translation of the New Testament were eventually smuggled into England;
 Whereas King Henry VIII initiated the Reformation in England in his quest for a divorce from Catherine of Aragon;
 Whereas King Henry VIII was excommunicated in 1533 (officially promulgated in 1538); Whereas King Henry VIII declared himself the head of the Church of England in 1534;
 Whereas Henry VIII allowed the English Bible in England in 1536 and required every parish to have a copy;
 Whereas John Knox brought Calvinism to Scotland in 1559; Whereas, after only a few decades of the Reformation, the law began to give legitimacy to Lutherans across Europe;
 Whereas the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, granted limited rights to Protestants in 1552; Whereas, in 1555, the Peace of Augsburg gave Lutherans equal rights in the Holy Roman Empire;
 Whereas the Colloquy of Worms in 1557, which attempted to unite Lutherans and Catholics, failed; Whereas, in response to the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church began to reform itself internally through the Counter-Reformation;
 Whereas, at the Council of Trent (1545–1563), the Catholic Church banned the practice of selling indulgences;
 Whereas animosity between the Catholic Church and the Protestants previously existed following the start of the Reformation but relations have improved drastically over the last half century;
 Whereas the Catholic Church and the Protestants began to mend their relationship after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, with the initiation of a dialogue promoting Christian unity;
 Whereas Pope John XXIII established the Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity in 1961; Whereas Pope John XXIII met often with Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox religious leaders and invited them to send observers to the Second Vatican Council;
 Whereas the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism claims that division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature;
 Whereas, in 1999, the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation signed a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification partially resolving a major conflict at the root of the Protestant Reformation;
 Whereas Pope John Paul II promoted Christian unity with Lutherans by becoming the first pope to ever visit a Lutheran church and to visit countries with Lutheran majorities;
 Whereas Pope Francis praised Martin Luther as a great reformer; Whereas Pope Francis continues to promote Christian unity and in recognizing the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, has said, As Catholics and Lutherans, we have undertaken a common journey of reconciliation. Now, in the context of the commemoration of the Reformation of 1517, we have a new opportunity to accept a common path;
 Whereas the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church are more united now than they have been in the past 500 years;
 Whereas the effects of the Protestant Reformation on Western history, culture, and society were profound;
 Whereas the Protestant Reformation led to major shifts in education and literacy in 16th century Europe;
 Whereas Martin Luther emphasized the significance of individuals reading the Bible, which was made possible by the invention of the printing press;
 Whereas Martin Luther believed that education should be available to all, not just to the elite class that could afford it or those who got an opportunity for education by entering a religious order;
 Whereas increased literacy rates led to various interpretations of Biblical scripture by common people, including women, which allowed for greater theological debate, thought, and practice;
 Whereas the Protestant Reformation influenced English Christians to move to North America in the 17th century;
 Whereas the English Government and the Anglican Church sent settlers to North America in 1607, where they landed at Jamestown and began having regular Church services at Jamestown Fort;
 Whereas, beginning in 1624, the Anglican Church became the established church of Virginia, with taxpayer dollars going toward the Church clergy;
 Whereas, in 1620, Puritans landed at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in pursuit of religious freedom from the Anglican Church;
 Whereas, in 1630, John Winthrop preached a sermon aboard the ship Arbella titled, A Model of Christian Charity, where he proclaimed that the New World shall be as a city upon a hill and that the eyes of all people are upon us,; Whereas United States Presidents, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, have all invoked John Winthrop’s words in historic addresses to the Nation;
 Whereas early American theologians sparked the First Great Awakening, which was a religious movement inspired by the teachings of Protestants Jonathan Edwards, Gilbert Tennent, Samuel Davies, and others to inject religious liberty and Christian virtue in the American colonies;
 Whereas, in the American colonies, Protestant churches played an integral role in opposing the edicts of the English Government and the Anglican Church;
 Whereas the Anglican Church in Virginia was very restrictive as to what people were allowed to read, who was allowed to preach, and how they were allowed to preach;
 Whereas Thomas Jefferson advocated on behalf of Baptists in Virginia to sever Virginia’s ties to the Anglican Church and ensure religious liberties for Virginian Christians of all denominations and beliefs;
 Whereas the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom was one of the most important accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson’s life, as it formally established religious freedom in the State of Virginia;
 Whereas Thomas Jefferson’s work in ensuring religious freedom in Virginia paved the way for the First Amendment in the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights, which says that, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
 Whereas the First Amendment protects the rights of all Americans to worship freely, regardless of their religious beliefs;
 Whereas over 40 percent of Americans identify as Protestants, with thousands of Protestant denominations, active in every State and territory of the United States;
 Whereas almost all United States Presidents have identified as Protestants, with nearly half identifying as Episcopalian or Presbyterian; and
 Whereas the Protestant Reformation is one of the most successful religious movements in history, and was influential in the founding of the United States of America: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives recognizes 500 years since the Protestant Reformation and its significance for many Americans.


