		I
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 987
		IN THE HOUSE OF
		  REPRESENTATIVES

			December 2, 2010
			Referred to the Committee on Foreign
			 Affairs

		AN ACT
		To protect girls in developing countries
		  through the prevention of child marriage, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 International Protecting Girls by
			 Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2010.
		2.FindingsCongress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)Child marriage, also known as forced
			 marriage or early marriage, is a harmful traditional
			 practice that deprives girls of their dignity and human rights.
			(2)Child marriage as a traditional practice,
			 as well as through coercion or force, is a violation of article 16 of the
			 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, Marriage shall be
			 entered into only with the free and full consent of intending
			 spouses.
			(3)According to the United Nations Children's
			 Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 60,000,000 girls in developing countries now ages
			 20 through 24 were married under the age of 18, and if present trends continue
			 more than 100,000,000 more girls in developing countries will be married as
			 children over the next decade, according to the Population Council.
			(4)Between 1/2 and
			 3/4 of all girls are married before the age of 18 in
			 Niger, Chad, Mali, Bangladesh, Guinea, the Central African Republic,
			 Mozambique, Burkina Faso, and Nepal, according to Demographic Health Survey
			 data.
			(5)Factors perpetuating child marriage include
			 poverty, a lack of educational or employment opportunities for girls, parental
			 concerns to ensure sexual relations within marriage, the dowry system, and the
			 perceived lack of value of girls.
			(6)Child marriage has negative effects on the
			 health of girls, including significantly increased risk of maternal death and
			 morbidity, infant mortality and morbidity, obstetric fistula, and sexually
			 transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
			(7)According to the United States Agency for
			 International Development (USAID), increasing the age at first birth for a
			 woman will increase her chances of survival. Currently, pregnancy and
			 childbirth complications are the leading cause of death for women 15 to 19
			 years old in developing countries.
			(8)Most countries with high rates of child
			 marriage have a legally established minimum age of marriage, yet child marriage
			 persists due to strong traditional norms and the failure to enforce existing
			 laws.
			(9)Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has
			 stated that child marriage is a clear and unacceptable violation of
			 human rights, and that the Department of State categorically
			 denounces all cases of child marriage as child abuse.
			(10)According to an International Center for
			 Research on Women analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data, areas or
			 regions in developing countries in which 40 percent or more of girls under the
			 age of 18 are married are considered high-prevalence areas for child
			 marriage.
			(11)Investments in girls' schooling, creating
			 safe community spaces for girls, and programs for skills building for
			 out-of-school girls are all effective and demonstrated strategies for
			 preventing child marriage and creating a pathway to empower girls by addressing
			 conditions of poverty, low status, and norms that contribute to child
			 marriage.
			3.Child marriage definedIn this Act, the term child
			 marriage means the marriage of a girl or boy, not yet the minimum age
			 for marriage stipulated in law in the country in which the girl or boy is a
			 resident or, where there is no such law, under the age of 18.
		4.Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—
			(1)child marriage is a violation of human
			 rights, and the prevention and elimination of child marriage should be a
			 foreign policy goal of the United States;
			(2)the practice of child marriage undermines
			 United States investments in foreign assistance to promote education and skills
			 building for girls, reduce maternal and child mortality, reduce maternal
			 illness, halt the transmission of HIV/AIDS, prevent gender-based violence, and
			 reduce poverty; and
			(3)expanding educational opportunities for
			 girls, economic opportunities for women, and reducing maternal and child
			 mortality are critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the
			 global health and development objectives of the United States, including
			 efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS.
			5.Strategy to prevent child marriage in
			 developing countries
			(a)Assistance authorized
				(1)In generalThe President is authorized to provide
			 assistance, including through multilateral, nongovernmental, and faith-based
			 organizations, to prevent the incidence of child marriage in developing
			 countries through the promotion of educational, health, economic, social, and
			 legal empowerment of girls and women.
				(2)PriorityIn providing assistance authorized under
			 paragraph (1), the President shall give priority to—
					(A)areas or regions in developing countries in
			 which 40 percent or more of girls under the age of 18 are married; and
					(B)activities to—
						(i)expand and replicate existing
			 community-based programs that are successful in preventing the incidence of
			 child marriage;
						(ii)establish pilot projects to prevent child
			 marriage; and
						(iii)share evaluations of successful programs,
			 program designs, experiences, and lessons.
						(b)Strategy required
				(1)In generalThe President shall establish a multi-year
			 strategy to prevent child marriage and promote the empowerment of girls at risk
			 of child marriage in developing countries, which should address the unique
			 needs, vulnerabilities, and potential of girls under age 18 in developing
			 countries.
				(2)ConsultationIn establishing the strategy required by
			 paragraph (1), the President shall consult with Congress, relevant Federal
			 departments and agencies, multilateral organizations, and representatives of
			 civil society.
				(3)ElementsThe strategy required by paragraph (1)
			 shall—
					(A)focus on areas in developing countries with
			 high prevalence of child marriage;
					(B)encompass diplomatic initiatives between
			 the United States and governments of developing countries, with attention to
			 human rights, legal reforms, and the rule of law;
					(C)encompass programmatic initiatives in the
			 areas of education, health, income generation, changing social norms, human
			 rights, and democracy building; and
					(D)be submitted to Congress not later than one
			 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
					(c)ReportNot later than three years after the date
			 of the enactment of this Act, the President should submit to Congress a report
			 that includes—
				(1)a description of the implementation of the
			 strategy required by subsection (b);
				(2)examples of best practices or programs to
			 prevent child marriage in developing countries that could be replicated;
			 and
				(3)an assessment, including data disaggregated
			 by age and sex to the extent possible, of current United States funded efforts
			 to specifically prevent child marriage in developing countries.
				(d)CoordinationAssistance authorized under subsection (a)
			 shall be integrated with existing United States development programs.
			(e)Activities supportedAssistance authorized under subsection (a)
			 may be made available for activities in the areas of education, health, income
			 generation, agriculture development, legal rights, democracy building, and
			 human rights, including—
				(1)support for community-based activities that
			 encourage community members to address beliefs or practices that promote child
			 marriage and to educate parents, community leaders, religious leaders, and
			 adolescents of the health risks associated with child marriage and the benefits
			 for adolescents, especially girls, of access to education, health care,
			 livelihood skills, microfinance, and savings programs;
				(2)support for activities to educate girls in
			 primary and secondary school at the appropriate age and keeping them in
			 age-appropriate grade levels through adolescence;
				(3)support for activities to reduce education
			 fees and enhance safe and supportive conditions in primary and secondary
			 schools to meet the needs of girls, including—
					(A)access to water and suitable hygiene
			 facilities, including separate lavatories and latrines for girls;
					(B)assignment of female teachers;
					(C)safe routes to and from school; and
					(D)eliminating sexual harassment and other
			 forms of violence and coercion;
					(4)support for activities that allow
			 adolescent girls to access health care services and proper nutrition, which is
			 essential to both their school performance and their economic
			 productivity;
				(5)assistance to train adolescent girls and
			 their parents in financial literacy and access economic opportunities,
			 including livelihood skills, savings, microfinance, and small-enterprise
			 development;
				(6)support for education, including through
			 community and faith-based organizations and youth programs, that helps remove
			 gender stereotypes and the bias against girls used to justify child marriage,
			 especially efforts targeted at men and boys, promotes zero tolerance for
			 violence, and promotes gender equality, which in turn help to increase the
			 perceived value of girls;
				(7)assistance to create peer support and
			 female mentoring networks and safe social spaces specifically for girls;
			 and
				(8)support for local advocacy work to provide
			 legal literacy programs at the community level to ensure that governments and
			 law enforcement officials are meeting their obligations to prevent child and
			 forced marriage.
				6.Research and dataIt is the sense of Congress that the
			 President and all relevant agencies should, as part of their ongoing research
			 and data collection activities—
			(1)collect and make available data on the
			 incidence of child marriage in countries that receive foreign or development
			 assistance from the United States where the practice of child marriage is
			 prevalent; and
			(2)collect and make available data on the
			 impact of the incidence of child marriage and the age at marriage on progress
			 in meeting key development goals.
			7.Department of State's country reports on
			 human rights practicesThe
			 Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended—
			(1)in section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n), by adding
			 at the end the following new subsection:

