115 S1875 IS: Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017
U.S. Senate
2017-09-27
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.

II115th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1875IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 27, 2017Mr. Wyden introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the
			 flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of the electric grid, to increase
			 the competitiveness of the United States economy, to protect consumers,
			 and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for
			 other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of contents
			(a)Short title
 This Act may be cited as the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017.
 (b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. Sec. 3. Analysis of distributed energy resources, the value of grid services, and advanced transmission assets. Sec. 4. Electrification of vehicles and heating. Sec. 5. Privacy, security, and resilience. Sec. 6. Workforce development. Sec. 7. Flexible Grid Challenge 2022.  2.DefinitionsIn this Act:
 (1)AdministratorThe term Administrator means the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration. (2)CommissionThe term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
			(3)Distributed energy resource
 (A)In generalThe term distributed energy resource means an electric device that can produce or consume energy that is located— (i)on the distribution system or any subsystem of the distribution system; or
 (ii)behind a customer meter. (B)InclusionsThe term distributed energy resource includes—
 (i)an energy storage resource; (ii)an energy generation technology;
 (iii)a demand response resource; (iv)an energy efficiency resource;
 (v)an electric vehicle and associated supply equipment and systems; and (vi)aggregations and integrated control systems, including virtual power plants, microgrids, and networks of microgrid cells.
 (4)Electric consumer; electric utility; rateThe terms electric consumer, electric utility, and rate have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602).
 (5)Electric Reliability OrganizationThe term Electric Reliability Organization has the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)).
 (6)Energy storageThe term energy storage means equipment or facilities capable of absorbing energy, storing energy for a period of time, and dispatching the stored energy, that—
 (A)uses mechanical, electrochemical, hydroelectric, or thermal processes, as a single facility or as an aggregation of units, throughout the electric grid, including behind the meter to store energy generated at one time for use at a later time;
 (B)uses mechanical, electrochemical, hydroelectric, or thermal processes, as a single facility or as an aggregation of units, throughout the electric grid, including behind the meter to store energy generated from mechanical processes that would otherwise be wasted for delivery at a later time; or
 (C)stores thermal energy for direct use for heating or cooling at a later time in a manner that avoids the need to use electricity at that later time.
 (7)GranularThe term granular, with respect to a rate or other price for electricity, means that the rate or price is established based on precise accounting of the value, as determined by the time and location of the production or consumption of the electricity and the unique type of energy services being provided, of electrical energy, capacity, and ancillary services, including—
 (A)time-of-use rates; (B)peak-time rebates;
 (C)critical peak pricing; (D)real-time pricing;
 (E)transactive energy approaches; (F)inverted time-of-use rates;
 (G)forward-looking charges; (H)peak-coincident capacity network charges; and
 (I)3-part rates. (8)Light-duty consumer vehicleThe term light-duty consumer vehicle has the meaning given the term light-duty vehicle in section 1037.801 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
 (9)Locational valueThe term locational value, with respect to an electric grid service, means value that is contingent on the physical location where the electric grid service is delivered.
 (10)MicrogridThe term microgrid means a localized grid that can disconnect from the traditional grid to operate autonomously and help mitigate grid disturbances to strengthen grid resilience.
			(11)National
 LaboratoryThe term National Laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
 (12)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. (13)State energy officeThe term State energy office has the meaning given the term in section 124(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15821(a)).
 (14)Temporal valueThe term temporal value, with respect to an electric grid service, means value that is contingent on the time when the electric grid service is delivered.
 (15)Transit agencyThe term transit agency has the meaning given the term in section 630.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
 (16)Transit vehicleThe term transit vehicle has the meaning given the term bus in section 1192.3 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
			3.Analysis of distributed energy resources, the value of grid services, and advanced transmission
			 assets
 (a)Data and analysis for promoting grid flexibility and optimizing distributed energy resourcesSection 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16211) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively, of subsection (b) and indenting the paragraphs appropriately;
 (2)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting resource after carry out distributed energy;
 (B)in paragraph (2), by striking subsection and inserting section; and (C)in paragraphs (3) and (4) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking subsection (b) each place it appears and inserting this subsection;
 (3)by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (h); (4)in subsection (a), by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through The Secretary in the first sentence and inserting the following:

 (a)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)CommissionThe term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
 (2)Distributed energy resourceThe term distributed energy resource has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017. (3)Grid flexibilityThe term grid flexibility means the ability of a power system—
 (A)from an operational perspective, to respond to changes in supply and demand, such as abrupt changes in load conditions or sharp ramps in generation; and
 (B)from a long-term planning and investment perspective, to respond to changes in technology, markets and policy, without incurring stranded assets.
