		II
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 2411
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			December 5, 2007
			Mr. Wyden (for himself
			 and Mr. Obama) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To require the establishment of a credit card safety star
		  rating system for the benefit of consumers, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Credit Card Safety Star Act of
			 2007.
		2.FindingsCongress finds that—
			(1)competition in the credit card market is
			 severely hindered by a lack of transparency, which results in inefficient
			 consumer choices;
			(2)such lack of
			 transparency is largely due to confusing terms and overwhelming information for
			 consumers;
			(3)the marketplace
			 has not increased competition based on the merits of credit cards;
			(4)a Government
			 rating system that would use market forces by encouraging better transparency
			 would increase such competition and assist consumers in making better credit
			 card choices; and
			(5)such a rating
			 system would not preclude additional regulation or legislation that may
			 eliminate certain practices considered unfair or abusive.
			3.Truth in Lending
			 Act AmendmentsThe Truth in
			 Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 127A
			 the following new section:

				127B.Credit card
				safety star rating system
					(a)DefinitionsIn this section—
						(1)the term agreement means the
				terms and conditions applicable to an open end credit plan offered by an issuer
				of credit;
						(2)references to a
				reading grade level shall be as determined by the Board, using available
				measurements for assessing such reading levels, including those used by the
				Department of Education;
						(3)the term
				Safety Star System means the credit card safety star rating system
				established under this section;
						(4)the term
				multiple-cycle billing means the practice of calculating average
				daily balances over more than 1 billing cycle; and
						(5)the term
				junk mail means a form of disclosure that does not inform the
				consumer in a meaningful and significant way about changes in the contract,
				including small type, using separate pieces of paper for separate disclosures,
				and mixing disclosure materials with product advertisements.
						(b)Rulemaking
						(1)In
				generalNot later than 12 months after the date of enactment of
				this section, the Board shall issue final rules to implement the Safety Star
				System established under this section, to allow consumers to quickly and easily
				compare the levels of safety associated with various open end credit plan
				agreements.
						(2)ConsultationThe
				Board shall consult with the Comptroller of the Currency in issuing rules to
				implement the Safety Star System.
						(c)Elements of
				Safety Star SystemThe Safety Star System shall consist of a
				5-star system for rating the terms and conditions of each open end credit plan
				agreement between a card issuer and a cardholder, in accordance with this
				section.
					(d)Safety star
				ratings
						(1)One-star
				ratingThe lowest level of safety for an open end credit plan
				shall be indicated by a 1-star rating.
						(2)Five-star
				ratingThe highest level of safety in an open end credit plan
				shall be indicated by a 5-star rating.
						(e)Point structure
				for Safety Star System
						(1)ValuesEach
				variation of a term in an agreement shall be worth 1 point or –1 point, as
				applicable.
						(2)Star
				systemFor purposes of the Safety Star System—
							(A)5-star credit
				cards are those with points totaling 7 points or greater;
							(B)4-star credit
				cards are those with between 3 points and 6 points;
							(C)3-star credit
				cards are those with between –1 point and 2 points;
							(D)2-star credit
				cards are those with between –6 points and –2 points; and
							(E)1-star credit
				cards are those with –7 points or fewer.
							(f)Point
				awardsOne point shall be awarded for each of the terms in an
				agreement under which—
						(1)no binding or
				nonbinding arbitration clause applies;
						(2)at least 90 days
				notice is provided to the cardholder if the card issuer wants to change the
				terms of the agreement, with the option for the consumer to opt out of the
				changes, while paying off their previous balance according to the original
				terms;
						(3)changes are
				disclosed in a manner that highlights the differences between the current terms
				and the proposed terms;
						(4)the original card
				agreement and all original supplementary materials are in 1 document at 1 time,
				and, when the card issuer discloses changes to the card agreement—
							(A)those materials
				are not in junk mail form; and
							(B)the changes are
				disclosed conspicuously, together with the next billing cycle statement, before
				the changes becomes effective;
							(5)no over-the-limit
				fees are imposed for the transactions approved at the time of transaction by
				the card issuer;
						(6)no fees are
				imposed to pay credit card bills using any method, including over the
				phone;
						(7)the card issuer
				has in place a system to minimize fees to the consumer that is at least as
				financially beneficial to the consumer as a system under which payments are
				applied to principal in a manner that divides the payment among the different
				interest rate balances proportionally;
						(8)interest is not
				accrued on new purchases between the end of the billing cycle and the due date
				when a balance is outstanding;
						(9)the card issuer
				does not use multiple-cycle billing;
						(10)with respect to
				a subprime, unsecured credit plan, fees are below 10 percent of the minimum
				allowed credit balance;
						(11)the terms of the
				agreement are disclosed in a form that requires at or below an 8th grade
				reading level;
						(12)any secondary
				disclosure materials meant to supplement the terms of the agreement are
				disclosed in a form that requires at or below an 8th grade reading
				level;
						(13)no late fee may
				be imposed when a payment is received, whether processed by the issuer or not,
				within 2 days of the payment due date;
						(14)a copy of the
				agreement and all supplementary materials are easily available to the
				cardholder online; or
						(15)a substantial
				positive financial benefit would be provided to the consumer, as determined by
				the Board in accordance with subsection (h).
						(g)Negative
				pointsOne point shall be subtracted for each of the terms in an
				agreement under which—
						(1)binding or
				nonbinding arbitration is required to resolve disputes;
						(2)fewer than 30
				days notice before the billing statement for which changes in terms take effect
				are provided to the cardholder when the card issuer wants to change the terms
				of the card agreement (which shall be assumed if notice of such changes is
				undisclosed in the agreement materials);
						(3)junk mailer
				disclosures are used to inform cardholders of changes in their
				agreements;
						(4)over-the-limit
				fees are imposed more than once based on the same transaction;
						(5)fees are imposed
				to pay bills by check, over the Internet, or by an automated phone
				system;
						(6)payment
				allocations are less financially beneficial to the consumer than a system under
				which payments are applied to older balances before newer ones;
						(7)interest is
				accrued on new purchases between the end of the billing cycle and the due date
				when a balance is outstanding;
						(8)the agreement
				allows for multiple-cycle billing;
						(9)with respect to a
				subprime, unsecured credit plan, the fees to obtain or maintain the card amount
				to more than 50 percent of the minimum allowed credit balance;
						(10)the terms of the
				agreement are disclosed in a form that requires a reading level that is above a
				12th grade reading level;
						(11)any secondary
				disclosure materials meant to supplement the terms of the agreement are written
				in a form that requires a reading level above the 12th grade reading
				level;
						(12)a late fee may
				be imposed within 2 days of the payment due date;
						(13)the issuer may
				unilaterally change the terms in the agreement without written consent from the
				consumer, or the issuer may unilaterally make adverse changes to the terms in
				the agreement without written consent from the consumer and written notice to
				the consumer of the precise behavior that provoked the adverse change;
						(14)interest rate
				increases apply to already incurred debt;
						(15)the issuer
				charges interest on transaction fees, including late fees; or
						(16)there would be a
				negative financial impact on the interests of the consumer, as determined by
				the Board in accordance with subsection (h).
						(h)Board
				considerationsFor purposes
				of subsections (f)(15) and (g)(16), the Board may consider—
						(1)the level of
				difficulty in understanding terms of the subject agreement by an average
				consumer;
						(2)how such terms
				will affect consumers who are close to the edge of their credit limits;
						(3)how such terms
				will affect consumers who do not have a good credit score, history, or rating,
				using commonly employed credit measurement methods (if it creates greater
				access to credit by reducing safety, or by other means);
						(4)whether such
				terms create what would appear to a reasonable consumer to be an arbitrary
				deadline or limit that may frustrate consumers and result in excess fees or
				worse financial outcomes for the consumer;
						(5)whether such
				terms, or the severity of such terms, is not based on the credit risks created
				by a particular consumer behavior, but rather is designed to solely increase
				revenue through lack of transparency;
						(6)whether any State
				has sought to limit such terms or terms that are similar thereto;
						(7)whether
				provisions of State law relating to unfair and deceptive practices would
				prohibit any such terms, but for the national bank exclusion from non-home
				State banking laws;
						(8)whether such
				terms have an anticompetitive or procompetitive effect on the marketplace;
				and
						(9)such additional
				terms or concepts that are not specified in paragraphs (1) through (8) that the
				Board deems difficult for an average consumer to manage, such as terms that are
				confusing to the typical consumer or that create a greater risk of negative
				financial outcomes for the typical consumer, and terms that promote
				transparency or competition.
						(i)LimitationsFor
				purposes of subsection (h), the Board may not consider, with respect to the
				terms of an open end credit plan agreement, the profitability or impact on the
				success of any particular business model of such terms.
					(j)Automatic
				ratingNotwithstanding any other provision of this section, or
				any other provision of State or Federal law, any open end credit plan that
				allows the card issuer or a designee thereof to modify the terms of the
				agreement at any time or periodically for unspecified or unstated reasons, or
				under which other accounts, or changes in the credit rating of the consumer by
				a third party, are used as a basis for adverse changes in the agreement
				(including universal default) shall automatically give rise to a 1-star rating
				for such open end credit plan.
					(k)No points if
				terms are required by lawIf a particular term in an agreement
				becomes required by law or regulation, no points may be awarded under the
				Safety Star System for that term.
					(l)Procedures for
				ratings
						(1)Certification
				to the BoardEach issuer of credit under an open end credit plan
				shall certify in writing to the Board, the number of stars to be awarded,
				separately for each of the card issuer's agreements. Each such certification
				shall specify which terms in each agreement are subject to the Safety Star
				System, and how the issuer arrived at the star rating for each agreement based
				on the Safety Star System in accordance with paragraph (2).
						(2)Submissions to
				the BoardEach agreement that is subject to a Safety Star System
				rating shall be submitted electronically to the Board, together with a written
				explanation of whether the agreement has or does not have each of the terms
				specified in subsections (f) and (g), before issuing or marketing a credit card
				under that agreement.
						(3)Board
				verification
							(A)In
				generalThe Board shall verify that the terms in the submitted
				agreement and supporting materials (such as examples of future disclosures or
				examples of websites with cardholder agreements) comply with the certification
				submitted to the Board by the issuer under this subsection, not later than 30
				days after the date of submission.
							(B)Avoiding
				duplicative verificationsA card issuer may certify to the Board,
				in writing, that all agreements that it markets include a particular term, or
				that the issuer will use certain practices (with supporting documents,
				including showing how future disclosures will be made) so that the Board is
				required to determine only once, with respect to that term or practice, how
				that term or practice affects the star ratings of the credit card agreements of
				the issuer.
							(4)Misrepresentations
				as violationsAny certification to the Board under this section
				that the issuer knew, or should have known, was false or misrepresented to the
				Board or to a consumer the terms or conditions of a card agreement or of a
				Safety Star System rating under this section shall be treated as a violation of
				this title, and shall be subject to enforcement in accordance with section
				108.
						(5)Modifications
				by card issuers
							(A)In
				generalAfter the first annual review by the Board, mentioned in
				subsection (o), before implementing any new term or concept, or new way of
				approaching a term or concept, with respect to an open end credit plan, the
				card issuer shall submit the new term or concept and any supporting materials
				to the Board, other than with respect to an adjustment to the applicable rate
				of interest in an existing agreement that clearly specifies that such rate
				would be adjustable and under what conditions such adjustments could
				occur.
							(B)Determination
				of the BoardNot later than 30 days after the date of a
				submission under subparagraph (A), the Board shall complete a review of the