					(g)The report required by subsection (d) shall
				include, for each country in which child marriage is prevalent, a description
				of the status of the practice of child marriage in such country. In this
				subsection, the term child marriage means the marriage of a girl
				or boy, not yet the minimum age for marriage stipulated in law or under the age
				of 18 if no such law exists, in the country in which such girl or boy is a
				resident.
					;
				and
			(2)in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304), by adding
			 at the end the following new subsection:

					(i)The report required by subsection (b) shall
				include, for each country in which child marriage is prevalent, a description
				of the status of the practice of child marriage in such country. In this
				subsection, the term child marriage means the marriage of a girl
				or boy, not yet the minimum age for marriage stipulated in law or under the age
				of 18 if no such law exists, in the country in which such girl or boy is a
				resident.
					.

			Passed the Senate
			 December 1, 2010.
			Nancy Erickson,
			Secretary


117 HR 1549 IH: Addressing Climate Financial Risk Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-03-03
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1549IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 3, 2021Mr. Casten (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Levin of California, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesA BILLTo establish the Advisory Committee on Climate Risk on the Financial Stability Oversight Council.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Addressing Climate Financial Risk Act of 2021.2.Advisory Committee on Climate Risk(a)In generalSubtitle A of the Financial Stability Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 121 (12 U.S.C. 5331) the following:121A.Advisory Committee on Climate Risk(a)EstablishmentThere is established in the Council the Climate Risk Advisory Committee, which shall—(1)consult with the Council in the drafting by the Council of an annual report on climate risk required under subsection (e) and other climate risk matters; and(2)meet with the Council not less frequently than once per year.(b)Membership(1)In generalThe Committee shall consist of the following members:(A)Four members who are climate science experts, of whom—(i)1 shall be appointed by the Secretary of Energy;(ii)1 shall be appointed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and(iii)2 shall be appointed by the Director of the National Science Foundation.(B)Eight members who are experts in climate economics or climate financial risk appointed by the Council, of whom not fewer than 1 member is each an expert in—(i)insurance;(ii)capital markets;(iii)banking;(iv)international financial markets;(v)housing; and(vi)the perspective of asset owners.(2)ProhibitionNo member of the Committee may be employed by a company within the jurisdiction of a member agency of the Council.(c)TermThe members of the Committee shall be appointed for 3-year terms, except that the initial terms of the first members of the Committee shall be staggered so that—(1)4 members serve terms of 3 years;(2)4 members serve terms of 2 years; and(3)4 members serve terms of 1 years.(d)ConsultationThe Council shall consult with the Committee in carrying out the requirements of this section.(e)Report on climate financial riskNot later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Council shall, in coordination with the Committee and the Deputies Committee of the Council, publish a report that—(1)assesses—(A)the potential impact of climate risk on the financial stability of the United States;(B)the extent to which Federal and State financial regulatory agencies have sufficient expertise on climate risk;(C)the quality of data available to Council members to properly assess climate financial risk and any gaps in data that exist;(D)the extent to which supervised financial institutions are engaging in sound climate risk management;(E)the degree of coordination among Federal and State financial regulatory agencies on climate risk;(F)the degree of coordination by Federal and State financial regulatory agencies with international financial regulatory authorities on climate financial risk;(G)how U.S. climate financial risk disclosure requirements compare to climate financial risk disclosure regimes in other countries and to other regimes that are available; and(H)any other areas the Council believes are important; and(2)provides recommendations based on the assessments in paragraph (1) to Federal and State financial regulatory agencies and to Congress on how to improve the ability of the financial regulatory system in the United States to identify and mitigate climate financial risk.(f)Member agenciesEach member agency should develop and make publicly available a strategy to identify and mitigate climate financial risk within the jurisdiction of the member agency.(g)CoordinationThe Council should—(1)facilitate the sharing of best practices on climate financial risk across agencies; and(2)assign the Office of Financial Research to conduct ongoing research into climate financial risk. (h)Inclusion in annual reportThe Council shall include a section on climate financial risk in—(1)the annual report of the Council to Congress; and(2)if relevant, in any other report to Congress..(b)Technical and conforming amendmentThe table of contents of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in section 1(b) of that Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 121 the following:Sec. 121A. Advisory Committee on Climate Risk..3.Update on supervisory guidance on climate risk(a)DefinitionIn this section, the term Federal banking agency has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5301).(b)UpdateEach Federal banking agency and the National Credit Union Administration shall update applicable supervisory guidance to include climate risk, including credit, liquidity, market, operational, and reputational risk to ensure that supervised financial institutions appropriately identify and mitigate climate financial risk.(c)CoordinationThe Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council shall ensure that the guidance updated under subsection (b) is—(1)appropriately coordinated among the Federal banking agencies and the National Credit Union Administration; and(2)shared with State regulators.4.Update nonbank SIFI designation guidanceThe Financial Stability Oversight Council shall update subpart B of part 1310 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations, to specify how the Council will incorporate climate risk into determinations described in that subpart.5.FIO report on insurance regulation and climate riskNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Insurance Office shall publish a report that—(1)assesses the potential impact of climate financial risk on the insurance sector in the United States; and(2)recommends ways to modernize and improve the system of climate risk insurance regulation in the United States. 6.Improve global coordinationIt is the sense of Congress that relevant Federal financial regulatory agencies and the Department of the Treasury, if relevant, should—(1)join the Network for Greening the Financial System and other international organizations focused on climate financial risk;(2)formally join the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Risks of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision; and(3)work with international regulators on climate financial risk whenever possible, consistent with United States law.