								(b)Research, development, demonstration, and commercial application
 (1)In generalThe Secretary; (5)in subsection (b) (as so redesignated), in the second sentence, by striking The programs and inserting the following:

 (2)RequirementThe programs under this subsection; and (6)by inserting after subsection (b) (as so redesignated) the following:

						(c)National assessment of the potential of distributed energy resources
							(1)Assessments
 (A)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Commission and the Secretary shall conduct a national assessment of the technical and economic potential of distributed energy resources to provide electric grid services, including services that enhance grid flexibility and the reliability, resilience, affordability, efficiency, and security of the electric grid.
 (B)RequirementsIn conducting an assessment under subparagraph (A), the Commission and the Secretary shall— (i)consider locational characteristics, such as load pockets and electric grid congestion;
 (ii)consider temporal characteristics, such as hourly and subhourly electricity generation costs and electricity network costs;
 (iii)consider the specific electric grid services identified by the study under section 3(b) of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017;
 (iv)consider unique State regulatory and market characteristics and regional electric grid characteristics;
 (v)incorporate a range of scenarios, including scenarios that assume— (I)the existence of granular retail electricity rates, including transactive energy approaches;
 (II)no granular retail electricity rates; (III)the existence of electricity market products that remunerate the electric grid services provided by distributed energy resources, incorporating the results of the most recent study under section 3(b) of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017;
 (IV)no electricity market products that remunerate the electric grid services provided by distributed energy resources, incorporating the results of the most recent study under section 3(b) of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017;
 (V)various levels of renewable energy generation penetration; (VI)various levels of distributed energy resource penetration, including electric vehicles;
 (VII)the implementation of transactive energy approaches as a means of coordinating at scale large numbers of distributed energy resources; and
 (VIII)different deployment scenarios, such as individual technology applications, combination technology applications, and integrated control system applications;
 (vi)include— (I)an analysis of the use of a comprehensive suite of distributed energy resources; and
 (II)an assessment of the competitive markets for each distributed energy resource;
 (vii)consider various electric grid architecture concepts and tools, including the development of local energy networks interconnected with the electric grid;
 (viii)include an analysis of the ways in which the different scenarios incorporated under clause (v) may impact the broader energy system, such as the bulk power system, the transmission network, and natural gas infrastructure;
 (ix)assess any barriers to the ability of distributed energy resources to provide the identified electric grid services;
 (x)to the maximum extent practicable— (I)seek to use any relevant preexisting research and ongoing work; and
 (II)avoid duplication of effort; and (xi)conduct estimates for the 5-, 10-, and 15-year periods beginning on the date of enactment of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017.
 (2)ReportsNot later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Commission and the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the most recent assessment under paragraph (1) that includes—
 (A)a description of the details required under clauses (i) through (xi) of paragraph (1)(B); (B)data reported and analyzed—
 (i)on a nationwide basis; (ii)on a State basis, for each of the several States of the United States;
 (iii)by sector; (iv)by balancing authority; and
 (v)to reflect— (I)granular locational characteristics, such as load pockets and grid congestion;
 (II)granular temporal characteristics, such as hourly and subhourly electricity generation costs and electricity network costs; and
 (III)the specific electric grid services identified by the study under section 3(b) of the Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017; (C)macroeconomic data, including an analysis of any effects on job creation, economywide costs and benefits, energy productivity, retail rate impacts, and gross domestic product;
 (D)a description of the methodology used to conduct the assessment described in paragraph (1); and (E)policy recommendations—
 (i)to achieve the estimated potential identified by the assessment under paragraph (1)(A);
 (ii)to promote the development of competitive markets for distributed energy resources assessed under paragraph (1)(B)(vi)(II); and
 (iii)to address the barriers described in paragraph (1)(B)(ix).
 (3)Reducing duplication of effortIn conducting the assessment under paragraph (1), the Commission and the Secretary shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, data and studies in existence as of the date of the assessment in an effort to reduce the potential for duplication of effort.
 (d)Technical assistanceThe Secretary shall provide technical assistance to energy distribution utilities, State energy regulators, State energy offices, third-party energy service providers, wholesale market operators, and other interested parties relating to—
 (1)use of the data and modeling tools provided under this section; and (2)the general planning and market analysis required for cost-effective deployment of distributed energy resources and grid flexibility assets.