				effects on safety of the subject new concept or term, and shall issue a
				decision on whether it affects the Safety Star System rating for the open end
				credit plan that will include the term or concept.
							(m)Display of and
				access to ratings
						(1)Display of
				rating requiredThe Safety
				Star System rating for each credit card shall be clearly displayed on all
				marketing material, applications, billing statements, and agreements associated
				with that credit card, as well as on the back of each such credit card,
				including a brief explanation of the system displayed below each rating (other
				than on the back of the credit card).
						(2)New cards
				required for lower ratingsIn any case in which the Safety Star
				System rating for a credit card is lowered for any reason, the card issuer
				shall provide new cards to account holders displaying the new rating in
				accordance with paragraph (1).
						(3)Graphic
				displayThe Safety Star
				System rating for a credit card shall be represented by a graphic that
				demonstrates not only the number of stars that the credit card has received,
				but also the number of stars that the card did not receive.
						(4)Development of
				graphic by the BoardThe Board shall determine the graphic and
				description of the Safety Star System for display on materials and the back of
				cards for purposes of this section.
						(n)Consumer access
				to ratings
						(1)In
				generalThe Board shall engage in an extensive campaign to
				educate consumers about the Safety Star System ratings for credit cards, using
				commonly used and accessible communications media.
						(2)WebsiteNot
				later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Board
				shall establish and shall maintain a stand-alone website—
							(A)to provide easily
				understandable, in-depth information on the criteria used to assign the
				ratings, as provided in subsections (f) and (g); and
							(B)to include a
				listing of the Safety Star System ratings for each open end consumer credit
				plan, information on how the issuer arrived at that rating, and the number of
				consumers that have that plan with the issuer.
							(o)Annual review
				by the Board
						(1)In
				generalThe Board shall conduct a thorough annual review (of not
				longer than 6 months in duration) of the Safety Star System, to determine
				whether the point system is effectively aiding consumers, and shall promptly
				implement any regulatory changes as are necessary to ensure that the System
				protects consumers and encourages transparent competition and fairness to
				consumers, including implementing a system in which terms are weighted to
				distinguish between different levels of safety, in accordance with the purposes
				of this section.
						(2)Availability of
				resultsResults of the review conducted under this subsection
				shall be submitted to Congress, and shall be made available to the
				public.
						(p)Periodic review
				of standardsOnce every 2 years, the Board shall determine
				whether the requirements to satisfy 2-star standards and above should be raised
				on the grounds that card issuers have abandoned the most unfair practices. In
				making such determination, the Board may not consider the profitability of
				business models, but may consider whether competition in the credit industry
				will improve consumer protection, and how the change in standards will affect
				such
				competition.
					.
		4.Safety Star
			 Advisory Commission
			(a)EstablishmentThere
			 is established the Credit Card Safety Star Advisory Commission (in this section
			 referred to as the Commission).
			(b)Duties
				(1)Review of the
			 credit card Safety Star System and annual reportsThe Commission
			 shall—
					(A)review the
			 effectiveness of the credit card Safety Star System under this section,
			 including the topics described in paragraph (2);
					(B)make
			 recommendations to Congress concerning such system;
					(C)study whether it
			 would better protect consumers to ban some practices by creditors rather than
			 use a rating system for those practices, including universal default,
			 unilateral changes without consumer consent, allowing interest charges on fees,
			 or allowing interest rate increases to apply to past debt; and
					(D)by not later than
			 March 1 of each calendar year following the date of enactment of this Act,
			 submit a report to Congress containing the results of such reviews and its
			 recommendations concerning such system.
					(2)Specific topics
			 to be reviewedThe Commission shall review—
					(A)with respect to
			 all credit card users—
						(i)the
			 methodology for awarding stars to credit cards under the Safety Star System,
			 and whether there may be a better way to award stars that takes into account
			 unfair or unsafe practices that remain uncaptured in the Safety Star
			 System;
						(ii)the consumer
			 awareness of the Safety Star System and what may make the system more useful to
			 consumers; and
						(iii)other major
			 issues in implementation and further development of the Safety Star
			 System;
						(B)with respect to
			 credit card users who are at or close to their credit limits, whether such
			 consumers are being specifically targeted in credit card agreements, and
			 whether the Safety Star System should incorporate more terms or be revised to
			 encourage more fair terms for such consumers; and
					(C)the effects of
			 the Safety Star System on the availability and affordability of credit and the
			 implications of changes in credit availability and affordability in the United
			 States and in the general market for credit services due to the Safety Star
			 System.
					(3)Comments on
			 certain Board reports
					(A)Transmittal to
			 CommissionIf the Board submits to Congress (or a committee of
			 Congress) a report that is required by law and that relates to the Safety Star
			 System, the Board shall transmit a copy of the report to the Commission.
					(B)Independent
			 reviewThe Commission shall review any report received under
			 subparagraph (A) and, not later than 6 months after the date of submission of
			 the report to Congress, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
			 written comments on such report. Such comments may include such recommendations
			 as the Commission determines appropriate.
					(4)Agenda and
			 additional reviewsThe Commission shall consult periodically with
			 the chairperson and ranking minority members of the appropriate committees of
			 Congress regarding the agenda of the Commission and progress towards achieving
			 the agenda. The Commission may conduct additional reviews, and submit
			 additional reports to the appropriate committees of Congress, from time to time
			 on such topics relating to the Safety Star System as may be requested by such
			 chairpersons and members, and as the Commission determines appropriate.
				(5)Availability of
			 reportsThe Commission shall transmit to the Board a copy of each
			 report submitted under this subsection, and shall make such reports available
			 to the public in an easily accessible format, including operating a website
			 containing the reports.
				(6)Appropriate
			 committees of CongressFor purposes of this subsection, the term
			 appropriate committees of Congress means the Committee on Banking,
			 Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial
			 Services of the House of Representatives.
				(7)Voting and
			 reporting requirementsWith respect to each recommendation
			 contained in a report submitted under paragraph (1), each member of the
			 Commission shall vote on the recommendation, and the Commission shall include,
			 by member, the results of that vote in the report containing the
			 recommendation. The Commission may file a minority report.
				(8)Examination of
			 budget consequencesBefore making any recommendation that is
			 likely to have a Federal budgetary impact, the Commission shall examine the
			 budget consequences of such recommendation, directly or through consultation
			 with appropriate expert entities.
				(c)Membership
				(1)Number and
			 appointmentThe Commission shall be composed of 15 members
			 appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States, in accordance with
			 this section.
				(2)Qualifications
					(A)In
			 generalThe membership of the Commission shall include
			 individuals—
						(i)who
			 have achieved national recognition for their expertise in credit cards, debt
			 management, economics, credit availability, consumer protection, and other
			 credit card-related issues and fields; or
						(ii)who provide a
			 mix of different professions, a broad geographic representation, and a balance
			 between urban and rural representatives.
						(B)Makeup of
			 CommissionThe Commission shall be made up of 15 members, of
			 whom—
						(i)4 shall be
			 representatives from consumer groups;
						(ii)4 shall be
			 representatives from credit card issuers or banks;
						(iii)7 shall be
			 representatives from nonprofit research entities or nonpartisan experts in
			 banking and credit cards; and
						(iv)no fewer than 1
			 of the members described in clauses (i) through (iii) shall represent each
			 of—
							(I)the
			 elderly;
							(II)economically
			 disadvantaged consumers;
							(III)racial or
			 ethnic minorities; and
							(IV)students and
			 minors.
							(C)Ethics
			 disclosuresThe Comptroller General shall establish a system for
			 public disclosure by members of the Commission of financial and other potential
			 conflicts of interest relating to such members. Members of the Commission shall
			 be treated as employees of Congress whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of
			 the Senate for purposes of title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978
			 (Public Law 95–521).
					(3)Terms
					(A)In
			 generalThe terms of members of the Commission shall be for 5
			 years except that the Comptroller General shall designate staggered terms for
			 the members first appointed.
					(B)VacanciesAny
			 member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term
			 for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for
			 the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration of that
			 member's term until a successor has taken office. A vacancy in the Commission
			 shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was
			 made.
					(4)Compensation
					(A)MembersWhile
			 serving on the business of the Commission (including travel time), a member of
			 the Commission shall be entitled to compensation at the per diem equivalent of
			 the rate provided for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of
			 title 5, United States Code, and while so serving away from home and the
			 regular place of business of the member, the member may be allowed travel
			 expenses, as authorized by the Chairperson.
					(B)Other
			 employeesFor purposes of pay (other than pay of members of the
			 Commission) and employment benefits, rights, and privileges, all employees of
			 the Commission shall be treated as if they were employees of the United States
			 Senate.
					(5)Chairperson;
			 Vice ChairpersonThe Comptroller General shall designate a member
			 of the Commission, at the time of appointment of the member as Chairperson and
			 a member as Vice Chairperson for that term of appointment, except that in the
			 case of vacancy in the position of Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the
			 Commission, the Comptroller General may designate another member for the
			 remainder of that member's term.
				(6)MeetingsThe
			 Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
				(d)Director and
			 staff; experts and consultantsSubject to such review as the
			 Comptroller General determines necessary to assure the efficient administration
			 of the Commission, the Commission may—
				(1)employ and fix
			 the compensation of an Executive Director (subject to the approval of the
			 Comptroller General) and such other personnel as may be necessary to carry out
			 its duties (without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
			 governing appointments in the competitive service);
				(2)seek such
			 assistance and support as may be required in the performance of its duties from
			 appropriate Federal departments and agencies;
				(3)enter into
			 contracts or make other arrangements, as may be necessary for the conduct of
			 the work of the Commission (without regard to section 3709 of the Revised
			 Statutes of the United States (41 U.S.C. 5));
				(4)make advance,
			 progress, and other payments which relate to the work of the Commission;
				(5)provide
			 transportation and subsistence for persons serving without compensation;
			 and
				(6)prescribe such
			 rules and regulations as it determines necessary with respect to the internal
			 organization and operation of the Commission.
				(e)Powers
				(1)Obtaining
			 official dataThe Commission may secure directly from any
			 department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to
			 carry out this section. Upon request of the Chairperson, the head of that
			 department or agency shall furnish that information to the Commission on an
			 agreed upon schedule.
				(2)Data
			 collectionIn order to carry out its functions, the Commission
			 shall—
					(A)utilize existing
			 information, both published and unpublished, where possible, collected and
			 assessed either by its own staff or under other arrangements made in accordance
			 with this section;
					(B)carry out, or
			 award grants or contracts for, original research and experimentation, where
			 existing information is inadequate; and
					(C)adopt procedures
			 allowing any interested party to submit information for the Commission's use in
			 making reports and recommendations.
					(3)Access of GAO
			 to informationThe Comptroller General shall have unrestricted
			 access to all deliberations, records, and nonproprietary data of the
			 Commission, immediately upon request.
				(4)Periodic
			 auditThe Commission shall be subject to periodic audit by the
			 Comptroller General.
				(f)Administrative
			 and support servicesThe Comptroller General shall provide such
			 administrative and support services to the Commission as may be necessary to
			 carry out this section.
			(g)Authorization
			 of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the
			 Commission, not more than $10,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this
			 section.