116 S2579 IS: STEM Opportunities Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-09-26
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2579IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 26, 2019Ms. Hirono (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, and Ms. Rosen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo direct the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to carry out programs and
			 activities to ensure that Federal science agencies and institutions of
			 higher education receiving Federal research and development funding are
			 fully engaging their entire talent pool, and for other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of contents; findings
 (a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the STEM Opportunities Act of 2019. (b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; findings.Sec. 2. Purposes.Sec. 3. Federal science agency policies for caregivers.Sec. 4. Collection and reporting of data on Federal research grants.Sec. 5. Policies for review of Federal research grants.Sec. 6. Collection of data on demographics of faculty.Sec. 7. Cultural and institutional barriers to expanding the academic and Federal STEM workforce.Sec. 8. Research and dissemination at the National Science Foundation.Sec. 9. Research and related activities to expand STEM opportunities.Sec. 10. Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.Sec. 11. Report to Congress.Sec. 12. Merit review.Sec. 13. Definitions.
 (c)FindingsThe Congress finds the following: (1)Many reports over the past decade have found that it is critical to our Nation’s economic leadership and global competitiveness that the United States educates and trains more scientists and engineers.
 (2)Research shows that women and minorities who are interested in STEM careers are disproportionately lost at nearly every educational transition and at every career milestone.
 (3)The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics at the National Science Foundation collects, compiles, analyzes, and publishes data on the demographics of STEM degrees and STEM jobs in the United States.
 (4)Women now earn nearly 37 percent of all STEM bachelor’s degrees, but major variations persist among fields. In 2017, women earned only 20 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in engineering and 19 percent of bachelor’s degrees awarded in computer sciences. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, jobs in computing occupations are expected to account for nearly 60 percent of the projected annual growth of newly created STEM job openings from 2016 to 2026.
 (5)In 2017, underrepresented minority groups comprised 39 percent of the college-age population of the United States, but only 18 percent of students who earned bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. The Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that, while freshmen from underrepresented minority groups express an interest in pursuing a STEM undergraduate degree at the same rate as all other freshmen, only 22.1 percent of Latino students, 18.4 percent of African-American students, and 18.8 percent of Native American students studying in STEM fields complete their degree within 5 years, compared to approximately 33 percent of White students and 42 percent of Asian students who complete their degree within 5 years.
 (6)In some STEM fields, including the computer sciences, women persist at about the same rate through doctorate degrees. In other STEM fields, women persist through doctorate degrees at a lower rate. In mathematics, women earn just 26 percent of doctorate degrees compared with 42 percent of undergraduate degrees. Overall, women earned 38 percent of STEM doctorate degrees in 2016. The rate of minority students earning STEM doctorate degrees in physics is 9 percent, compared with 15 percent for bachelor’s degree. Students from underrepresented minority groups accounted for only 11.5 percent of STEM doctorate degrees awarded in 2016.
 (7)The representation of women in STEM drops significantly from the doctorate degree level to the faculty level. Overall, women hold only 26 percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions and 27 percent of full professor positions in STEM fields in our Nation’s universities and 4-year colleges. Black and Hispanic faculty together hold about 6.8 percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions and 7.5 percent of full professor positions. Many of the numbers in the American Indian or Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander categories for different faculty ranks were too small for the National Science Foundation to report publicly without potentially compromising confidential information about the individuals being surveyed.
 (8)The representation of women is especially low at our Nation’s top research universities. Even in the biological sciences, in which women now earn more than 50 percent of the doctorates and passed the 25 percent level 37 years ago, women make up only 25 percent of the full professors at the approximately 100 most research-intensive universities in the United States. In the physical sciences and mathematics, women make up only 11 percent of full professors, in computer sciences only 10 percent, and across engineering fields only 7 percent. The data suggest that approximately 6 percent of all tenure-track STEM faculty members at the most research-intensive universities are from underrepresented minority groups, but in some fields the numbers are too small to report publicly.
 (9)By 2050, underrepresented minorities will comprise 52 percent of the college-age population of the United States. If the percentage of female students and students from underrepresented minority groups earning bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields does not significantly increase, the United States will face an acute shortfall in the overall number of students who earn degrees in STEM fields just as United States companies are increasingly seeking students with those skills. With this impending shortfall, the United States will almost certainly lose its competitive edge in the 21st century global economy.
 (10)According to a 2014 Association for Women in Science survey of over 4,000 scientists across the globe, 70 percent of whom were men, STEM researchers face significant challenges in work-life integration. Researchers in the United States were among the most likely to experience a conflict between work and their personal life at least weekly. One-third of researchers surveyed said that ensuring good work-life integration has negatively impacted their careers, and, of researchers intending to leave their current job within the next year, 9 percent indicated it was because they were unable to balance work and life demands.
 (11)Female students and students from underrepresented minority groups at institutions of higher education who see few others like themselves among faculty and student populations often do not experience the social integration that is necessary for success in all disciplines, including STEM.
 (12)One in five children in the United States attend school in a rural community. The data shows that rural students are at a disadvantage with respect to STEM readiness. Among STEM-interested students, 17 percent of students in rural high schools and 18 percent of students in town-located high schools meet the ACT STEM Benchmark, compared with 33 percent of students in suburban high schools and 27 percent of students in urban high schools.
 (13)A substantial body of evidence establishes that most people hold implicit biases. Decades of cognitive psychology research reveal that most people carry prejudices of which they are unaware but that nonetheless play a large role in evaluations of people and their work. Unintentional biases and outmoded institutional structures are hindering the access and advancement of women, minorities, and other groups historically underrepresented in STEM.
 (14)Workshops held to educate faculty about unintentional biases have demonstrated success in raising awareness of such biases.
 (15)In 2012, the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in this Act referred to as NASA) completed a report that—
 (A)is specifically designed to help NASA grant recipients identify why the dearth of women in STEM fields continues and to ensure that it is not due to discrimination; and
 (B)provides guidance that is usable by all institutions of higher education receiving significant Federal research funding on how to conduct meaningful self-evaluations of campus culture and policies.
 (16)The Federal Government provides 55 percent of research funding at institutions of higher education and, through its grant-making policies, has had significant influence on institution of higher education policies, including policies related to institutional culture and structure.
 2.PurposesThe purposes of this Act are as follows: (1)To ensure that Federal science agencies and institutions of higher education receiving Federal research and development funding are fully engaging the entire talent pool of the United States.
 (2)To promote research on, and increase understanding of, the participation and trajectories of women, minorities, and other groups historically underrepresented in STEM studies and careers, including persons with disabilities, older learners, veterans, and rural, poor, and tribal populations, at institutions of higher education and Federal science agencies, including Federal laboratories.
 (3)To raise awareness within Federal science agencies, including Federal laboratories, and institutions of higher education about cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, promotion, and other indicators of participation and achievement of women, minorities, and other groups historically underrepresented in academic and Government STEM research careers at all levels.
 (4)To identify, disseminate, and implement best practices at Federal science agencies, including Federal laboratories, and at institutions of higher education to remove or reduce cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and success of women, minorities, and other groups historically underrepresented in academic and Government STEM research careers.
 (5)To provide grants to institutions of higher education to recruit, retain, and advance STEM faculty members from underrepresented minority groups and to implement or expand reforms in undergraduate STEM education in order to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority groups receiving degrees in these fields.
			3.Federal science agency policies for caregivers
 (a)OSTP guidanceNot later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with relevant agencies, shall provide guidance to each Federal science agency to establish policies that—
 (1)apply to all— (A)research awards granted by such agency; and
 (B)principal investigators of such research who have caregiving responsibilities, including care for a newborn or newly adopted child and care for an immediate family member who is sick or disabled; and
 (2)provide— (A)flexibility in timing for the initiation of approved research awards granted by such agency;
 (B)no-cost extensions of such research awards; (C)grant supplements, as appropriate, to research awards for research technicians or equivalent positions to sustain research activities conducted under such awards; and
 (D)any other appropriate accommodations at the discretion of the director of each such agency. (b)Uniformity of guidanceIn providing guidance under subsection (a), the Director shall encourage uniformity and consistency in the policies established pursuant to such guidance across all Federal science agencies.
 (c)Establishment of policiesConsistent with the guidance under subsection (a), Federal science agencies shall— (1)maintain or develop and implement policies for individuals described in paragraph (1)(B) of such subsection; and
 (2)broadly disseminate such policies to current and potential grantees. (d)Data on usageFederal science agencies shall—
 (1)collect data on the usage of the policies under subsection (c), by gender, at both institutions of higher education and Federal laboratories; and
 (2)report such data on an annual basis to the Director in such form as required by the Director. 4.Collection and reporting of data on Federal research grants (a)Collection of data (1)In generalEach Federal science agency shall collect, as practicable, with respect to all applications for merit-reviewed research and development grants to institutions of higher education and Federal laboratories supported by that agency, the standardized record-level annual information on demographics, primary field, award type, institution type, review rating, budget request, funding outcome, and awarded budget.
 (2)Uniformity and standardizationThe Director, in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall establish a policy to ensure uniformity and standardization of the data collection required under paragraph (1).
				(3)Record-level data
 (A)RequirementBeginning not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, each Federal science agency shall submit to the Director of the National Science Foundation record-level data collected under paragraph (1) in the form required by such Director.
 (B)Previous dataAs part of the first submission under subparagraph (A), each Federal science agency, to the extent practicable, shall also submit comparable record-level data for the 5 years preceding the date of such submission.
 (b)Reporting of dataThe Director of the National Science Foundation shall publish statistical summary data, as practicable, collected under this section, disaggregated and cross-tabulated by race, ethnicity, gender, and years since completion of doctoral degree, including in conjunction with the National Science Foundation’s report required by section 37 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d).
			5.Policies for review of Federal research grants
 (a)In generalEach Federal science agency shall implement the policy recommendations with respect to reducing the impact of implicit bias at Federal science agencies and grantee institutions as developed by the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the 2016 report entitled Reducing the Impact of Bias in the STEM Workforce and any subsequent updates.
 (b)Pilot activityIn consultation with the National Science Foundation and consistent with policy recommendations referenced in subsection (a), each Federal science agency shall implement a 2-year pilot orientation activity for program officers and members of standing review committees to educate reviewers on research related to, and minimize the effects of, implicit bias in the review of extramural and intramural Federal research grants.
 (c)Establishment of policiesDrawing upon lessons learned from the pilot activity under subsection (b), each Federal science agency shall maintain or develop and implement evidence-based policies and practices to minimize the effects of implicit bias in the review of extramural and intramural Federal research grants.
 (d)Assessment of policiesFederal science agencies shall regularly assess, and amend as necessary, the policies and practices implemented pursuant to subsection (c) to ensure effective measures are in place to minimize the effects of implicit bias in the review of extramural and intramural Federal research grants.
			6.Collection of data on demographics of faculty
			(a)Collection of data
 (1)In generalNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and at least every 5 years thereafter, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall carry out a survey to collect data from grantees on the demographics of STEM faculty, by broad fields of STEM, at different types of institutions of higher education.
 (2)ConsiderationsTo the extent practicable, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall consider, by gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, and years since completion of doctoral degree—
 (A)the number and percentage of faculty; (B)the number and percentage of faculty at each rank;
 (C)the number and percentage of faculty who are in nontenure-track positions, including teaching and research;
 (D)the number and percentage of faculty who are reviewed for promotion, including tenure, and the percentage of that number who are promoted, including being awarded tenure;
 (E)faculty years in rank; (F)the number and percentage of faculty to leave tenure-track positions;
 (G)the number and percentage of faculty hired, by rank; and (H)the number and percentage of faculty in leadership positions.
 (b)Existing surveysThe Director of the National Science Foundation, may, in modifying or expanding existing Federal surveys of higher education (as necessary)—
 (1)take into account the considerations under subsection (a)(2) by collaborating with statistical centers at other Federal agencies; or (2)award a grant or contract to an institution of higher education or other nonprofit organization to take such considerations into account.
 (c)Reporting dataThe Director of the National Science Foundation shall publish statistical summary data collected under this section, including as part of the National Science Foundation’s report required by section 37 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d).
 (d)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation $3,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2020 through 2022 to develop and carry out the initial survey required under subsection (a).
			7.Cultural and institutional barriers to expanding the academic and Federal STEM workforce
			(a)Best practices at institutions of higher education and Federal laboratories
 (1)Development of guidanceNot later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with the interagency working group on inclusion in STEM, shall develop written guidance for institutions of higher education and Federal laboratories on the best practices for—
 (A)conducting periodic climate surveys of STEM departments and divisions, with a particular focus on identifying any cultural or institutional barriers to the recruitment, retention, or advancement of women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other groups historically underrepresented in STEM studies and careers; and
 (B)providing educational opportunities, including workshops as described in subsection (b), for STEM faculty, research personnel, and administrators to learn about current research on implicit bias in recruitment, evaluation, and promotion of undergraduate and graduate students and research personnel.
 (2)Existing guidanceIn developing the guidance under paragraph (1), the Director shall utilize guidance already developed by Federal science agencies. (3)Dissemination of guidanceFederal science agencies shall broadly disseminate the guidance developed under paragraph (1) to institutions of higher education that receive Federal research funding and Federal laboratories.
 (4)Establishment of policiesConsistent with the guidance developed under paragraph (1)— (A)the Director of the National Science Foundation shall develop a policy that—
 (i)applies to, at a minimum, doctoral degree granting institutions that receive Federal research funding; and
 (ii)requires each such institution, not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, to report to the Director of the National Science Foundation on activities and policies developed and implemented based on the guidance developed under paragraph (1); and
 (B)each Federal science agency with a Federal laboratory shall maintain or develop and implement practices and policies for the purposes described in paragraph (1) for such laboratory.
					(b)Workshops To address cultural barriers to expanding the academic and Federal STEM workforce
 (1)In generalNot later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with the interagency working group on inclusion in STEM, shall recommend a uniform policy for Federal science agencies to carry out a program of workshops that educate STEM department chairs at institutions of higher education, senior managers at Federal laboratories, and other federally funded researchers about methods that minimize the effects of implicit bias in the career advancement, including hiring, tenure, promotion, and selection for any honor based in part on the recipient’s research record, of academic and Federal STEM researchers.
 (2)Interagency coordinationThe Director shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that workshops supported under this subsection are coordinated across Federal science agencies and jointly supported as appropriate.
 (3)Minimizing costsTo the extent practicable, workshops shall be held in conjunction with national or regional STEM disciplinary meetings to minimize costs associated with participant travel.
 (4)Priority fields for academic participantsIn considering the participation of STEM department chairs and other academic researchers, the Director shall prioritize workshops for the broad fields of STEM in which the national rate of representation of women among tenured or tenure-track faculty or nonfaculty researchers at doctorate-granting institutions of higher education is less than 25 percent, according to the most recent data available from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
 (5)Organizations eligible to carry out workshopsA Federal science agency may carry out the program of workshops under this subsection by making grants to organizations made eligible by the Federal science agency and any of the following organizations:
 (A)Nonprofit scientific and professional societies and organizations that represent one or more STEM disciplines.
 (B)Nonprofit organizations that have the primary mission of advancing the participation of women, minorities, or other groups historically underrepresented in STEM.
 (6)Characteristics of workshopsThe workshops shall have the following characteristics: (A)Invitees to workshops shall include at least—
 (i)the chairs of departments in the relevant STEM discipline or disciplines from doctoral degree granting institutions that receive Federal research funding; and
 (ii)in the case of Federal laboratories, individuals with personnel management responsibilities comparable to those of an institution of higher education department chair.
 (B)Activities at the workshops shall include research presentations and interactive discussions or other activities that increase the awareness of the existence of implicit bias in recruitment, hiring, tenure review, promotion, and other forms of formal recognition of individual achievement for faculty and other federally funded STEM researchers and shall provide strategies to overcome such bias.
 (C)Research presentations and other workshop programs, as appropriate, shall include a discussion of the unique challenges faced by different underrepresented groups, including minority women, minority men, persons from rural and underserved areas, persons with disabilities, gender and sexual minority individuals, and first generation graduates in research.
 (D)Workshop programs shall include information on best practices for mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral women, minorities, and other students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM.
 (7)Data on workshopsAny proposal for funding by an organization seeking to carry out a workshop under this subsection shall include a description of how such organization will—
 (A)collect data on the rates of attendance by invitees in workshops, including information on the home institution and department of attendees, and the rank of faculty attendees;
 (B)conduct attitudinal surveys on workshop attendees before and after the workshops; and (C)collect follow-up data on any relevant institutional policy or practice changes reported by attendees not later than one year after attendance in such a workshop.
 (8)Report to NSFOrganizations receiving funding to carry out workshops under this subsection shall report the data required in paragraph (7) to the Director of the National Science Foundation in such form as required by such Director.
 (c)Report to CongressNot later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall submit a report to Congress that includes—
 (1)a summary and analysis of the types and frequency of activities and policies developed and carried out under subsection (a) based on the reports submitted under paragraph (4) of such subsection; and
 (2)a description and evaluation of the status and effectiveness of the program of workshops required under subsection (b), including a summary of any data reported under paragraph (8) of such subsection.
 (d)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation $1,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to carry out this section.
			8.Research and dissemination at the National Science Foundation
 (a)In generalThe Director of the National Science Foundation shall award research grants and carry out dissemination activities consistent with the purposes of this Act, including—
 (1)research grants to analyze the record-level data collected under section 4 and section 6, consistent with policies to ensure the privacy of individuals identifiable by such data;
 (2)research grants to study best practices for work-life accommodation; (3)research grants to study the impact of policies and practices that are implemented under this Act or that are otherwise consistent with the purposes of this Act;
 (4)collaboration with other Federal science agencies and professional associations to exchange best practices, harmonize work-life accommodation policies and practices, and overcome common barriers to work-life accommodation; and
 (5)collaboration with institutions of higher education in order to clarify and catalyze the adoption of a coherent and consistent set of work-life accommodation policies and practices.
 (b)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation $5,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to carry out this section.
			9.Research and related activities to expand STEM opportunities
			(a)National Science Foundation support for increasing diversity among STEM faculty at institutions of
 higher educationSection 305 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 1862s–5) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and
 (2)by inserting after subsection (d) the following:  (e)Support for increasing diversity among STEM faculty at institutions of higher education (1)In generalThe Director of the Foundation shall award grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) for the development and assessment of innovative reform efforts designed to increase the recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in academic STEM careers.
 (2)Merit review; competitionGrants shall be awarded under this subsection on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis. (3)Use of fundsActivities supported by grants under this subsection may include—
 (A)institutional assessment activities, such as data analyses and policy review, in order to identify and address specific issues in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of faculty members from underrepresented minority groups;
 (B)implementation of institution-wide improvements in workload distribution, such that faculty members from underrepresented minority groups are not disadvantaged in the amount of time available to focus on research, publishing papers, and engaging in other activities required to achieve tenure status and run a productive research program;
 (C)development and implementation of training courses for administrators and search committee members to ensure that candidates from underrepresented minority groups are not subject to implicit biases in the search and hiring process;
 (D)development and hosting of intra- or inter-institutional workshops to propagate best practices in recruiting, retaining, and advancing faculty members from underrepresented minority groups;
 (E)professional development opportunities for faculty members from underrepresented minority groups; (F)activities aimed at making undergraduate STEM students from underrepresented minority groups aware of opportunities for academic careers in STEM fields;
 (G)activities to identify and engage exceptional graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from underrepresented minority groups at various stages of their studies and to encourage them to enter academic careers; and
 (H)other activities consistent with paragraph (1), as determined by the Director of the Foundation. (4)Selection process (A)ApplicationAn institution of higher education (or a consortium of such institutions) seeking funding under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director of the Foundation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as such Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum, a description of—
 (i)the reform effort that is being proposed for implementation by the institution of higher education; (ii)any available evidence of specific difficulties in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of faculty members from underrepresented minority groups in STEM academic careers within the institution of higher education submitting an application, and how the proposed reform effort would address such issues;
 (iii)how the institution of higher education submitting an application plans to sustain the proposed reform effort beyond the duration of the grant; and
 (iv)how the success and effectiveness of the proposed reform effort will be evaluated and assessed in order to contribute to the national knowledge base about models for catalyzing institutional change.
 (B)Review of applicationsIn selecting grant recipients under this subsection, the Director of the Foundation shall consider, at a minimum—
 (i)the likelihood of success in undertaking the proposed reform effort at the institution of higher education submitting the application, including the extent to which the administrators of the institution are committed to making the proposed reform effort a priority;
 (ii)the degree to which the proposed reform effort will contribute to change in institutional culture and policy such that greater value is placed on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of faculty members from underrepresented minority groups;
 (iii)the likelihood that the institution of higher education will sustain or expand the proposed reform effort beyond the period of the grant; and
 (iv)the degree to which evaluation and assessment plans are included in the design of the proposed reform effort.
 (C)Grant distributionThe Director of the Foundation shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that grants awarded under this section are made to a variety of types of institutions of higher education.
 (5)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024..
 (b)National Science Foundation support for broadening participation in undergraduate STEM educationSection 305 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 1862s–5), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by inserting after subsection (e) the following:

					(f)Support for broadening participation in undergraduate STEM education
 (1)In generalThe Director of the Foundation shall award grants to institutions of higher education (or a consortium of such institutions) to implement or expand research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM education for the purpose of recruiting and retaining students from minority groups who are underrepresented in STEM fields.
 (2)Merit review; competitionGrants shall be awarded under this subsection on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis. (3)Use of fundsActivities supported by grants under this subsection may include—
 (A)implementation or expansion of innovative, research-based approaches to broaden participation of underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields;
 (B)implementation or expansion of bridge, cohort, tutoring, or mentoring programs, including those involving community colleges and technical schools, designed to enhance the recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields;
 (C)implementation or expansion of outreach programs linking institutions of higher education and K–12 school systems in order to heighten awareness among pre-college students from underrepresented minority groups of opportunities in college-level STEM fields and STEM careers;
 (D)implementation or expansion of faculty development programs focused on improving retention of undergraduate STEM students from underrepresented minority groups;
 (E)implementation or expansion of mechanisms designed to recognize and reward faculty members who demonstrate a commitment to increasing the participation of students from underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields;
 (F)expansion of successful reforms aimed at increasing the number of STEM students from underrepresented minority groups beyond a single course or group of courses to achieve reform within an entire academic unit, or expansion of successful reform efforts beyond a single academic unit or field to other STEM academic units or fields within an institution of higher education;
 (G)expansion of opportunities for students from underrepresented minority groups to conduct STEM research in industry, at Federal labs, and at international research institutions or research sites;
 (H)provision of stipends for students from underrepresented minority groups participating in research; (I)development of research collaborations between research-intensive universities and primarily undergraduate minority-serving institutions;
 (J)support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented minority groups to participate in instructional or assessment activities at primarily undergraduate institutions, including primarily undergraduate minority-serving institutions and two-year institutions of higher education; and
 (K)other activities consistent with paragraph (1), as determined by the Director of the Foundation. (4)Selection process (A)ApplicationAn institution of higher education (or a consortium thereof) seeking a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director of the Foundation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as such Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum—
 (i)a description of the proposed reform effort; (ii)a description of the research findings that will serve as the basis for the proposed reform effort or, in the case of applications that propose an expansion of a previously implemented reform, a description of the previously implemented reform effort, including data about the recruitment, retention, and academic achievement of students from underrepresented minority groups;
 (iii)evidence of an institutional commitment to, and support for, the proposed reform effort, including a long-term commitment to implement successful strategies from the current reform beyond the academic unit or units included in the grant proposal;
 (iv)a description of existing or planned institutional policies and practices regarding faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching assignment that reward faculty contributions to improving the education of students from underrepresented minority groups in STEM; and
 (v)how the success and effectiveness of the proposed reform effort will be evaluated and assessed in order to contribute to the national knowledge base about models for catalyzing institutional change.
 (B)Review of applicationsIn selecting grant recipients under this subsection, the Director of the Foundation shall consider, at a minimum—
 (i)the likelihood of success of the proposed reform effort at the institution submitting the application, including the extent to which the faculty, staff, and administrators of the institution are committed to making the proposed institutional reform a priority of the participating academic unit or units;
 (ii)the degree to which the proposed reform effort will contribute to change in institutional culture and policy such that greater value is placed on faculty engagement in the retention of students from underrepresented minority groups;
 (iii)the likelihood that the institution will sustain or expand the proposed reform effort beyond the period of the grant; and
 (iv)the degree to which evaluation and assessment plans are included in the design of the proposed reform effort.
 (C)Grant distributionThe Director of the Foundation shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that grants awarded under this subsection are made to a variety of types of institutions of higher education, including two-year and minority-serving institutions of higher education.
							(5)Education research
 (A)In generalAll grants made under this subsection shall include an education research component that will support the design and implementation of a system for data collection and evaluation of proposed reform efforts in order to build the knowledge base on promising models for increasing recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented minority groups in STEM education at the undergraduate level across a diverse set of institutions.
 (B)DisseminationThe Director of the Foundation shall coordinate with relevant Federal agencies in disseminating the results of the research under this paragraph to ensure that best practices in broadening participation in STEM education at the undergraduate level are made readily available to all institutions of higher education, other Federal agencies that support STEM programs, non-Federal funders of STEM education, and the general public.
 (6)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024..
			10.Tribal Colleges and Universities Program
 (a)Grants To broaden tribal college and university student participation in computer scienceSection 525 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–13) is amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