							(e)Voluntary National action plan on distributed energy resources
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of submission of the initial report required under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, shall develop a voluntary national action plan to unlock the potential of distributed energy resources to provide electric grid services, which shall be based on the assessments required under subsection (c)(1).
 (2)RequirementsIn developing the voluntary national action plan under this subsection, to the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall—
 (A)use relevant information contained in the National Action Plan on Demand Response prepared by the Commission, Docket No. AD09–10, dated June 17, 2010; and
 (B)solicit participation, and take into consideration comments, from other Federal agencies, the National Laboratories, the National Academy of Sciences, State and local governments, industry, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, consumer advocates, and other interested parties.
 (3)InclusionsThe voluntary national action plan developed under this subsection shall include provisions for— (A)the identification of requirements for technical assistance to States to allow States to maximize distributed energy resource potential that can be developed and deployed cost-effectively;
 (B)the design of a national communications program that includes broad-based customer education and support; and
 (C)the identification or development of analytical tools, information, model regulatory provisions, model contracts, and other support materials for use by customers, States, utilities, and demand response providers..
				(b)Study on valuation of electric grid services
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary and the Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study that—
 (A)incorporates the assessment required under subsection (c)(1) of section 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16211);
 (B)identifies and analyzes— (i)all electric grid services that can be provided, including—
 (I)emerging electric grid service needs; and (II)electric grid services that can be provided by—
 (aa)conventional energy technologies, such as centralized thermal generation units and electricity transmission infrastructure;
 (bb)utility-scale renewable energy generation technologies; and (cc)emerging energy technologies, such as grid-scale energy storage and distributed energy resources;
 (ii)(I)the specific electric grid services, the value of which is conditioned by locational value and temporal value; and
 (II)the degree of effect of location and time on the value of the electric grid services identified under subclause (I);
 (iii)for each electric grid service identified under clauses (i) and (ii), the specific technologies (including the technologies identified under clause (i)(II)) that have the capacity to provide the electric grid service, including an analysis of the extent to which a given technology can provide a given electric grid service; and
 (iv)the effect of integrated energy control systems (such as microgrids) on the value of grid services;
 (C)quantifies the estimated value of those electric grid services, taking into consideration input from relevant industry stakeholders and unique regulatory and regional electricity system characteristics; and
 (D)identifies— (i)any barriers to wholesale market participation for distributed energy resources; and
 (ii)the most effective mechanisms for opening electricity markets to increased competition, consumer choice, and innovation.
 (2)Public commentIn conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary and the Commission shall solicit relevant public comments.
 (3)ConsultationAs soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, in conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary and the Commission shall engage a broad set of experts from other Federal agencies, the National Laboratories, the National Academy of Sciences, States, Tribal governments, units of local government, industry, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, consumer advocates, and other interested parties.
 (4)ReportsNot later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary and the Commission shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the most recent study conducted under paragraph (1).
				(c)Modeling
 (1)In generalThe Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall expand modeling capabilities for the electric power sector to more accurately reflect the role of distributed energy resources in current and future energy consumption and in the optimization of the electric grid.
 (2)Grid optimization in the context of DER and storageNot later than 1 year after the date of submission of the initial report required under subsection (c)(2) of section 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16211), the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator and the Commission, shall provide modeling tools to assist energy distribution utilities, State regulatory authorities, State energy offices, third-party energy service providers, and wholesale market operators in the planning and market analysis required for cost-effective optimization of the electric grid and deployment of distributed energy resources and grid-scale energy storage, including modeling tools for assessing individual technologies, combinations of technologies, or integrated control system applications.
 (3)Data and methodologiesThe modeling tools provided under paragraph (2) shall incorporate the data and methodologies used to produce the reports required under subsection (c)(2) of section 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16211).
 (4)National Energy Modeling Systems (NEMS) DevelopmentThe Administrator shall continue to evaluate options for expanding the capability of the National Energy Modeling Systems Electricity Market Module to accurately represent the complexity of the electric power sector, including by—
 (A)incorporating hourly and subhourly electric power sector data; and (B)including the services provided by distributed energy resources and energy storage.
					(d)Study of barriers to advanced transmission technologies
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, to enable deployment of technologies that cost-effectively increase existing transmission capacity use, the Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall conduct a study to identify, analyze, and develop recommendations for removing barriers to the valuation and deployment of advanced materials and technologies for new and existing transmission, such as advanced technologies that enhance reliability, security, efficiency, capacity, and affordability through visibility, analytics, and controls.