116 S3620 IS: To establish a Housing Assistance Fund at the Department of the Treasury.
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2020-05-06
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EN
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II116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3620IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 6, 2020Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Tester, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Jones, Ms. Smith, Ms. Warren, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Warner, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Udall, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsA BILLTo establish a Housing Assistance Fund at the Department of the Treasury.1.Housing assistance fund(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Conforming loan limitThe term conforming loan limit means the applicable limitation governing the maximum original principal obligation for a mortgage secured by a single-family residence, a mortgage secured by a 2-family residence, a mortgage secured by a 3-family residence, or a mortgage secured by a 4-family residence, as determined and adjusted annually under section 302(b)(2) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)) and section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)).(2)Eligible householdThe term eligible household means a household whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the area median income for their household size, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.(3)MortgageThe term mortgage means a mortgage—(A)that is secured by the principal residence of a borrower; and(B)the unpaid principal balance of which was, at the time of origination, not more than the conforming loan limit.(4)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury.(5)StateThe term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.(b)Establishment of fundThere is established at the Department of the Treasury a Housing Assistance Fund to provide such funds as are appropriated in subsection (f) to State housing finance agencies and any entity named under subsection (j) for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage defaults, foreclosures, and displacements of individuals and families experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020.(c)Allocation of funds(1)In generalThe Secretary shall establish such criteria as are necessary to allocate the funds available within the Housing Assistance Fund to each State. The Secretary shall allocate such funds among all States taking into consideration the number of unemployment claims within a State relative to the nation-wide number of unemployment claims.(2)Small state minimumEach State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall receive no less than $250,000,000 for the purposes established in (b).(3)Territory set-asideNotwithstanding any other provision of this section, of the amounts appropriated under subsection (f), the Secretary shall reserve $200,000,000 to be disbursed to Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands based on each such territory’s share of the combined total population of all such territories, as determined by the Secretary. For the purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined based on the most recent year for which data are available from the United States Census Bureau. (4)Tribal set-asideThe Secretary shall allocate funds to an entity designated under subsection (j) pursuant to the requirements of that subsection.(d)Disbursement of funds(1)Initial disbursementThe Secretary shall disburse to the State housing finance agencies and entities designated under subsection (j) not less than 1/2 of the amount made available pursuant to this section, and in accordance with the allocations established under subsections (c) and (j), not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The Secretary or designee shall enter into a contract with each State housing finance agency and each entity designated under subsection (j), which may be amended from time to time, establishing the terms of the use of such funds, in accordance with subsection (e), prior to the disbursement of such funds.(2)Second disbursementThe Secretary shall disburse all funds made available pursuant to this section, and in accordance with the allocations established under subsections (c) and (j), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.(e)Permissible uses of fund(1)In generalFunds made available to State housing finance agencies and designated entities under subsection (j) pursuant to this section may be used to assist eligible households for the purposes established under subsection (b), which may include—(A)mortgage payment assistance;(B)financial assistance to allow a borrower to reinstate their mortgage following a period of forbearance;(C)principal reduction;(D)payment assistance for—(i)utilities, including electric, gas, and water;(ii)internet service, including broadband internet access service, as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); and(iii)property taxes;(E)any program established under the Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets;(F)reimbursement of funds expended by a State or local government during the period beginning on January 21, 2020, and ending on the date that the first funds are disbursed by the State under the Housing Assistance Fund, for the purpose of providing housing or utility payment assistance to individuals or otherwise providing funds to prevent foreclosure or eviction of a homeowner or tenant or prevent mortgage delinquency or loss of housing or utilities as a response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic; and(G)any other assistance to prevent eviction, mortgage delinquency or default, foreclosure, or the loss of utility services for an eligible household.(2)Administrative expensesNot greater than 10 percent of the amount allocated to a State or an entity pursuant to subsections (c) or (j) may be used by a State housing financing agency or an entity for administrative expenses. Any amounts allocated to administrative expenses that are no longer necessary for administrative expenses may be used in accordance with paragraph (1).(f)AppropriationThere is appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, to remain available until expended or transferred or credited under subsection (h) or subsection (j), $75,000,000,000 to the Housing Assistance Fund established under subsection (b).(g)Use of housing finance agency innovation fund for the hardest hit housing markets fundsA State housing finance agency may reallocate any administrative or programmatic funds it has received as an allocation from the Housing Finance Agency Innovation Fund for the Hardest Hit Housing Markets created pursuant to section 101(a) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5211(a)) that have not been otherwise allocated or disbursed as of the date of enactment of this Act to supplement any administrative or programmatic funds received from the Housing Assistance Fund. Such reallocated funds shall not be considered when allocating resources from the Housing Assistance Fund using the process established under subsection (c) and shall remain available for the uses permitted in subsection (e) and under the terms and conditions established by the contract with the Secretary created pursuant to subsection (d)(1) and the terms of subsection (h).(h)Rescission of fundsAny funds that have not been allocated by a State housing finance agency to provide assistance as described under subsection (e) by December 31, 2030, shall be reallocated by the Secretary in the following manner:(1)65 percent shall be transferred or credited to the Housing Trust Fund established under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568); and(2)35 percent shall be transferred or credited to the Capital Magnet Fund under section 1339 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4569).(i)Reporting requirementsThe Secretary shall provide public reports not less frequently than quarterly regarding the use of funds provided by the Housing Assistance Fund. Such reports shall include the following data by State or entity receiving funds pursuant to subsection (j) and by program within each State or entity receiving funds pursuant to subsection (j), both for the past quarter and for the life of the program—(1)the amount of funds allocated;(2)the amount of funds disbursed;(3)the number of households and individuals assisted;(4)the acceptance rate of applicants;(5)the average amount of assistance provided per household receiving assistance;(6)the average length of assistance provided per household receiving assistance;(7)the income ranges of households for each household receiving assistance;(8)demographic information about each household receiving assistance, including race, ethnicity, and service member status; and(9)the outcome 12 months after the household has received assistance.(j)Tribal set-Aside(1)DefinitionsIn this subsection:(A)Department of hawaiian home landsThe term Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has the meaning given the term in section 801 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 4221).(B)Eligible recipientThe term eligible recipient means any entity eligible to receive a grant under section 101 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111).(2)Set-aside(A)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this section, of the amounts appropriated under subsection (f), the Secretary shall use 5 percent to make grants to eligible recipients for the purposes described in subsection (e)(1).(B)Native hawaiian set-asideOf the funds set aside under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use 0.3 percent to make grants to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for the purposes described in subsection (e)(1).(3)Requirements(A)AllocationExcept for the funds set aside under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall allocate the funds set aside under paragraph (2)(A) using the allocation formula described in subpart D of part 1000 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).(B)Native hawaiiansThe Secretary shall use the funds made available under paragraph (2)(B) in accordance with part 1006 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).(4)RescissionThe Secretary shall transfer any funds made available under paragraph (2) that have not been allocated by an eligible recipient or the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, as applicable, to provide the assistance described in subsection (e)(1) by December 31, 2030, to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.).