					(d)Grants To broaden tribal college and university student participation in computer science
 (1)In generalThe Director, as part of the program authorized under this section, shall award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities to increase the participation of tribal populations in computer science and computational thinking education programs to enable students to develop skills and competencies in coding, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.
 (2)PurposeGrants awarded under this subsection shall support— (A)research and development needed to bring computer science and computational thinking courses and degrees to tribal colleges and universities;
 (B)research and development of instructional materials needed to integrate computer science and computational thinking into programs that are culturally relevant to students attending tribal colleges and universities;
 (C)research, development, and evaluation of distance education for computer science and computational thinking courses and degree programs for students attending tribal colleges and universities; and
 (D)other activities consistent with the activities described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b), as determined by the Director.
 (3)PartnershipsA tribal college or university seeking a grant under this subsection, or a consortia thereof, may partner with an institution of higher education or nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in academic program development.
 (4)CoordinationIn carrying out this subsection, the Director shall consult and cooperate with the programs and policies of other relevant Federal agencies to avoid duplication with and enhance the effectiveness of the program under this subsection.
 (5)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the Foundation $2,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to carry out this subsection..
			(b)Evaluation
 (1)In generalNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall evaluate the grant program authorized under section 525 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–13), as amended by subsection (a).
 (2)RequirementsIn conducting the evaluation under paragraph (1), the Director of the National Science Foundation shall, as practicable—
 (A)use a common set of benchmarks and assessment tools to identify best practices and materials developed or demonstrated by the research conducted pursuant to grants programs under section 525 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–13);
 (B)include an assessment of the effectiveness of such grant programs in expanding access to high quality STEM education, research, and outreach at tribal colleges and universities, as applicable;
 (C)assess the number of students who participated in such grant programs; and (D)assess the percentage of students participating in such grant programs who successfully complete their education programs.
 (3)ReportNot later than 180 days after the date on which the evaluation under paragraph (1) is completed, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall submit to Congress and make available to the public, a report on the results of the evaluation, including any recommendations for legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the grant program authorized under section 525 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended by subsection (a).
 11.Report to CongressNot later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to Congress that includes—
 (1)a description and evaluation of the status and usage of policies implemented pursuant to section 3 at all Federal science agencies, including any recommendations for revising or expanding such policies;
 (2)with respect to efforts to minimize the effects of implicit bias in the review of extramural and intramural Federal research grants under section 5—
 (A)what steps all Federal science agencies have taken to implement policies and practices to minimize such effects;
 (B)a description of any significant updates to the policies for review of Federal research grants required under such section; and
 (C)any evidence of the impact of such policies on the review or awarding of Federal research grants; and
 (3)a description and evaluation of the status of institution of higher education and Federal laboratory policies and practices required under section 7(a), including any recommendations for revising or expanding such policies.
 12.Merit reviewNothing in this Act shall be construed as altering any intellectual or broader impacts criteria at Federal science agencies for evaluating grant applications.
 13.DefinitionsIn this Act: (1)DirectorThe term Director means the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
 (2)Federal laboratoryThe term Federal laboratory has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703).
 (3)Federal science agencyThe term Federal science agency means any Federal agency with at least $100,000,000 in research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2018.
 (4)Institution of higher educationThe term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
 (5)Interagency working group on inclusion in STEMThe term interagency working group on inclusion in STEM means the interagency working group established by section 308 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 6626).
 (6)STEMThe term STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3713
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			December 16, 2011
			Mr. Holden (for
			 himself, Mr. Moran, and
			 Mr. Michaud) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Foreign Affairs