 (2)ConsultationAs soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, in conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall engage stakeholders and experts from other Federal agencies, the National Laboratories, States, Tribal governments, units of local government, industry, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties.
 (3)ReportsNot later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing—
 (A)the recommendations developed under the study conducted under paragraph (1); (B)a framework for future research into removing the barriers identified and analyzed under the study, based on—
 (i)the recommendations developed under the study; and (ii)research on transmission capacity use, performance from synchrophasor information, advanced conductors, advanced transmission tower designs, dynamic line rating, advanced power flow control, and energy storage; and
 (C)the methodology used in the study, including the methodology used to produce the recommendations developed under the study.
 (e)DER data clearinghouseNot later than 180 days after the date of submission of the initial report required under subsection (c)(2) of section 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16211), the Secretary and the Commission shall establish on the Internet a clearinghouse of nonpersonally identifiable data relating to distributed energy resources, including the data used to conduct the assessment and report under paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, of subsection (c) of section 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16211), expressed—
 (1)on a nationwide basis; (2)on a State basis, for each of the several States of the United States;
 (3)by sector; and (4)to reflect—
 (A)granular locational characteristics, such as load pockets and electric grid congestion; (B)granular temporal characteristics, such as hourly and subhourly electricity generation costs and electricity network costs; and
 (C)the specific electric grid services identified by the study under section 3(b). (f)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section (including the amendments made by this section) $50,000,000, to remain available for a period of 10 years following the fiscal year for which the amounts were appropriated.
			4.Electrification of vehicles and heating
			(a)Research, development, and demonstration activities
 (1)In generalIn accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary shall conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration activities to advance the electrification of transportation, heating (including water heating and space heating), and other technologies, including by identifying ways to increase the resilience, efficiency, and environmental performance of the electric grid.
				(2)Heating research, development, and demonstration activities
 (A)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate research, development, and demonstration activities—
 (i)to develop the ability of electric heating technologies (including water heating and space heating) to provide value to electricity systems, including by operating as an energy storage resource used on a regular basis as part of grid operation to improve the operational efficiency of the electric grid;
 (ii)to advance the technical understanding of— (I)the manner in which electric heating technologies are controlled and optimized, including by advancing telemetry and embedded metrology; and
 (II)the practices of transmitting secure data over the Internet, a utility system, or other mechanism, with a means for implementation, such as a standard;
 (iii)to optimize electric heating technologies for— (I)the integration of renewable energy technologies; and
 (II)the reduction of greenhouse gases and other pollutants; (iv)to investigate the technical, economic, and legal details of using electric heating technologies for a range of electric grid services, including—
 (I)energy storage; (II)demand response; and
 (III)frequency regulation and other ancillary services; (v)to diminish the market barriers to the broad adoption of heating technologies with digital control and communication technologies that enable grid interoperability and integration;
 (vi)to address nonrecurring engineering costs associated with the development of interoperable electric heating technologies;
 (vii)to investigate and implement approaches to the aggregation, wholesale electricity marketing, and, to the maximum extent practicable, retail electricity marketing of electric grid services provided by electric heating, including research into the use of transactive energy systems as a means of enabling efficient operations;
 (viii)to investigate and implement programs to improve the access to, and affordability of, electric heating technologies for low-income populations;
 (ix)to implement innovative consumer marketing and contracting models, including pricing approaches (including consumer access to wholesale market pricing signals), that co-optimize customer benefits and electric grid benefits;
 (x)to demonstrate best practices for— (I)customer participation and satisfaction; and
 (II)maximizing customer benefits; (xi)to investigate and implement user-friendly equipment financing models linked to the marketing of electric grid services, including the means by which the electric grid services provided by electric heating technologies can help finance the cost of the electric heating technology; and
 (xii)to develop a methodology for modeling load increases expected from the deployment of electric heating technologies.
 (B)ConsultationAs soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, in carrying out the activities under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with stakeholders, including—
 (i)other Federal agencies; (ii)the National Laboratories;
 (iii)States; (iv)Tribal governments;
 (v)units of local government; (vi)electric utilities, such as investor-owned electric utilities, publicly owned electric utilities, and electric cooperatives;
 (vii)private companies, including energy technology manufacturers; (viii)third-party energy service providers;
 (ix)institutions of higher education; and (x)nonprofit organizations.