116 SRES 96 ATS: Commending the Government of Canada for upholding the rule of law and expressing concern over actions by the Government of the People's Republic of China in response to a request from the United States Government to the Government of Canada for the extradition of a Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. executive.
U.S. Senate
2019-03-06
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 96IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 6, 2019Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Coons, Mr. Romney, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsApril 4, 2019Reported by Mr. Risch, without amendmentMay 7, 2019Considered and agreed toRESOLUTIONCommending the Government of Canada for upholding the rule of law and expressing concern over
			 actions by the Government of the People's Republic of China in response to
			 a request from the United States Government to the Government of Canada
			 for the extradition of a Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. executive.

 Whereas, on December 1, 2018, Canadian authorities detained Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou based on an arrest warrant issued pursuant to a request made by the United States under the Extradition Treaty Between the United States of America and Canada, signed at Washington December 3, 1971;
 Whereas, on January 24, 2019, the United States filed a superseding indictment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), Huawei Device USA Inc., Skycom Tech Co. Ltd. (Skycom), and Meng Wanzhou;
 Whereas the January 24, 2019, indictment charges two counts of bank fraud; two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; two counts of bank fraud; one count of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States; two counts of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; two counts of violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; one count of money laundering conspiracy; and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice;
 Whereas the January 24, 2019, indictment charges that Huawei operated Skycom as an unofficial subsidiary to obtain otherwise prohibited U.S.-origin goods, technology, and services, including banking services, for Huawei’s Iran-based business while concealing the link to Huawei;
 Whereas the United States Government is seeking the extradition of Meng Wanzhou; Whereas Canadian authorities granted Meng Wanzhou access to Chinese consular officials, and she was able to engage a lawyer of her choice and was released on bail pending the outcome of the extradition hearing;
 Whereas the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly urged Canada to immediately release Meng Wanzhou and threatened that otherwise it will definitely have grave consequences, and [Canada] will have to bear the full responsibility for it;
 Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China detained Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian executive Michael Spavor on December 10, 2018, in apparent retaliation for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou;
 Whereas Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have faced harsh conditions while in detention that include limited consular access, no access to a lawyer, being unable to turn off the lights at night, and lengthy interrogations, including in the case of Mr. Kovrig, about his official activities during his previous tenure as an accredited diplomat in the People’s Republic of China, potentially in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, done at Vienna April 18, 1961;
 Whereas, on January 14, 2019, a third Canadian, Robert Schellenberg, in Chinese custody for drug smuggling, had his case reviewed and his 15-year sentence changed to the death penalty; and
 Whereas the Department of State’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2018 stated that [a]rbitrary arrest and detention remained serious problems in China and that Chinese judges regularly received political guidance on pending cases, including instructions on how to rule, from both the government and the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], particularly in politically sensitive cases: Now, therefore, be it

 That the Senate— (1)commends the Government of Canada for upholding the rule of law and complying with its international legal obligations, including those pursuant to the Extradition Treaty Between the United States of America and Canada, signed at Washington December 3, 1971;
 (2)commends the Government of Canada for providing consular access and due process for Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou;
 (3)expresses concern over the Government of the People’s Republic of China’s apparent arbitrary detention and abusive treatment of Canadian nationals Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in apparent retaliation for the Government of Canada’s detention of Meng Wanzhou; and
 (4)joins the Government of Canada in calling for the immediate release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and for due process for Canadian national Robert Schellenberg.