		A BILL
		To direct the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to
		  receive and determine the validity and amount of claims for loss of wages and
		  other property of those plaintiffs in the case Bruce D. Abbott et al. v.
		  Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Equitable Treatment for the Living
			 Victims of Lockerbie Act.
		2.Consideration of
			 claims in the case Bruce D. Abbott et al. v. Socialist People’s Libyan Arab
			 Jamahiriya by Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
			(a)In
			 generalThe Foreign Claims
			 Settlement Commission shall, pursuant to section 4 of the International Claims
			 Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1623), receive and determine the validity and
			 amount of claims for loss of wages and other property of those plaintiffs in
			 the case Bruce D. Abbott et al. v. Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
			 Docket Nos. 95–7942 (2nd Cir. 1995).
			(b)Notice and
			 considerationThe Commission
			 shall, not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
			 publish notice in the Federal Register of the time within which claims
			 described in subsection (a) may be filed with the Commission. The Commission
			 shall commence consideration of such claims as soon as practicable after the
			 date on which such claims are filed.
			(c)PriorityThe amount of awards for claims described
			 in subsection (a) shall be paid from the fund established in the Treasury to
			 carry out the claims agreement before any awards for corporate claims are paid
			 from such fund.
			(d)ApplicabilityExcept as provided in subsections (b) and
			 (c), the provisions of title I of the International Claims Settlement Act of
			 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) shall apply to submission, determination, and
			 payment of claims described in subsection (a).
			(e)DefinitionIn
			 this section, the term claims agreement has the meaning given the
			 term in section 2 of the Libyan Claims Resolution Act (Public Law 110–301; 28
			 U.S.C. 1605A note).