116 S2465 IS: Cormorant Relief Act
U.S. Senate
2019-09-11
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 CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2465IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 11, 2019Mr. Cotton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public WorksA BILLTo enact as law certain regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants.

 1.Short TitleThis Act may be cited as the Cormorant Relief Act. 2.Regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants (a)Force and effect (1)In generalSubject to subsection (b), sections 21.47 and 21.48 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2016), shall have the force and effect of law.
 (2)Public noticeThe Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (referred to in this section as the Secretary), shall notify the public of the authority provided by paragraph (1) in a manner determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
 (b)SunsetThe authority provided by subsection (a)(1) shall terminate on the effective date of a regulation promulgated by the Secretary after the date of enactment of this Act to control depredation of double-crested cormorant populations.
 (c)Rule of constructionNothing in this section limits the authority of the Secretary to promulgate regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants under any other law.


115 HR 5394 IH: Iran Responsible Reporting Act of 2018
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-03-22
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
		115th CONGRESS2d Session
		H. R. 5394
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			March 22, 2018
			Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

		A BILL
		To amend the reporting requirements under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of
			 2012, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Iran Responsible Reporting Act of 2018. 2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
 (1)Iran’s Qods Force, a special unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, remains Iran’s primary vehicle to conduct terrorism and destabilize its neighbors.
 (2)Experts speculate that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps controls between 20 and 40 percent of the Iranian economy.
 (3)The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action went into effect in January 2016, resulting in relief of sanctions for significant parts of the Iranian economy, with some direct benefit to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Iranian entities.
 (4)As Iranian money flows into the international financial system as a result of relief of sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it is in the critical interest of the United States to support the ongoing work of the Financial Action Task Force in comprehending and deterring Iranian corruption, particularly Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps ownership, from infecting global financial systems.
			3.Amendment to reporting requirement under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of
 2012Section 102(b)(1) of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8712(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end before the semicolon the following: , particularly the policy set forth in paragraph (1)(A)(i) and the policy set forth in paragraph (1)(A)(iii).
		4.Summit
 (a)In generalThe Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, is authorized to host a summit on an annual basis with major trading partners of Iran for the purpose of identifying and taking appropriate actions with respect to front companies and funding mechanisms of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
 (b)DefinitionIn this section, the term major trading partners of Iran means— (1)member countries of the European Union, the People’s Republic of China, and India; and
 (2)other countries that have a trade relationship with Iran that exceeds $500,000,000 in the most recent calendar year for which data is available.


115 HR 787 IH: Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2017
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-02-01
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.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 787IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 1, 2017Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Moore, Ms. Norton, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Ellison, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Takano, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Ryan of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House AdministrationA BILLTo amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to promote early voting in elections for Federal office
			 and to prevent unreasonable waiting times for voters at polling places
			 used in such elections, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2017. 2.Minimum requirements for early voting and for reducing waiting times for voters in federal elections (a)Requirements for States (1)In generalSubtitle A of title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended—
 (A)by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 306 and 307; and (B)by inserting after section 303 the following new sections:

							304.Early voting
 (a)In generalEach State shall allow individuals to vote in an election for Federal office on each day occurring during the 15-day period which ends on the second day immediately preceding the date of the election, in the same manner as voting is allowed on such date.
 (b)Minimum early voting requirementsEach polling place which allows voting prior to the date of a Federal election pursuant to subsection (a) shall—
 (1)allow such voting for not less than 10 hours on each day; and (2)have uniform hours each day for which such voting occurs.
 (c)Location of polling places near public transportationTo the greatest extent practicable, a State shall ensure that each polling place which allows voting prior to the date of a Federal election pursuant to subsection (a) is located within reasonable walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route.