110 HR 7272 IH: To prohibit the use of funds to transfer individuals

U.S. House of Representatives
2008-11-19
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.

		I
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 7272
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			November 19, 2008
			Mr. Brown of South
			 Carolina introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Armed
			 Services

		A BILL
		To prohibit the use of funds to transfer individuals
		  detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Naval
		  Consolidated Brig, Charleston, South Carolina.

		1.Prohibition on use of funds
			 to transfer individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Naval Consolidated
			 Brig, Charleston, South CarolinaNone of the funds appropriated or otherwise
			 made available to any Federal department or agency may be used to transfer any
			 individual detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay,
			 Cuba, to Naval Consolidated Brig, Charleston, South Carolina.


116 HR 8215 IH: Improving Digital Identity Act of 2020
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-09-11
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.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8215IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 11, 2020Mr. Foster (for himself, Mr. Katko, Mr. Langevin, and Mr. Loudermilk) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, 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 a governmentwide approach to improving digital identity, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Improving Digital Identity Act of 2020.2.FindingsCongress finds the following: (1)The lack of an easy, affordable, and reliable way for organizations, businesses, and government agencies to identify whether an individual is who they claim to be online creates an attack vector that is widely exploited by adversaries in cyberspace, and precludes many high-value transactions from being available online.(2)Incidents of identity theft and identity fraud continue to rise in the United States, where more than 164,000,000 consumer records containing personally identifiable information were breached in 2019, increasing the total number of data breaches by 17 percent from the previous year.(3)In 2019, losses resulting from identity fraud amounted to $16,900,000,000.(4)In 2019, the Director of the Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network stated, “The abuse of personally identifiable information, and other building blocks of identity, is a key enabler behind much of the fraud and cybercrime affecting our nation today.”(5)Trustworthy digital identity solutions can help under-banked and unbanked individuals better access to digital financial services through innovative delivery channels that promote financial inclusion. (6)The inadequacy of current digital identity solutions degrades security and privacy for all Americans, and next generation solutions are needed that improve both security and privacy.(7)Government entities, as authoritative issuers of identity in the United States, are uniquely positioned to deliver critical components that address deficiencies in our digital identity infrastructure and augment private sector digital identity and authentication solutions.(8)State governments are particularly well suited to play a role in enhancing digital identity solutions used by both the public and private sectors, given the role of State governments as the issuers of driver’s licenses and other identity documents commonly used today.(9)The private sector drives much of the innovation around digital identity in the United States and has an important role to play in delivering digital identity solutions.(10)The 2016 bipartisan Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity called for the Federal government to “create an interagency task force directed to find secure, user-friendly, privacy-centric ways in which agencies can serve as one authoritative source to validate identity attributes in the broader identity market. This action would enable government agencies and the private sector to drive significant risk out of new account openings and other high-risk, high-value online services, and it would help all citizens more easily and securely engage in transactions online.”(11)The public and private sectors should collaborate to deliver solutions that promote confidence, privacy, choice, and innovation.(12)It should be the policy of the Government to use the authorities and capabilities of the Government to enhance the security, reliability, privacy, and convenience of digital identity solutions that support and protect transactions between individuals, government entities, and businesses, and that enable Americans to prove who they are online.3.Improving digital identity task force(a)EstablishmentThere is established in the Executive Office of the President a task force to be known as the Improving Digital Identity Task Force (in this section referred to as the Task Force).(b)PurposeThe purpose of the Task Force is to establish a governmentwide effort to develop secure methods for Federal, State, and local agencies to validate identity attributes to protect the privacy and security of individuals and support reliable, interoperable digital identity verification in the public and private sectors.(c)DirectorThe Task Force shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the President.(d)MembershipThe Task Force shall include the following individuals or the designees of such individuals:(1)Federal Government membership(A)The Secretary of the Treasury.(B)The Secretary of Homeland Security.(C)The Secretary of State.(D)The Secretary of Education.(E)The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.(F)The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.(G)The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.(H)The Administrator of General Services.(I)The heads of other Federal agencies and offices who the President may designate or invite.(2)State government membershipThe Task Force shall include 5 State government officials who represent State agencies that issue identity credentials and who have knowledge of the systems used to provide such credentials. Such officials shall include the following:(A)A member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.(B)A member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.(C)A member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.(D)A member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.(E)A member appointed by the President.(3)Local government membershipThe Task Force shall include 5 local government officials who represent local agencies that issue identity credentials and who have knowledge of the systems used to provide such credentials. Such officials shall include the following:(A)A member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.(B)A member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.(C)A member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.(D)A member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.(E)A member appointed by the President.(e)MeetingsThe Task Force shall convene at the call of the Director.(f)DutiesThe Task Force shall—(1)identify Federal, State, and local agencies that issue identity information or hold information related to identifying an individual;(2)assess restrictions with respect to the abilities of such agencies to verify identity information for other agencies and for nongovernmental organizations;(3)assess any necessary changes in statute, regulation, or policy to address any restrictions determined under paragraph (2);(4)recommend a standards-based architecture to enable agencies to provide services related to digital identity verification in a way that is secure, protects privacy, and is rooted in consumer consent;(5)identify funding or resources needed to support such agencies that provide digital identity verification, including a recommendation with respect to additional funding required for the grant program under section 5;(6)determine whether it would be practicable for such agencies to use a fee-based model to provide digital identity verification to private sector entities;(7)determine if any additional steps are necessary with respect to Federal, State, and local agencies to improve digital identity verification and management processes for the purpose of enhancing the security, reliability, privacy, and convenience of digital identity solutions that support and protect transactions between individuals, government entities, and businesses;(8)assess risks related to potential criminal exploitation of digital identity verification services; and(9)to the extent practicable, seek input from and collaborate with interested parties in the private sector to carry out the purpose under subsection (b).(g)RecommendationsNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall publish a report on the activities of the Task force, including recommendations on—(1)priorities for research and development in the systems that enable digital identity verification, including how such priorities can be executed; and(2)the standards-based architecture developed pursuant to subsection (f)(4).4.Digital identity standards(a)Establishment of a standards frameworkThe Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (in this section referred to as the Director) shall develop a framework of standards, methodologies, procedures, and processes (in this section referred to as the Framework) as a guide for Federal, State, and local governments to follow when providing services related to digital identity verification.(b)ConsiderationIn developing the Framework, the Director shall consider—(1)methods to protect the privacy of individuals;(2)security needs; and(3)the needs of potential end-users and individuals that will use services related to digital identity verification.(c)ConsultationIn carrying out subsection (a), the Director shall consult with—(1)the Improving Digital Identity Task Force established under section 3;(2)potential end-users and individuals that will use services related to digital identity verification; and(3)experts with relevant experience in the systems that enable digital identity verification, as determined by the Director.(d)Interim publicationNot later than 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall publish an interim version of the Framework. (e)Final publicationNot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall publish a final version of the Framework.(f)Updates to the FrameworkThe Director shall, from time to time, update the Framework, with consideration given to—(1)feedback from Federal, State, and local agencies that provide services related to digital identity verification; and(2)any technological changes to the systems that enable digital identity verification.5.Digital identity innovation grants(a)EstablishmentNot later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall award grants to States to upgrade systems that provide drivers’ licenses or other types of identity credentials to support the development of highly secure, interoperable State systems that enable digital identity verification.(b)Use of fundsA State that receives a grant under this section shall use—(1)grant funds for services related to digital identity verification using the Framework developed pursuant to section 4; and(2)not less than 10 percent of grant funds to provide services that assist individuals with obtaining identity credentials or identity verification services needed to obtain a driver’s license or State identity card.(c)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.6.Report and recommendation on the use of social security numbers by nongovernmental organizationsNot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Ways and Means and Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes the following:(1)An analysis of legal and regulatory requirements with respect to the collection and retention of Social Security numbers by nongovernmental organizations.(2)A recommendation on the necessity and effectiveness of any legal and regulatory requirement analyzed pursuant to paragraph (1) and the use of a form of identification other than a Social Security number.7.Security enhancements to Federal systems(a)Directives for Federal agenciesNot later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue binding operational directives to Federal agencies for purpose of implementing—(1)the guidelines published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Special Publication 800–63 (commonly referred to as the Digital Identity Guidelines); and(2)the memorandum of the Office of Management and Budget issued on May 21, 2019, which includes the subject Enabling Mission Delivery through Improved Identity, Credential, and Access Management.(b)Reports(1)Federal Agency reportsNot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security a report on the efforts of each such Federal agency to implement the directives issued pursuant to subsection (a).(2)Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report summarizing the efforts from the reports submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) to the following:(A)The Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.(B)The Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives.(C) The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.8.DefinitionsFor purposes of this Act:(1)Digital identity verificationThe term digital identity verification means a process to verify the identity of an individual accessing a service online or through another electronic means. (2)Identity credentialThe term identity credential means a document or other evidence of the identity of an individual issued by a government agency that conveys the identity of the individual, including a driver’s license or passport.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 2219
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			October 29, 2009
			Mr. Lieberman (for
			 himself and Mr. Dodd) 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 waste of
		  camel hair.