115 S3769 IS: Early Pell Promise Act
U.S. Senate
2018-12-18
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
115th CONGRESS2d Session
S. 3769
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 18, 2018
Ms. Stabenow (for herself and Mr. Young) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL
To establish an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Early Pell Promise Act.  2.Early Federal Pell Grant commitment programSubpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

401B.Early Federal Pell Grant commitment program
(a)Program authorityThe Secretary is authorized to carry out an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program (referred to in this section as the Program) under which the Secretary shall— (1)award grants to State educational agencies to pay the administrative expenses incurred in participating in the Program; and
(2)make a commitment to award Federal Pell Grants to eligible students in accordance with this section.  (b)Program requirementsThe Program shall meet the following requirements:
(1)Eligible students
(A)In generalA student shall be eligible to receive a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant early in the student's academic career if the student— (i)is in 8th grade; and
(ii)is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).  (2)Federal Pell Grant commitment (A)In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), each eligible student who participates in the Program shall receive a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant during the first 2 academic years that the student is in attendance at an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student, if the student—
(i)applies for Federal financial aid (via the FAFSA) during the student's senior year of secondary school and during the succeeding academic year; and  (ii)enrolls at such institution of higher education—
(I)not later than 3 years after such student receives a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; or  (II)if such student becomes a member of the Armed Forces, not later than 3 years after such student is discharged, separated, or released from the Armed Forces.
(B)Exception to commitmentIf an eligible student receives a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant during the first 2 academic years that the student is in attendance at an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student and the student applies for Federal financial aid (via the FAFSA) during the student's senior year of secondary school or during the succeeding academic year, and the expected family contribution of the student for either of such years is more than 2 times the threshold amount for Federal Pell Grant eligibility for such year, then such student shall not receive a Federal Pell Grant under this section for the succeeding academic year. Such student shall continue to be eligible for any other Federal student financial aid for which the student is otherwise eligible.  (3)Applicability of Federal Pell Grant requirementsThe requirements of section 401 shall apply to Federal Pell Grants awarded pursuant to this section, except that with respect to each eligible student who participates in the Program and is not subject to the exception under paragraph (2)(B), the amount of each such eligible student's Federal Pell Grant only shall be calculated by deeming such student to have an expected family contribution equal to zero.
(c)State educational agency applications
(1)In generalEach State educational agency desiring to participate in the Program shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.  (2)ContentsEach application shall include—
(A)a description of the proposed targeted information campaign for the Program and a copy of the plan described in subsection (e)(2);  (B)an assurance that the State educational agency will fully cooperate with the ongoing evaluation of the Program;
(C)a description of how the State will— (i)encourage participating students to enroll in rigorous and challenging curricula and coursework, in order to reduce the need for remedial coursework at the postsecondary level;
(ii)increase the number of participating students who— (I)obtain a secondary school diploma; and
(II)complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education;  (iii)introduce participating students to institutions of higher education, through trips and school-based sessions;
(iv)provide participating students with assistance in the admissions and application process for institutions of higher education or other postsecondary education programs; and  (v)ensure that each participating student has an educational development plan; and
(D)such other information as the Secretary may require.  (3)Educational development planIn this subsection, the term educational development plan means an individualized plan for a student that—
(A)contains a series of steps to help promote the student's career awareness and exploration; and  (B)assists students in identifying—
(i)career and technical programs of study, including— (I)career and technical programs of study described in section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(A));
(II)career pathways (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)); and  (III)providers of training services leading to a recognized postsecondary credential that are included on a State's list under section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(d)); or
(ii)other postsecondary options, including baccalaureate and subbaccalaureate degree programs.  (d)Evaluation (1)In generalFrom amounts appropriated under subsection (f) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more than $1,000,000 to award a grant or contract to an organization outside the Department for an independent evaluation of the impact of the Program.
(2)Competitive basisThe grant or contract shall be awarded on a competitive basis.  (3)Matters evaluatedThe evaluation described in this subsection shall consider metrics established by the Secretary that emphasize college access and success, encouraging low-income students to pursue higher education, and the cost effectiveness of the program.
(4)DisseminationThe findings of the evaluation shall be widely disseminated to the public by the organization conducting the evaluation as well as by the Secretary.  (e)Targeted information campaign (1)In generalEach State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall, in cooperation with the participating local educational agencies within the State and the Secretary, develop a targeted information campaign for the Program.
(2)PlanEach State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall include in the application submitted under subsection (c) a written plan for their proposed targeted information campaign. The plan shall include the following: (A)OutreachOutreach to students and their families, at a minimum, at the beginning and end of each academic year.
(B)DistributionHow the State educational agency plans to provide the outreach described in subparagraph (A) and to provide the information described in subparagraph (C).  (C)InformationThe annual provision by the State educational agency to all students and families participating in the Program of information regarding—
(i)the estimated national and statewide average higher education institution cost data for each academic year, which cost data shall be disaggregated by— (I)type of institution, including—
(aa)2-year public colleges;  (bb)4-year public colleges;
(cc)4-year private colleges; and  (dd)private, for-profit colleges; and
(II)component, including— (aa)tuition and fees; and
(bb)room and board;  (ii)Federal Pell Grants, including—
(I)the maximum Federal Pell Grant for each academic year;  (II)when and how to apply for a Federal Pell Grant; and
(III)what the application process for a Federal Pell Grant requires;  (iii)State-specific college savings programs;
(iv)State-based financial aid, including State-based merit aid;  (v)Federal financial aid available to students, including eligibility criteria for the Federal financial aid and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs; and
(vi)financial aid that may be available from non-governmental sources.  (3)Annual informationThe information described in paragraph (2)(C) shall be provided to eligible students annually for the duration of the students' participation in the Program.
(4)ReservationEach State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall reserve $200,000 of the grant funds received each fiscal year to carry out the targeted information campaign described in this subsection.  (f)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary..