								(d)Standards
 (1)In generalThe Commission shall issue standards for the administration of voting prior to the date scheduled for a Federal election. Such standards shall include the nondiscriminatory geographic placement of polling places at which such voting occurs.
 (2)DeviationThe standards described in paragraph (1) shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to deviate from any requirement in the case of unforeseen circumstances such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or a change in voter turnout.
 (e)Effective dateThis section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2018. 305.Preventing unreasonable waiting times for voters (a)Preventing unreasonable waiting times (1)In generalEach State shall provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources (including physical resources) at a polling place used in any election for Federal office, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date of the election, to ensure—
 (A)a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in the State; and (B)that no individual will be required to wait longer than one hour to cast a ballot at the polling place.
 (2)CriteriaIn determining the number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources provided at a polling place for purposes of paragraph (1), the State shall take into account the following factors:
 (A)The voting age population. (B)Voter turnout in past elections.
 (C)The number of voters registered. (D)The number of voters who have registered since the most recent Federal election.
 (E)Census data for the population served by the polling place, such as the proportion of the voting age population who are under 25 years of age or who are naturalized citizens.
 (F)The needs and numbers of voters with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency. (G)The type of voting systems used.
 (H)The length and complexity of initiatives, referenda, and other questions on the ballot. (I)Such other factors, including relevant demographic factors relating to the population served by the polling place, as the State considers appropriate.
 (3)GuidelinesNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall establish and publish guidelines to assist States in meeting the requirements of this subsection.
 (4)Rule of constructionNothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize a State to meet the requirements of this subsection by closing any polling place, prohibiting an individual from entering a line at a polling place, or refusing to permit an individual who has arrived at a polling place prior to closing time from voting at the polling place.
									(b)Development and implementation of contingency plans
 (1)In generalEach State shall develop, and implement to the greatest extent practicable, a contingency plan under which the State shall provide additional poll workers, machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies (as the case may be) on the date of the election to any polling place used in an election for Federal office, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date of the election, at which waiting times exceed one hour.
 (2)Approval of plan by CommissionThe State shall ensure that the contingency plan developed under paragraph (1) is approved by the Commission prior to the date of the election involved, in accordance with such procedures as the Commission may establish.
 (c)Effective dateThis section shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2018.. (2)Clerical amendmentThe table of contents of such Act is amended—
 (A)by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and 305 as relating to sections 306 and 307; and
 (B)by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following new items:   Sec. 304. Early voting.  Sec. 305. Preventing unreasonable waiting times for voters.. (b)Report by election assistance commissionNot later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year, the Election Assistance Commission shall submit to Congress a report assessing the impact of sections 304 and 305 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a)) on the administration of elections for Federal office during the preceding 2-year period, and shall include in the report such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate.
			(c)No effect on authority of state To provide for longer periods of early voting or greater amount of
 resources at polling placesNothing in this section or in any amendment made by this section may be construed to prohibit a State, with respect to any election for Federal office—
 (1)from providing (in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner) a longer period for early voting than the minimum period required under section 304 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a)); or
 (2)from providing (in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner) a greater number of systems, poll workers, and other election resources at any polling place than the minimum number required under section 305 of such Act (as added by subsection (a)).
				3.Requirements for counting provisional ballots; establishment of uniform and nondiscriminatory
			 standards
 (a)In generalSection 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21082) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and
 (2)by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsections:  (d)Statewide counting of provisional ballots (1)In generalFor purposes of subsection (a)(4), notwithstanding the precinct or polling place at which a provisional ballot is cast within the State, the appropriate election official shall count each vote on such ballot for each election in which the individual who cast such ballot is eligible to vote.
 (2)Effective dateThis subsection shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2018. (e)Uniform and nondiscriminatory standards (1)In generalConsistent with the requirements of this section, each State shall establish uniform and nondiscriminatory standards for the issuance, handling, and counting of provisional ballots.
 (2)Effective dateThis subsection shall apply with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 2018.. (b)Conforming amendmentSection 302(f) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(f)), as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking Each State and inserting Except as provided in subsections (d)(2) and (e)(2), each State.
			4.Availability of civil penalties and private rights of action to enforce Help America Vote Act of
			 2002
 (a)Availability of civil penalties and private rights of actionSection 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21111) is amended to read as follows:  401.Enforcement (a)Action by Attorney General (1)In generalThe Attorney General may bring a civil action against any State or jurisdiction in an appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory and injunctive relief (including a temporary restraining order, a permanent or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of subtitle A of title III.