						(3)Electric vehicle research, development, and demonstration activities
 (A)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Transportation, shall initiate research, development, and demonstration activities—
 (i)to advance the co-optimization of electrified transportation and electricity systems, including by identifying ways to increase the resilience, efficiency, and environmental performance of the electric grid and the transportation system;
 (ii)to advance the technical understanding of— (I)the manner in which vehicle charging systems are controlled and optimized, including by advancing vehicle and charging station telemetry and embedded metrology; and
 (II)the practices of transmitting secure data over the Internet, a utility system, or other mechanism, with a means for implementation, such as a standard;
 (iii)to optimize electric vehicles for the integration of renewable energy technologies and the reduction of greenhouse gases and other pollutants;
 (iv)to investigate the technical, economic, and legal details of using fleet, transit, and municipal vehicle batteries for a range of electric grid services, including—
 (I)demand response; (II)frequency regulation and other ancillary services; and
 (III)energy output, or full-scale vehicle-to-electric grid, operations; (v)to investigate the co-optimization of the electrification of transportation with advancements in autonomous vehicles and the use of vehicles for ride sharing, including by—
 (I)studying consumer participation and other behavioral challenges, including incentives that promote co-optimization; and
 (II)researching challenges and opportunities relating to the optimization of electric grid operations in the context of autonomous vehicle and ride-sharing usage patterns, including the use of energy storage in charging systems;
 (vi)to investigate, in collaboration with the Commission, approaches to the aggregation, wholesale electricity marketing, and, to the maximum extent practicable, retail electricity marketing of electric grid services provided by electric vehicles, including research into the use of transactive energy systems as a means of enabling vehicle-electric grid integration;
 (vii)to implement innovative consumer marketing and contracting models, including pricing approaches (including consumer access to wholesale market pricing signals), that co-optimize transportation benefits and electric grid benefits, including by maximizing the value of the vehicle services to the electric grid while also maximizing value to the consumer (including by maximizing the flexibility of use of the vehicle to the driver or rider);
 (viii)to investigate and implement user-friendly electric vehicle and related equipment financing models linked to the marketing of electric grid services, including the means by which the electric grid services provided by an electric vehicle can help finance the cost of the vehicle;
 (ix)to investigate and implement programs to improve the access to, and affordability of, electric vehicles for low-income populations;
 (x)(I)to advance best practices for manufacturers of electric vehicles, charging equipment, and systems; and
 (II)to embed those practices in programs and grant opportunities of the Department of Energy to leverage competitive market electric vehicle products and incentivize more rapid and widespread adoption;
 (xi)to assist electric utilities and transit agencies in collaboratively planning an electrified fleet; (xii)to investigate the use of fleet, transit, and municipal vehicle batteries as power sources for community shelter facilities during emergencies;
 (xiii)to develop analytical tools and financial models to assist electric utilities and transit agencies in assessing electric utility and infrastructure requirements to support selected transit vehicle technologies and charging profiles, including analytic tools—
 (I)to optimize the total cost of ownership; (II)to develop electrification route maps and transition plans, with quantitative estimates of the population-weighted reductions in pollutant exposure from electrification of specific routes, including criteria pollutants and new pollutants of concern; and
 (III)to articulate the strategy and timelines for transitioning to zero-emission vehicles; (xiv)to investigate scenarios for the sharing of battery assets for the purpose of maximizing cost-performance and battery use, including—
 (I)scenarios that optimize shared usage between transit agencies and electric utilities over the lifecycle of the battery;
 (II)incentives for an entity (such as an electric utility) to provide funding to reduce initial premium costs by—
 (aa)owning the battery of a transit agency transit vehicle; and (bb)charging the battery using smart charging; and
 (III)enabling the entity to reposition the battery into stationary use after the battery has served the expected life of the battery in mobility use;
 (xv)to develop a methodology for modeling load increases expected from electrifying the transportation sector; and
 (xvi)to investigate the deployment of electric vehicle technologies and charging infrastructure within scalable and integrated energy management systems as part of community energy infrastructure development.
 (B)ConsultationAs soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, in carrying out the activities under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with stakeholders, including—
 (i)vehicle manufacturers, including— (I)manufacturers of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles; and
 (II)transit vehicle manufacturers;
 (ii)electric utilities, such as investor-owned electric utilities, publicly owned electric utilities, and electric cooperatives;
 (iii)third-party energy service providers; (iv)transit agencies;
 (v)fleet operators; (vi)private companies, including energy technology manufacturers and battery manufacturers;
 (vii)other Federal agencies; (viii)the National Laboratories;
 (ix)States; (x)Tribal governments;
 (xi)units of local government; (xii)nonprofit organizations;
 (xiii)institutions of higher education; (xiv)electric vehicle supply equipment and charging infrastructure manufacturers; and
 (xv)battery manufacturers. (b)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000, to remain available for a period of 10 years following the fiscal year for which the amounts were appropriated.