		1.Waste of camel hair
			(a)In
			 generalHeading 9902.12.21 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
			 the United States (relating to waste of camel hair) is amended by striking
			 12/31/2009 and inserting 12/31/2011.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) applies to goods
			 entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day
			 after the date of enactment of this Act.


110 HR 235 RS: To allow for the renegotiation of the

U.S. House of Representatives
0
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		II
		Calendar No. 250
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 235
		[Report No. 110–117]
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			February 7, 2007
			Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on
			 Energy and Natural Resources

			June 28, 2007
			Reported by Mr.
			 Bingaman, without amendment

		AN ACT
		To allow for the renegotiation of the
		  payment schedule of contracts between the Secretary of the Interior and the
		  Redwood Valley County Water District, and for other purposes.

		1.Renegotiation of payment
			 scheduleSection 15 of Public
			 Law 100–516 (102 Stat. 2573) is amended as follows:
			(1)By amending
			 paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to read as follows:

					(2)If, as of January 1, 2006, the Secretary of
				the Interior and the Redwood Valley County Water District have not renegotiated
				the schedule of payment, the District may enter into such additional
				non-Federal obligations as are necessary to finance procurement of dedicated
				water rights and improvements necessary to store and convey those rights to
				provide for the District’s water needs. The Secretary shall reschedule the
				payments due under loans numbered 14–06–200–8423A and 14–06–200–8423A
				Amendatory and said payments shall commence when such additional obligations
				have been financially satisfied by the District. The date of the initial
				payment owed by the District to the United States shall be regarded as the
				start of the District’s repayment period and the time upon which any interest
				shall first be computed and assessed under section 5 of the Small Reclamation
				Projects Act of 1956 (43 U.S.C. 422a et
				seq.).
					.
			(2)By striking
			 subsection (c).

		June 28, 2007
		Reported without amendment


I114th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 5930IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 25, 2016Ms. Wilson of Florida (for herself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. Moore, Mr. Clay, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Richmond, Ms. Adams, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Ellison, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Payne, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mrs. Lawrence, Ms. Bass, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Rush, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Maxine Waters of California, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Hastings, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, and Mr. Murphy of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo establish the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, to study and make recommendations to address social problems affecting Black men and boys.
1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act. 2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings:
(1)Black men and boys face disproportionate hardships that result in disparities in areas including: education, criminal justice, health, employment, fatherhood, mentorship, and violence. These hardships have negative consequences for national productivity, especially for Black families and communities. (2)A Commission to study and examine issues which disproportionately have a negative impact on Black men and boys in America will signal that the issues facing the Black male population are a national priority, will develop solutions to these hardships, and will help eliminate the obstacles facing Black men and boys.
(3)A Commission will also be able to investigate potential civil rights violations affecting this population that attract national attention. (4)Black babies are three times more likely to be born in poverty and rapidly fall behind their White counterparts in cognitive development.
(5)By fourth grade, Black students are expected to be three years behind White male students. According to the Educational Testing Service Policy Informational Center, only 12 percent of Black eighth-grade male students are proficient in math, compared to 44 percent of White eighth-grade male students. (6)The Educational Testing Service Policy Informational Center also found that nationally, more than 50 percent of Black male students attending urban schools will drop out.
(7)The low rate of high school retention among Black male students directly relates to high rates of joblessness and incarceration among this population. This barrier to employment exacerbates cycles of poverty, which in turn results in health inequalities, including higher levels of diabetes, obesity, and HIV/AIDS. According to a study by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, more than 66 percent of Black male dropouts are expected to serve time in State or Federal prison. (8)Black men are subjected to unequal profiling by the police and disproportionately harsh sentences in the judicial system. The Black male population is six times more likely to become incarcerated than their White counterparts. Although the Black male population comprises approximately six percent of the United States population, of the 2,300,000 people incarcerated nationwide, 1 million are Black males. Black males receive ten percent longer Federal sentences than White males who commit the same crime.
(9)According to the Bureau of Statistics and the Pew Research Center, Black male unemployment is consistently almost double that of White male unemployment. (10)Black fathers are more than twice as likely to live apart from their children as White fathers.
(11)Young boys with male mentors are more likely to progress further in school and have greater financial success in life. 3.Commission establishment and membership (a)EstablishmentThe Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the Commission) is hereby established within the United States Commission on Civil Rights Office of the Staff Director.
(b)MembershipThe Commission shall consist of 19 members appointed as follows: (1)The Senate majority leader shall appoint one member who is not employed by the Federal Government and is an expert on issues affecting Black men and boys in America.
(2)The Senate minority leader shall appoint one member who is not employed by the Federal Government and is an expert on issues affecting Black men and boys in America. (3)The House of Representatives majority leader shall appoint one member who is not employed by the Federal Government and is an expert on issues affecting Black men and boys in America.
(4)The House of Representatives minority leader shall appoint one member who is not employed by the Federal Government and is an expert on issues affecting Black men and boys in America. (5)The Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) shall be a member of the Commission, as well as five additional Members of the CBC who either sit on the following committees of relevant jurisdiction or who is an expert on issues affecting Black men and boys in America, including—
(A)education; (B)justice and Civil Rights;
(C)healthcare; (D)labor and employment; and
(E)housing. (6)The Staff Director from the United States Commission on Civil Rights shall appoint one member from within the staff of the United States Commission on Civil Rights who is an expert in issues relating to Black men and boys.
(7)The Chair of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall appoint one member from within the staff of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission who is an expert in equal employment issues impacting Black men. (8)The Secretary of Education shall appoint one member from within the Department of Education who is an expert in urban education.
(9)The Attorney General of the Department of Justice shall appoint one member from within the Department of Justice who is an expert in racial disparities with the criminal justice system. (10)The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint one member from within the Department of Health and Human Services who is an expert in health issues facing Black men.
(11)The Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall appoint one member from within the Department of Housing and Urban Development who is an expert in housing and development in urban communities. (12)The Secretary of the Department of Labor shall appoint one member from within the Department of Labor who is an expert in labor issues impacting Black men.
(13)The President of the United States shall appoint two members who are not employed by the Federal Government and are experts on issues affecting Black men and boys in America. 4.Other matters relating to appointment; removal (a)Timing of initial AppointmentsEach initial appointment to the Commission shall be made no later than 90 days after the Commission is established. If any appointing authorities fail to appoint a member to the Commission, their appointment shall be filled by the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
(b)TermsExcept as otherwise provided in this section, the term of a member of the Commission shall be four years. For the purpose of providing staggered terms, the first term of those members initially appointed under paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 3 shall be appointed to two-year terms with all other terms lasting four years. Members are eligible for consecutive reappointment. (c)RemovalA member of the Commission may be removed from the Commission at any time by the appointing authority should the member fail to meet Commission responsibilities. Once the seat becomes vacant, the appointing authority is responsible for filling the vacancy in the Commission before the next meeting.
(d)VacanciesThe appointing authority of a member of the Commission shall either reappoint that member at the end of that member’s term or appoint another person meeting the qualifications for that appointment. In the event of a vacancy arising during a term, the appointing authority shall, before the next meeting of the Commission, appoint a replacement to finish that term. 5.Leadership electionAt the first meeting of the Commission each year, the members shall elect a Chair and a Secretary. A vacancy in the Chair or Secretary shall be filled by vote of the remaining members. The Chair and Secretary are eligible for consecutive reappointment.
6.Commission duties and powers
(a)StudyThe Commission shall make a systematic study of the conditions affecting Black men and boys, including, but not limited to, homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, poverty, violence, fatherhood, mentorship, drug abuse, death rates, disparate income and wealth levels, school performance in all grade levels including postsecondary levels and college, and health issues. The Commission shall also document trends under the above topics and report on the community impacts of relevant government programs within the scope of the above topics. All reports shall be made public via a Federal agency website. (b)Proposal of measuresThe Commission shall propose measures to alleviate and remedy the underlying causes of the conditions described in the subsection (a), which may include recommendations of changes to the law, recommendations for how to implement related policies, and recommendations for how to create, develop, or improve upon government programs.
(c)Suggestions and commentsThe Commission shall accept suggestions or comments pertinent to the applicable issues from members of Congress, governmental agencies, public and private organizations, and private citizens. (d)Staff and administrative supportThe Office of the Staff Director of the United States Commission on Civil Rights shall provide staff and administrative support to the Commission. All entities of the United States Government shall provide information that is otherwise a public record at the request of the Commission on Black Men and Boys.
7.Commission meeting requirements
(a)First meetingThe first meeting of the Commission shall take place no later than 30 days after the initial members are all appointed. Meetings shall be focused on significant issues impacting Black men and boys, for the purpose of initiating research ideas and delegating research tasks to Commission members to initiate the first semiannual report. (b)Quarterly meetingsThe Commission shall meet quarterly. In addition to all quarterly meetings, the Commission shall meet at other times at the call of the Chair or as determined by a majority of Commission members.
(c)Quorum; rule for voting on final actionsA majority of the members of the Commission constitute a quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present is required for final action. (d)Expectations for attendance by membersMembers are expected to attend all Commission meetings. In the case of an absence, members are expected to report to the Chair prior to the meeting and allowance may be made for an absent member to participate remotely. Members will still be responsible for fulfilling prior commitments, regardless of attendance status. If a member is absent twice in a given year, he or she will be reviewed by the Chair and appointing authority and further action will be considered, including removal and replacement on the Commission.
(e)MinutesMinutes shall be taken at each meeting by the Secretary, or in that individual’s absence, the Chair shall select another Commission member to take minutes during that absence. The Commission shall make its minutes publicly available and accessible not later than one week after each meeting. 8.Annual report guidelinesThe Commission shall make an annual report, beginning the year of the first Commission meeting. The report shall address the current conditions affecting Black men and boys and make recommendations to address these issues. The report shall be submitted to the President, the Congress, members of the President’s Cabinet, and the chairs of the appropriate committees of jurisdiction. The Commission shall make the report publicly available online on a centralized Federal website.
9.Commission compensationMembers of the Commission shall serve on the Commission without compensation.