 (2)Assessment of civil money penaltyIn a civil action brought under paragraph (1), if the court finds that the State or jurisdiction violated any provision of subtitle A of title III, it may, to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the State or jurisdiction—
 (A)in an amount not to exceed $110,000 for each such violation, in the case of a first violation; or (B)in an amount not to exceed $220,000 for each such violation, for any subsequent violation.
 (3)InterventionUpon timely application, a person aggrieved by a violation of subtitle A of title III with respect to which a civil action is commenced under paragraph (1) may intervene in such action, and may obtain such appropriate relief as the person could obtain in a civil action under subsection (b) with respect to that violation, along with costs and a reasonable attorney fee.
 (4)Report to CongressNot later than December 31 of each year, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress an annual report on any civil action brought under paragraph (1) during the preceding year.
							(b)Private right of action
 (1)AvailabilityA person who is aggrieved by a State's or jurisdiction’s violation of subtitle A of title III may bring a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court for such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of such subtitle.
 (2)Costs and attorney feesThe court may award to a person aggrieved by a violation of subtitle A of title III who prevails in an action brought under paragraph (1) the costs of the action, including a reasonable attorney fee..
 (b)Clerical amendmentThe table of contents of such Act is amended by amending the item relating to section 401 to read as follows:

						Sec. 401. Enforcement..
 (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to violations alleged to have occurred on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3761
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			October 8, 2009
			Mrs. Biggert (for
			 herself, Mr. Rogers of Michigan,
			 Mr. Harper,
			 Mr. Paul, Mr. Lance, Mr. Lee
			 of New York, Mr. Thompson of
			 Pennsylvania, Mrs.
			 Blackburn, Mr. Jones,
			 Mrs. Bono Mack,
			 Mr. King of New York,
			 Mr. Gary G. Miller of California, and
			 Mr. Duncan) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on
			 Appropriations, 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 amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the
		  first-time homebuyer tax credit, and for other purposes.

		1.Extension of first-time
			 homebuyer tax credit
			(a)In
			 generalSubsection (h) of section 36 of the Internal Revenue Code
			 of 1986 is amended by striking December 1, 2009 and inserting
			 June 1, 2010.
			(b)Election To
			 treat purchase in prior yearSubsection (g) of section 36 of such
			 Code is amended—
				(1)by striking
			 December 1, 2009 and inserting January 1, 2010,
			 and
				(2)by adding at the
			 end the following: In the case of a purchase of a principal residence
			 after December 31, 2009, and before June 1, 2010, a taxpayer may elect to treat
			 such purchase as made on December 31, 2009, for purposes of this section (other
			 than the preceding sentence and subsections (c) and (f)(4)(D))..
				(c)Extension of
			 waiver of recaptureSubparagraph (D) of section 36(f)(4) of such
			 Code is amended—
				(1)by striking
			 December 1, 2009 and inserting June 1, 2010,
			 and
				(2)by striking
			 in
			 2009 in the heading and inserting
			 after
			 2008.
				(d)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to
			 residences purchased after November 30, 2009.
			2.Rescission of
			 ARRA appropriations
			(a)In
			 generalEffective on the date
			 of the enactment of this Act, of the discretionary appropriations made
			 available by division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
			 (Public Law 111–5), the applicable percentage of unobligated balances are
			 rescinded.
			(b)Applicable
			 percentageFor purposes of this section, the term
			 applicable percentage means the percentage that the Secretary of
			 the Treasury estimates will result in an increase in revenue to the Treasury
			 equal to the decrease in revenue by reason of the amendments made by section 1
			 of this Act.


113 S1867 IS: Prepaid Card Consumer Protection Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
2013-12-19
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.