			5.Privacy, security, and resilience
 (a)Protecting privacy and securityIn carrying out this Act, the Secretary, the Administrator, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall identify, incorporate, and follow best practices for protecting the privacy of individuals and businesses and the respective sensitive data of the individuals and businesses, including by managing privacy risk and implementing the Fair Information Practice Principles of the Federal Trade Commission for the collection, use, disclosure, and retention of individual electric consumer information in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget Circular A–130 (or successor circulars).
 (b)Personal protections for sensitive personal dataNo Federal entity shall request the creation, recording, or collection of data identified to an individual person as a result of this Act.
			(c)Law enforcement requirements
 (1)DefinitionsIn this subsection: (A)Governmental entityThe term governmental entity has the meaning given that term in section 2711 of title 18, United States Code.
 (B)Judge of competent jurisdiction; StateThe terms judge of competent jurisdiction and State have the meanings given such terms in section 2510 of title 18, United States Code. (2)Consumer informationA governmental entity may obtain from an electric utility, third-party aggregator, or other nongovernmental entity under an administrative subpoena authorized by a Federal or State statute or a Federal or State grand jury or trial subpoena the—
 (A)name of an electric consumer; (B)address of an electric consumer;
 (C)length of service (including start date) of, and types of service used by, an electric consumer; and
 (D)means and source of payment for such service (including any credit card or bank account number) of an electric consumer.
 (3)Electric usage informationA governmental entity may only require the disclosure by an electric utility, third-party aggregator, or other nongovernmental entity of information regarding the use of electricity by an electric consumer (including monthly usage data, data at a greater level of detail or specificity, and information about electric use by specific appliances) pursuant to a warrant issued based on probable cause, using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures) by a court of competent jurisdiction.
				(4)Notice
 (A)In generalNot later than 30 days after obtaining a warrant for electric usage information described in paragraph (3), a governmental entity shall notify each electric consumer whose information was obtained.
					(B)Delay of notice
 (i)In generalUpon application by a governmental entity, a judge of competent jurisdiction may issue an order authorizing the governmental entity to delay notice under subparagraph (A) for a period of not more than 180 days if the judge finds reason to believe notifying the electric consumer of the order will result in—
 (I)endangering the life or physical safety of an individual; (II)flight from prosecution;
 (III)destroying of or tampering with evidence; (IV)intimidation of potential witnesses; or
 (V)otherwise seriously jeopardizing an investigation or unduly delaying a trial. (ii)Unlimited renewalsUpon application by a governmental entity, a judge of competent jurisdiction may renew an order delaying notice under clause (i) for additional periods of not longer than 180 days if the judge makes a finding described in clause (i).
 (5)SuppressionAny electric usage information described in paragraph (3), or evidence directly or indirectly derived from such information, may not be received in evidence in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or before any court, grand jury, department, officer, agency, regulatory body, legislative committee, or other authority of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof if the obtaining of the information was not conducted in accordance with this subsection.
				(6)Reporting
 (A)By governmental entitiesIn January of each year, each governmental entity shall submit to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts information regarding any warrant described in paragraph (3) that was sought or obtained by the governmental entity during the previous year, including—
 (i)the number of warrants described in paragraph (3) sought by the governmental entity; (ii)the number of warrants described in paragraph (3) obtained by the governmental entity; and
 (iii)for each warrant described in paragraph (3) sought or obtained by the governmental entity— (I)the offense specified in the application; and
 (II)the identity of the officer applying for the warrant. (B)Report to CongressAs part of the report submitted under section 2519(3) of title 18, United States Code, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall provide to Congress, with respect to the previous year—
 (i)the number of warrants described in paragraph (3) sought by governmental entities; (ii)the number of warrants described in paragraph (3) obtained by governmental entities; and
 (iii)a summary and analysis of the data required to be filed with the Administrative Office under subparagraph (A).