I
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5216
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 5, 2004
Mrs. Capito introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To suspend temporarily the duty on chloroneb.

1.Chloroneb
(a)In generalSubchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

9902.29.48Chloroneb (CAS No. 2675–77–6) (provided for in subheading 2931.00.30)FreeFreeNo changeOn or before 12/31/2007
(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.


116 HR 123 RH: Alternative Data for Additional Credit FHA Pilot Program Reauthorization Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-12-17
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.

IBUnion Calendar No. 547116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 123[Report No. 116–663]IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 3, 2019Mr. Green of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesDecember 17, 2020Additional sponsors: Mr. Sherman and Mr. CleaverDecember 17, 2020Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printedStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicFor text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 3, 2019A BILLTo authorize a pilot program under section 258 of the National Housing Act to establish an automated process for providing additional credit rating information for mortgagors and prospective mortgagors under certain mortgages.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Alternative Data for Additional Credit FHA Pilot Program Reauthorization Act.2.Pilot program for borrowers without sufficient credit historySection 258 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–24) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking carry out and inserting establish and carry out;(B)by striking establish, and;(C)by inserting who elect to participate in the pilot program before the second comma;(D)by striking mortgagors and; (E)by inserting after their creditworthiness the following: and have opted into the use of additional credit information; and(F)by striking alternative each place such term appears and inserting additional;(2)in subsection (b), by adding after the period at the end the following: The pilot program may not be carried out with respect to any mortgagor or prospective mortgagor under a mortgage the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay off an existing loan secured by the same property.;(3)by striking subsection (c);(4)by redesignating subsections (b) (as amended by paragraph (2) of this subsection) and (d) as subsections (c) and (k), respectively;(5)by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:(b)GoalThe goal of the pilot program under this section shall be to examine and evaluate the benefits of using such a credit scoring model that uses additional data.;(6)by inserting after subsection (c) (as so redesignated by paragraph (4) of this subsection) the following:(d)Additional credit informationThe Secretary shall, after consultation with the Government National Mortgage Association and not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, select one or more commercially available credit scoring models that will be available under the pilot and that utilize additional data, as the Secretary considers appropriate based on the goals of the pilot program. In selecting the model or models to use, the Secretary shall consider the criteria under part 1254 of the regulations of the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (12 C.F.R. Part 1254) to the extent appropriate.(e)Notification(1)Notice of optionsThe Secretary shall develop a notice for prospective mortgagors, and require mortgagees to provide such notice to prospective mortgagors, that informs prospective mortgagors of—(A)the ability to opt into the use of the credit scoring model selected for use under the pilot program;(B)information on how the pilot program credit scoring model differs from the FHA’s current credit scoring models, including the types of additional data that are included in the pilot program model; and(C)housing counseling agencies in the area that are approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.(2)Comparison of lending optionsThe Secretary shall require mortgagees participating in the pilot program to provide information to prospective mortgagors sufficient to allow comparison of the mortgagor’s lending options using the credit scoring model under the pilot program and using the credit scoring model then in effect for mortgagors not opting into the use of the credit scoring model under the pilot program.(f)Underwriting optionsThis section may not be construed to preclude a prospective mortgagor who opts to use an approved credit scoring model under the pilot program under this subsection in connection with underwriting for a mortgage insured under this title from thereafter obtaining a determination of creditworthiness involved in underwriting for such mortgage using information other than that provided under such approved credit scoring model.(g)Protection of proprietary informationThis section may not be construed to require the disclosure or sharing of any proprietary information.(h)Reporting(1)In generalThe Secretary shall submit reports to the Congress in accordance with paragraph (2) that provide a detailed evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot, including data that shows—(A)the number of mortgagors who had the option to opt into using additional credit information and the number of mortgagors who opted into using additional credit information;(B)the total number and percent of mortgagors who opted into the pilot and were subsequently approved for a mortgage;(C)demographic information about mortgagors who opt into using additional credit information, compared to demographic information about mortgagors generally, which shall include race, ethnicity, marital status, sex or gender, geographic location regarding mortgaged properties, and any other information the Secretary deems appropriate;(D)whether or not mortgagors with no or thin credit files benefitted from having this option and how;(E)whether or not other borrowers who did not have thin or no credit files benefitted from this option and how;(F)the effectiveness of the additional credit information in predicting mortgage loan default;(G)the rate of participation of mortgagees in the pilot program;(H)whether or not the pilot program had an impact on the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, in general, and specifically whether it had an impact on the economic net worth ratio of the Fund;(I)whether or not there was sufficient income from the pilot program to offset the risk posed to such Fund by the pilot program;(J)whether the pilot program had an impact on the ability of other borrowers not participating in the program to obtain the products and services of the FHA; and(K)any other information the Secretary determines relevant.(2)SubmissionThe Secretary shall submit a report described in paragraph (1)—(A)not later than 6 months after the conclusion of the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary begins accepting the additional credit scores through the pilot program established by the Secretary pursuant to this section; and(B)not later than 1 year after the conclusion of the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Alternative Data for Additional Credit FHA Pilot Program Reauthorization Act.(3)Report on selection of additional credit modelNot later than the conclusion of the 6-month period that begins upon the conclusion of the one-year period under subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report explaining why the additional credit scoring model or models selected pursuant to subsection (d) were selected in lieu of other commercially available credit scoring models.(4)Public availability of informationThe Secretary shall make publicly available in an easily accessible location on the website of the Department—(A)each report submitted to the Congress pursuant to this subsection; and(B)information about the pilot program, which shall include an up-to-date listing of mortgagees participating in the pilot program.(i)Authority to limit participationThe Secretary may establish a limitation to cap participation in the pilot program under this section. (j)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated—(1)$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 for establishing and carrying out the pilot program under this section; and(2)$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024 for carrying out the pilot program under this section.; and(7)in subsection (k), as so redesignated by paragraph (4), by striking 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Building American Homeownership Act of 2008 and inserting 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Alternative Data for Additional Credit FHA Pilot Program Reauthorization Act.December 17, 2020Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed


		III
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 531
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 24, 2008
			Mr. Menendez (for
			 himself, Mr. Kennedy,
			 Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Boxer, Mr.
			 Levin, Mr. Durbin,
			 Mr. Inouye, Mr.
			 Sanders, Mr. Dodd,
			 Mr. Casey, Mr.
			 Lautenberg, Mr. Akaka, and
			 Mr. Johnson) submitted the following
			 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

		RESOLUTION
		Supporting the goals and ideals of a
		  National Child Care Worthy Wage Day.

		Whereas approximately 63 percent of the Nation’s children
			 under age 5 are in nonparental care during part or all of the day while their
			 parents work;
		Whereas the early care and education industry employs more
			 than 2,300,000 workers;
		Whereas the average salary of early care and education
			 workers is $18,820 per year, and only 1/3 of these workers
			 have health insurance and even fewer have a pension plan;
		Whereas the quality of early care and education programs
			 is directly linked to the quality of early childhood educators;
		Whereas the turnover rate of early childhood program staff
			 is roughly 30 percent per year, and low wages and lack of benefits, among other
			 factors, make it difficult to retain high quality educators who have the
			 consistent, caring relationships with young children that are important to the
			 children's development;
		Whereas the compensation of early childhood program staff
			 should be commensurate with the importance of the job of helping the young
			 children of the Nation develop their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive
			 skills and helping them to be ready for school;
		Whereas providing adequate compensation to early childhood
			 program staff should be a priority, and resources can be allocated to improve
			 the compensation of early childhood educators to ensure that quality care and
			 education are accessible for all families;
		Whereas additional training and education for the early
			 care and education workforce is critical to ensuring high-quality early
			 learning environments;
		Whereas child care workers should receive compensation
			 commensurate with their training and experience; and
		Whereas the Center for the Child Care Workforce, a project
			 of the American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation, with support
			 from the National Association for the Education of Young Children and other
			 early childhood organizations, recognizes May 1 as National Child Care Worthy
			 Wage Day: Now, therefore, be it

		That the Senate—
			(1)designates May 1,
			 2008, as National Child Care Worthy Wage Day; and
			(2)calls on the
			 people of the United States to observe National Child Care Worthy Wage Day by
			 honoring early childhood care and education staff and programs in their
			 communities.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1986
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			April 21, 2009
			Mr. Childers
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

		A BILL
		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the
		  Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate
		  tax, increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of
		  $4,000,000, reduce the maximum estate tax rate to 40 percent, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Restoration and modification
			 of estate tax
			(a)Restoration of
			 estate tax; repeal of carryover basis
				(1)In
			 generalThe following
			 provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001,
			 and the amendments made by such provisions, are hereby repealed:
					(A)Subtitles A and E
			 of title V.
					(B)Subsections (d)
			 and (e) of section 511.
					(C)Paragraph (2) of
			 section 521(b).
					The Internal
			 Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied and administered as if the provisions and
			 amendments described in the preceding sentence had never been enacted.(2)Sunset not to
			 apply
					(A)Subsection (a) of
			 section 901 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 is
			 amended by striking this Act and all that follows and inserting
			 this Act (other than title V) shall not apply to taxable, plan, or
			 limitation years beginning after December 31, 2010..
					(B)Subsection (b) of
			 such section 901 is amended by striking , estates, gifts, and
			 transfers.
					(b)Increase in
			 unified credit against the estate taxSubsection (c) of section 2010 of the
			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking all that follows
			 the applicable exclusion amount and inserting . For
			 purposes of the preceding sentence, the applicable exclusion amount is
			 $4,000,000..
			(c)Decrease in
			 maximum rate of tax
				(1)In
			 generalThe table contained
			 in section 2001(c)(1) of such Code is amended by striking the last 5 rows and
			 inserting the following:

									Over $1,000,000$345,800, plus 40 percent of the excess of
						such amount over $1,000,000.

						.
				(2)Conforming
			 amendmentsSubsection (c) of section 2001 of such Code is
			 amended—
					(A)by striking
			 paragraph (2), and
					(B)by striking all
			 that precedes the table contained therein and inserting the following:

							(c)Rate
				scheduleThe tentative tax
				shall be determined in accordance with the following
				table:
							.
					(d)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to estates
			 of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009.


117 HR 2359 IH: To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain lands as the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-04-05
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2359IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 5, 2021Mr. Cuellar (for himself and Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain lands as the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes.1.Los Caminos Del Rio(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)CorridorThe term Corridor means the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor.(2)MapThe term map means the map titled Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor and dated April 2020.(3)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.(4)Study areaThe term study area means the study area described in subsection (b)(2).(b)Study(1)In generalThe Secretary, in consultation with State historic preservation officers, State historical societies, State tourism offices, State natural resource agencies, and other appropriate regional and local organizations or agencies, shall conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor.(2)Study areaThe study area includes—(A)the portion of the Rio Grande River and surrounding areas, as generally depicted on the map; and(B)any other areas in the State of Texas that—(i)have a shared heritage with the areas depicted on the map described in subparagraph (A); and(ii)are adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, those areas.(3)RequirementsThe study shall include analysis, documentation, and determinations on whether the study area—(A)has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural resources that—(i)represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States;(ii)are worthy of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and continuing use by residents and visitors; and(iii)would be best managed—(I)through partnerships among public and private entities; and(II)by linking diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and active communities that share a common heritage;(B)reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife that are a valuable part of the story of the United States;(C)provides—(i)outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic features; and(ii)outstanding recreational and educational and cultural tourism opportunities;(D)contains resources that—(i)are important to any identified themes of the study area; and(ii)retain a degree of integrity capable of supporting interpretation;(E)includes residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, including museums and heritage organizations, and State and local governments that—(i)are involved in the planning of the Corridor;(ii)have developed a conceptual financial plan that outlines the roles of all participants in the Corridor, including the Federal Government; and(iii)have demonstrated support for the designation of the Corridor;(F)has a potential management entity to work in partnership with the individuals and entities described in subparagraph (E) to develop the Corridor while encouraging State and local economic activity; and(G)has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the public.(c)ReportNot later than the end of the third fiscal year after the date on which funds are first made available for this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes—(1)the findings of the study; and(2)any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.