II113th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1867IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESDecember 19, 2013Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsA BILLTo provide protection for consumers who have prepaid
		  cards, and for other purposes.1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Prepaid Card Consumer Protection
			 Act of 2013.2.Definitions(a)Definition of
			 accountSection 903 of the Electronic Fund Transfer
			 Act (15 U.S.C. 1693a) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
			 following:(2)the term account—(A)means—(i)a demand deposit, savings deposit, or other
				asset account (other than an occasional or incidental credit balance in an open
				end credit plan, as defined in section 103(j)), as described in regulations of
				the Bureau, established primarily for personal, family, or household purposes,
				as defined by the Bureau, by rule; and(ii)a spending
				account, as defined in section 924(a); and(B)does not include an account held by a
				financial institution pursuant to a bona fide trust
				agreement;.(b)Definition of
			 financial institutionSection 903(9) of the
			 Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693a(9)) is amended by striking
			 holds an account and inserting manages, provides, or
			 holds an account containing funds.(c)Technical and
			 conforming amendmentsSection 903 of the Electronic Fund Transfer
			 Act (15 U.S.C. 1693a) is amended—(1)by redesignating
			 paragraph (4) (relating to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
			 System), as so designated by section 1084(2)(A) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
			 Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111–203; 124 Stat. 2081), as
			 paragraph (3); and(2)in paragraph (3),
			 as so redesignated, by striking term Bureau means the
			 Bureau of Governors and inserting term Board means
			 the Board of Governors.3.Spending
			 accounts(a)Spending
			 accountsThe Electronic Fund
			 Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693 et seq.) is amended—(1)by redesignating section 923 (15 U.S.C.
			 1693 note), relating to the effective date of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act,
			 as so designated by section 1073 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
			 Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111–203; 124 Stat. 2060), as section
			 925;(2)by redesignating section 922 (15 U.S.C.
			 1693r), relating to exemptions for State regulation, as so designated by
			 section 1073 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
			 (Public Law 111–203; 124 Stat. 2060), as section 923; and(3)by inserting after section 923, as so
			 redesignated, the following:924.Spending
				accounts(a)DefinitionsFor
				purposes of this section—(1)the term
				insured credit union has the same meaning as in section 101 of the
				Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752);(2)the term
				insured depository institution has the same meaning as in section
				3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); and(3)the term
				spending account—(A)means a deposit
				account—(i)that is
				established by a consumer or on behalf of a consumer at an insured depository
				institution or an insured credit union;(ii)that contains
				the funds of a consumer;(iii)to which
				payments are to be made by a consumer, or at the direction of a
				consumer;(iv)to which
				recurring electronic fund transfers may be made, at the direction of a
				consumer; or(v)from which
				payments may be made at the direction of a consumer through the use of a card,
				code, or device;(B)includes a
				deposit account described in subparagraph (A)—(i)that is operated
				or managed by a financial institution, or any other person; and(ii)the funds of
				which are—(I)pooled with the
				funds of a person other than the person who established the account; or(II)held in a name
				other than that of the person who established the account; and(C)does not
				include—(i)an account described in section 903(2)(A)(i);(ii)an account held by a financial institution pursuant to a bona fide trust agreement;(iii)a
				nonreloadable, general-use prepaid card, as defined in section 915(a)(2)(A), in
				an amount that does not exceed $250;(iv)a general-use prepaid card, as defined in section 915(a)(2)(A), that is solely associated with—(I)a health plan to which section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 applies;(II)a qualified transportation fringe, as defined in section 132(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;(III)a health savings account, as defined in section 223(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or(IV)any other healthcare benefit account, including a healthcare account relating to Medicare or Medicaid benefits;(v)a gift
				certificate, as defined in section 915(a)(2)(B);(vi)a store gift
				card, as defined in section 915(a)(2)(C);(vii)an electronic
				promise, plastic card, or payment code or device described in clause (i), (v),
				or (vi) of section 915(a)(2)(D);(viii)a
				nonreloadable card labeled as a gift card and marketed solely as a gift card;
				or(ix)a nonreloadable
				loyalty, rebate, or promotional card.(b)FDIC or NCUA
				insurance(1)Insurance
				requiredSpending accounts shall be structured to provide and
				maintain separate deposit insurance coverage for the funds of each consumer
				under the applicable regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
				or the National Credit Union Administration.(2)Transfer of
				fundsAny person that receives funds in connection with an
				electronic fund transfer to a spending account shall promptly, and in no event
				later than 1 business day after the funds are activated—(A)transfer such
				funds to an account at an insured depository institution or an insured credit
				union, as applicable; and(B)credit the