						(d)Managing emerging threats to the electric grid
				(1)Model standards for the distribution grid
 (A)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop model standards to assist States, electric cooperatives, and publicly owned electric utilities in the voluntary updating of standards for resource planning, energy assurance planning, ensuring distribution-grid reliability from natural disasters, and improving security with respect to cyber and physical threats, taking into consideration—
 (i)the increased use of smart grid technologies, variable energy generation, energy storage, and distributed energy resources;
 (ii)standards for critical infrastructure; and
 (iii)emerging and rapidly evolving hazards. (B)ConsultationAs soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, in developing the model standards under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with—
 (i)States; (ii)utilities, such as investor-owned electric utilities, publicly owned utilities, and electric cooperatives;
 (iii)third-party energy service providers; (iv)other Federal agencies;
 (v)the Electric Reliability Organization; (vi)private companies, including energy technology manufacturers;
 (vii)the National Laboratories; (viii)nonprofit organizations; and
 (ix)institutions of higher education. (2)Equipment standards and testing proceduresNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Commerce (acting through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology), electric utilities, States, and standard-making organizations, shall—
 (A)evaluate whether new performance standards and testing procedures are needed to ensure electrical equipment resilience in the face of emerging and rapidly evolving hazards (like cyber and physical threats and natural disasters) taking into consideration the increased use of smart grid technologies, variable energy generation, energy storage, distributed energy resources, and capabilities for autonomous energy systems integration and management (such as islandable microgrids); and
 (B)develop and submit to Congress a set of recommendations for distribution equipment manufacturers to voluntarily—
 (i)minimize disruptions of interconnected distributed energy resources and associated data feeds, especially during critical peak demand; and
 (ii)support the reliability and resilience of the distribution grid.
						(e)Development of uniform cost-Benefit analysis methods for security and resilience
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and submit to Congress a set of methods and guidelines for calculating the costs and benefits of investments in resilience and security solutions for the electric grid, including—
 (A)the development of uniform and technology-neutral methods for valuing electric grid reliability and security, taking into consideration the results of the study conducted under section 3(b);
 (B)guidelines for valuing the management of risks associated with high-impact events, such as threats related to cyber or physical attacks, natural disasters, or combined threats, including the value of State and local energy assurance planning and investment; and
 (C)methods on how to quantify the security and resilience benefits that are unique to distributed energy resources and grid-scale energy storage.
 (2)ConsultationAs soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, in developing the methods and guidelines under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with industry and government stakeholders, including the stakeholders described in subsection (d)(1)(B).
				6.Workforce development
 (a)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Commerce, shall enhance and align current electricity sector workforce development and training programs to satisfy training requirements relating to the increasing complexity of the electric grid, including developing the abilities—
 (1)to manage the smart grid and the increased digitization and connectivity of consumer devices and the energy system, including managing cybersecurity risks; and
 (2)to optimize the electric grid in the context of the increasing penetration of distributed energy resources, energy storage, variable renewable energy generation, electric vehicles, and new information, communication, and control capabilities involved in energy systems management.
 (b)InitiativesIn carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1)in collaboration with electric utilities, technology providers to the utility industry, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and Federal agencies (such as the Department of Labor, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education, and the Department of Defense), coordinate Federal initiatives on electricity sector education and training, including by—
 (A)establishing programs to facilitate national training credentials in new electricity technologies;
 (B)developing appropriate curricula for community colleges; and (C)fostering lifelong learning relating to new electricity technologies;
 (2)expand existing Department of Energy training programs to increase the number of internships, fellowships, traineeships, and registered apprenticeships;
 (3)in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, develop workforce training curricula; (4)in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, improve labor market information on the changing requirements for skilled technical workers to better align workforce development with advances in science and technology;
 (5)in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, create workforce opportunities for veterans;
 (6)in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, create workforce opportunities that— (A)expand workforce diversity; and
 (B)provide to low- and moderate-income individuals job training that is aligned with in-demand jobs; and
 (C)make use of partnerships between management and labor; (7)in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Defense, and other relevant agencies, develop a single resource web portal to inform industry and potential employees about the Federal agency workforce development initiatives and resources;
 (8)develop workforce assessment tools to complement training programs; and (9)support and facilitate regional approaches to workforce development, including workforce efforts of States and units of local government (such as workforce investment boards).
 (c)Department of Labor leadershipIn collaborating with the Secretary to carry out subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor shall collaborate with the Secretary to expand Department of Labor preapprenticeship programs in the electricity industry, with priority given to developing preapprenticeship programs that align with the training initiatives described in subsection (b).
			(d)Community-Centered programs
 (1)In generalThe Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop workforce training programs to reach certain affected populations, including—
 (A)individuals displaced from declining employment in the coal mining industry; (B)low-income at-risk youth in urban environments;
 (C)low-income and unemployed populations in rural areas; (D)women;
 (E)minorities; and (F)workers displaced by technological advancements.