117 S122 IS: Filtering and Retrofitting the Environment for Safe and Healthy Activities Indoors and Revenue (FRESH AIR) for Businesses Act
U.S. Senate
2021-01-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II
117th CONGRESS1st Session
S. 122
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 28, 2021
Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Cramer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL
To provide a credit against payroll taxes to businesses and nonprofit organizations that purchase or upgrade ventilation and air filtration systems to help prevent the spread of COVID–19 and other airborne communicable diseases.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Filtering and Retrofitting the Environment for Safe and Healthy Activities Indoors and Revenue (FRESH AIR) for Businesses Act. 2.Business ventilation tax credit (a)In generalIn the case of an employer, there shall be allowed as a credit against applicable employment taxes for each calendar quarter an amount equal to 50 percent of the qualified ventilation, zoning, and air filtration and purification expenses paid or incurred by the employer during such calendar quarter.
(b)Limitations and refundability
(1)Overall dollar limitation on creditThe amount of the credit allowed under subsection (a) with respect to any employer for all calendar quarters with respect to any qualified location shall not exceed $15,000. (2)Credit limited to employment taxesThe credit allowed by subsection (a) with respect to any calendar quarter shall not exceed the applicable employment taxes (reduced by any credits allowed under subsections (e) and (f) of section 3111 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, sections 7001 and 7003 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and section 2301 of the CARES Act) on the wages paid with respect to the employment of all the employees of the employer for such calendar quarter.
(3)Refundability of excess credit
(A)In generalIf the amount of the credit under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation of paragraph (2) for any calendar quarter, such excess shall be treated as an overpayment that shall be refunded under sections 6402(a) and 6413(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (B)Treatment of paymentsFor purposes of section 1324 of title 31, United States Code, any amounts due to the employer under this paragraph shall be treated in the same manner as a refund due from a credit provision referred to in subsection (b)(2) of such section.
(c)Qualified ventilation, zoning, and air filtration and purification expenses; qualified locationFor purposes of this section— (1)In generalThe term qualified ventilation, zoning, and air filtration and purification expenses means amounts paid or incurred by the employer for—
(A)the purchase and installation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system— (i)which is placed in service at a qualified location,
(ii)which includes indoor air quality sensors and controls, and (iii)which—
(I)is designed to filter air at a rate equivalent to or in excess of a MERV 13 or equivalent level of filtration,  (II)uses UV-based purification, or
(III)provides a fresh air supply at least 17 cubic feet per minute per occupant, the ability to conduct zoning and sub-zoning, and the ability to direct air via directional and controlled air outlets in order to minimize draft air exchange between neighboring occupants or zones,  (B)upgrading a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at a qualified location which does not meet the requirements of any item of subparagraph (A)(iii) so that the system meets such requirements,
(C)the purchase of any— (i)air filter—
(I)which is used in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at a qualified location, and (II)which filters air at a rate equivalent to or in excess of a MERV 13 or equivalent level of filtration, or
(ii)UV light bulb which is used in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at a qualified location, (D)the purchase of any stand alone air cleaner or air purifier—
(i)which is placed in service at such qualified location by the employer,  (ii)which is capable of providing at least 5 air changes per hour at such qualified location, and
(iii)which— (I)is capable of using HEPA filters,
(II)uses UV-based purification, or (III)uses electronic air cleaners or ionizers to clean air at a rate equivalent to a HEPA filter, and
(E)the purchase of any— (i)HEPA filter used in an air cleaner described in subparagraph (D)(iii)(I),
(ii)UV light bulb used in an air purifier described in subparagraph (D)(iii)(II), or (iii)purification component used in an air purifier described in subparagraph (D)(iii)(III).
(2)TerminationSuch term shall not include any expenses for property placed in service after December 31, 2021. (d)Other definitionsFor purposes of this section—
(1)Applicable employment taxesThe term applicable employment taxes means the following: (A)The taxes imposed under section 3111(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(B)So much of the taxes imposed under section 3221(a) of such Code as are attributable to the rate in effect under section 3111(a) of such Code. (2)Qualified locationThe term qualified location means any location in the United States—
(A)which is leased or owned by the employer, and (B)at which an employer conducts business.
(3)COVID–19Except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, any reference in this section to COVID–19 shall be treated as including a reference to the virus which causes COVID–19. (4)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury or such Secretary’s delegate.
(5)Other termsAny term used in this section which is also used in chapter 21 or 22 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall have the same meaning as when used in such chapter. (e)Certain governmental employersThis section shall not apply to the Government of the United States, the government of any State or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing.
(f)Rules relating to employer, etc
(1)Aggregation ruleAll persons treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or subsection (m) or (o) of section 414 of such Code, shall be treated as one employer for purposes of this section. (2)Third-party payorsAny credit allowed under subsection (a) shall be treated as a credit described in section 3511(d)(2) of such Code.
(g)Treatment of depositsThe Secretary shall waive any penalty under section 6656 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any failure to make a deposit of any applicable employment taxes if the Secretary determines that such failure was due to the reasonable anticipation of the credit allowed under subsection (a).  (h)Denial of double benefitFor purposes of chapter 1 of such Code—
(1)the gross income of any employer, for the taxable year which includes the last day of any calendar quarter with respect to which a credit is allowed under this section, shall be increased by the amount of such credit, and (2)no deduction or other benefit shall be denied or reduced by reason of expenses taking into account for purposes of determining the amount of the credit allowed under this section.
(i)Election not To have section applyThis section shall not apply with respect to any employer for any calendar quarter if such employer elects (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe) not to have this section apply.  (j)Transfers to certain trust fundsThere are hereby appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) and the Social Security Equivalent Benefit Account established under section 15A(a) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231n–1(a)) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the Treasury by reason of this section (without regard to this subsection). Amounts appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be transferred from the general fund at such times and in such manner as to replicate to the extent possible the transfers which would have occurred to such Trust Fund or Account had this section not been enacted.
(k)Regulations and guidanceThe Secretary shall prescribe such regulations and other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including— (1)with respect to the application of the credit under subsection (a) to third-party payors (including professional employer organizations, certified professional employer organizations, or agents under section 3504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), regulations or other guidance allowing such payors to submit documentation necessary to substantiate the amount of the credit allowed under subsection (a),
(2)regulations or other guidance for recapturing the benefit of credits determined under subsection (a) in cases where there is a subsequent adjustment to the credit determined under such subsection, and (3)regulations or other guidance to prevent abuse of the purposes of this section.
(l)Application
(1)In generalThis section shall only apply to amounts paid or incurred after January 31, 2020, and before January 1, 2022. (2)Special rule for certain amounts paid or incurred in calendar quarters ending before the date of the enactment of this ActFor purposes of this section, in the case of any amount paid or incurred after January 31, 2020, and on or before the last day of the last calendar quarter ending before the date of the enactment of this Act, such amount shall be treated as paid or incurred on such date of enactment.
(m)Voluntary labelingNot later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other appropriate agencies, shall establish a framework and guidelines for a voluntary label to certify that air pressure ventilation, zoning, fresh air intake, purification, or filtration systems meet the applicable standards provided under subsection (c)(1).


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3847
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			October 20, 2009
			Mr. Conyers
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		A BILL
		To provide appropriate authority to the Department of
		  Justice Inspector General to investigate attorney misconduct, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short TitleThis Act may be called the
			 Department of Justice Inspector
			 General Authority Improvement Act of 2009.
		2.Amendments to
			 special provisions concerning the Department of Justice
			(a)Amendment to
			 requirement relating to certain referralsSection 8E(b) of the Inspector General Act
			 of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
			(b)Conforming
			 amendmentsSection 8E of such Act is further amended—
				(1)in subsection
			 (b)—
					(A)by striking
			 and paragraph (3) in paragraph (2);
					(B)by redesignating
			 paragraph (4) as paragraph (3); and
					(C)by redesignating
			 paragraph (5) as paragraph (4) and in that paragraph by striking
			 (4) and inserting (3); and
					(2)in subsection (d),
			 by striking , except with respect to allegations described in subsection
			 (b)(3),.


115 HR 4850 IH: Asylum Protection Act of 2018
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-01-19
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.

I115th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 4850IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 19, 2018Mr. Francis Rooney of Florida (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Brooks of Alabama, Mr. Farenthold, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Budd, and Mr. Norman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to alter the deadlines by which an application for asylum must be made, and for other purposes.
1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Asylum Protection Act of 2018. 2.Dates of applications for asylumSection 208(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)) is amended—
(1)by striking 1 year and inserting 30 days; and (2)by adding before the period at the end the following: , except that, in the case of an alien who arrives at a designated port of arrival, that alien shall be required to commence an application at the time of arrival.