				spending account in an amount equal to the amount of such funds.(c)Alternative to
				periodic statement(1)Periodic
				statement not requiredIn the case of an electronic fund transfer
				from a spending account, a financial institution shall not be subject to the
				requirement under section 906(c) to provide a periodic statement to a consumer,
				if the financial institution provides to the consumer—(A)access to the
				account balance of the consumer—(i)through a readily
				available telephone line;(ii)through the
				Internet;(iii)at an
				electronic terminal or other device that allows the consumer to make a balance
				inquiry, by providing balance information or, routinely or upon request, on a
				receipt provided at the electronic terminal at the time of an electronic fund
				transfer; and(iv)through text
				messaging;(B)notice of the
				means by which the consumer may access the account balance of the consumer,
				including any telephone number;(C)in response to an
				oral or written request of the consumer, a written record of the account
				transactions of the consumer during the 2-year period ending on the date of the
				request that includes the information required to be provided to the consumer
				under section 906(c);(D)an electronic
				record, such as a record available on the Internet, of the account transactions
				of the consumer during the 2-year period ending on the date on which the
				consumer accesses the electronic record that includes the information required
				to be provided to the consumer under section 906(c);(E)with at least the
				same frequency as a written periodic statement that would otherwise be required
				under section 906, notification by email of the availability of an electronic
				history or an electronic periodic statement, unless the consumer has declined
				to provide an email address;(F)the option to
				receive a written statement, either a one-time paper statement or
				continuous regular monthly paper statements with a single request, and clear
				and conspicuous notice of such option at the time of enrollment and on the
				website of the financial institution;(G)annual notice of
				the error resolution procedure for the spending account, as prescribed in
				regulations of the Bureau; and(H)any other
				transaction information that the financial institution elects to make available
				and that the consumer elects to receive, such as messages or alerts concerning
				other balance or transaction information.(2)Fees
				prohibited(A)In
				generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), a financial
				institution may not charge a fee for any service provided under paragraph
				(1).(B)Fee for written
				statementA financial institution may charge a fee of
				not more than $1 for each written statement provided under paragraph
				(1)(F).(3)No election by
				consumerIf the consumer has not elected to receive written
				periodic or annual statements, has not elected to receive another regular form
				of transaction information that the Bureau has determined, by rule, to be
				equivalent to periodic statements, and has not accessed the account online in
				the preceding 12-month period, the financial institution shall provide notice to the consumer at least annually of the means by which the
				consumer may access transaction information and the option to enroll in written
				periodic or annual statements.(d)Limitations on
				liabilityFor purposes of section 909(a), reimbursement need not
				be made to a consumer for a loss relating to a spending account that a
				financial institution establishes would not have occurred, but for the failure
				of the consumer to report any unauthorized electronic fund transfer or account
				error—(1)not later than 60
				days after the date on which account information that includes the unauthorized
				electronic fund transfer or account error is provided to or accessed by the
				consumer under subsection (c); or(2)in extenuating
				circumstances, such as extended travel or hospitalization, within a longer time
				that is reasonable under the circumstances.(e)Fees(1)Fees
				prohibitedExcept as provided in paragraph (2), a financial
				institution may not charge in connection with a spending account—(A)an annual
				fee;(B)an overdraft fee,
				including a fee for shortage or nonsufficient funds, or any other fee for a
				transaction processed for amounts exceeding the account balance;(C)a usage fee for
				use at the point of sale;(D)a fee for a
				declined transaction;(E)a fee for the use
				of an electronic terminal that is in the network of the issuer;(F)any fee during
				periods of inactivity or dormancy, including a periodic fee charged after more
				than 6 months of inactivity;(G)a fee for a
				balance inquiry or access to transaction information;(H)a fee for an
				inquiry to customer service;(I)a finance charge
				or other fee imposed in connection with an extension of credit;(J)an account
				closing fee or a fee to obtain the remaining balance in the spending
				account;(K)a fee for any
				activity not described in paragraph (2);(L)any fee
				prohibited by applicable State law; or(M)any fee of any
				kind that would cause the balance to become negative.(2)Fees
				permittedA financial institution may charge in connection with a
				spending account—(A)a fee for a
				replacement card—(i)of not more than
				$5 for the first replacement card requested by a consumer during any 12-month
				period; and(ii)that is in
				addition to the replacement card described in clause (i);(B)a fee for
				expedited delivery of a replacement card;(C)a periodic fee,
				not more frequently than monthly, provided that no periodic fee may be assessed
				if there has been no deposit or transaction activity in the account during the
				preceding 3 months;(D)a reload fee, or
				any other fee for adding value to the spending account, if the financial
				institution provides a reasonable alternate method for adding value to the
				spending account without a fee;(E)a fee for a
				transfer from the spending account to another account;(F)a fee for bill
				payment;(G)a fee for a
				withdrawal by the consumer from an electronic terminal that is—(i)located outside
				the United States; or(ii)not in the
				network of the financial institution, including a fee to cover the costs of any
				charge to the financial institution by the owner of the electronic terminal
				relating to the use of the electronic terminal by the consumer;(H)a fee for a
				purchase or a withdrawal in a foreign currency; and(I)an activation,
				initiation, or enrollment fee.(3)Disclosure of
				fee information(A)Disclosure
				requiredEach financial institution that offers a spending
				account shall provide to a consumer—(i)together with any
				application, offer, or solicitation for a spending account—(I)a table of any
				fees that may be charged in connection with the spending account that—(aa)can be easily
				understood by the consumer;(bb)is
				clearly and conspicuously displayed to the consumer before purchase; and(cc)includes, at a
				minimum, the amount and a description of each fee that may be charged by the
				financial institution under paragraph (2); and(II)an estimate of
				the average total monthly cost to a typical consumer for using the spending
				account, based on a profile of the typical consumer established by the
				Bureau;(ii)on the card or
				other means of access, a toll-free telephone number and website at which the
				consumer may access a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the fees that may be
				charged in connection with the spending account; and(iii)a wallet-sized
				summary of any fees that may be charged in connection with the spending account
				and a toll-free telephone number for customer service relating to the spending
				account.(B)RulesNot
				later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
				Prepaid Card Consumer Protection Act of
				2013, the Bureau shall establish, by rule, the headings, content,
				and format of the fee table, estimate, and wallet-sized fee summary required
				under subparagraph (A).(f)Credit
				features(1)In
				generalNo person may offer or provide a spending account that
				has a credit feature or that can be linked to a credit account that is
				automatically repaid from the spending account.(2)ExceptionsNothing
				in this subsection prohibits—(A)a consumer from
				making an electronic fund transfer from a spending account to pay a credit
				account or from setting up preauthorized electronic fund transfers to pay a
				credit account; or(B)a financial
				institution from offsetting an inadvertent negative balance in a spending
				account against the next deposit to that account, provided that the consumer is
				not charged a fee or finance charge.(g)Closure of
				dormant accountsA financial institution or other person that
				provides, holds, or manages a spending account shall close the account and
				refund any remaining funds to the consumer—(1)if the account
				has been inactive for 12 months, or such other period as the Bureau shall
				establish, by regulation; and(2)upon request of
				the consumer to the financial institution or other person using an easily
				accessible method of contact, that the account be
				closed..(b)Consumer choiceSection 913 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693k) is amended—(1)by striking No person may— and inserting the following:(a)In generalNo person may—;(2)in paragraph (1), by striking or at the end;(3)in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting ; or;(4)by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:(3)issue a card or other means of access for receipt of electronic fund transfers of wages or government benefits unless the recipient has first been offered the option of receiving the funds in a form selected by the recipient from among a set of options specified by the Bureau.; and(5)by adding at the end the following:(b)Forms of receiptThe options for forms of receipt of electronic fund transfers of wages or government benefits under subsection (a)(3) specified by the Bureau shall include at least 1 of the following forms:(1)direct deposit into an account designated by the recipient;(2)in cash; and(3)by check..(c)StudyThe
			 Bureau shall establish an implementation plan and timeline for a prepaid card
			 research study to be completed not later than 1 year after the date of
			 enactment of this Act, to determine what, if any, differences there are for
			 both the short- and long-term economic well being of consumers at different
			 income levels who use spending accounts versus those who use traditional bank
			 accounts for their primary means of making financial transactions.(d)Technical and
			 conforming amendments(1)Written
			 periodic statementsSection 906(c) of the Electronic Fund
			 Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693d(c)) is amended in the first sentence of the
			 matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking A financial and
			 inserting Except as provided in section 924(c), a
			 financial.(2)Error
			 resolutionSection 908(a) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15
			 U.S.C. 1693f(a)) is amended by striking or notification pursuant to
			 section 906(b) and inserting , notification pursuant to section
			 906(b), or written or electronic documentation pursuant to section
			 924(c).4.SeverabilityIf any provision of this Act or an amendment made by this Act, or the application of the provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions of this Act and the amendments made by this Act to any other person or circumstance, shall not be affected.5.Effective
			 dateThis Act and the
			 amendments made by this Act shall become effective 9 months after the date of
			 enactment of this Act.