 (2)Demographic awarenessIn developing the programs under paragraph (1), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall take into consideration unique cultural, demographic, historical, and economic factors—
 (A)to ensure that the programs are appropriate for the populations described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (1); and
 (B)to maximize the success of the programs.
					(3)Metrics
 (A)In generalIn developing the programs under paragraph (1), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop metrics for measuring the success of the programs developed under that paragraph, taking into consideration public health and mental health factors, employment and earnings data, and community economic development factors.
 (B)Collection of certain dataFor the purposes of collecting employment and earnings data for consideration under subparagraph (A), the data shall be collected through means other than survey data or self-reported data, such as through agreements with Federal or State agencies.
 (e)AnalysisNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, shall conduct an analysis of employment within the energy sector, including a detailed analysis of the skill level and ability of the electricity sector workforce to manage the complexity and changes of the electricity system.
 (f)ConsultationIn carrying out this section, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall consult with industry and government stakeholder, including—
 (1)States; (2)units of local government;
 (3)electric utilities; (4)third-party energy service providers;
 (5)private companies, including energy technology manufacturers; (6)institutions of higher education; and
 (7)nonprofit organizations. (g)ReportsNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing—
 (1)the quantitative impact of programs carried out under this section; (2)the results of the analysis conducted under subsection (e);
 (3)a summary of benefits gained and barriers faced by individuals participating in programs under this section, including a description of—
 (A)job opportunities created by the programs; and (B)skills gained by individuals participating in the programs;
 (4)national and regional observations and recommendations to improve workforce development, including feedback from participants; and
 (5)the administrative costs of the programs affected by this section. 7.Flexible Grid Challenge 2022 (a)EstablishmentNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a competitive program, pursuant to section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), to be known as the Flexible Grid Challenge 2022 (referred to in this section as the program), to award grants to States to enhance the peak load management and flexibility of the electric grid.
 (b)ConsultationPursuant to section 24(d) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719(d)), the program shall seek to engage a broad set of experts, including from—
 (1)electric utilities; (2)institutions of higher education;
 (3)other Federal agencies; (4)private companies, including energy technology manufacturers;
 (5)States; (6)units of local government;
 (7)nonprofit organizations; and (8)the National Laboratories.
 (c)GoalsThe goals of the program shall be— (1)to optimize—
 (A)future electric infrastructure, including generation, delivery, consumption, and control methods; (B)electric grid design solutions to ensure electric grid reliability and resilience; and
 (C)retail electricity pricing and wholesale market valuation of electric grid services, taking into consideration consumer protection constraints;
 (2)to reliably, cost-effectively, safely, and securely integrate and manage variable and distributed energy resources, including—
 (A)distributed generation; (B)combined heat and power;
 (C)energy storage; (D)electric vehicles;
 (E)energy efficiency; (F)demand response;
 (G)smart technologies that can enable integrated systems control of distributed energy resources; and (H)other technologies;
 (3)to improve the integration and interoperability of telecommunications, information technology, operational technologies, or other systems and technologies with the electric grid;
 (4)to help States overcome any technological, regulatory, business model, and market barriers; (5)to increase electricity reliability levels from levels available as of the date of enactment of this Act to levels sufficient to provide critical load;
 (6)to define the role of the electric utility of the future as compared to products provided by market-driven entities;
 (7)to mitigate specific challenges that are unique to the region where the project is located, including reliability and resilience concerns;
 (8)to address the problems faced by the research community at the time of the award; and (9)to achieve the goals described in paragraphs (1) through (8) by 2022.
				(d)Criteria
 (1)Award criteria developmentSubject to paragraphs (2) and (3), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop simple, ambitious, quantifiable, and achievable performance criteria that shall be the basis on which one or more winners will be selected and publish a notice pursuant to section 24(f) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719(f)).
 (2)ConsiderationsIn developing the criteria under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider criteria that achieve the goals described in subsection (c).
 (3)ConsultationBefore establishing the criteria under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with a broad set of experts, including experts from entities described in subsection (b).
				(e)Awards to States
 (1)In generalNot later than 5 years after the selection of States participating in the program under subsection (f)(3), the Secretary shall—
 (A)select not more than 3 States as winners of the program; and (B)provide to each winner an award of not more than $50,000,000.
 (2)Basis of selectionIn selecting the winners of the program under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall use the criteria developed and published under subsection (d)(1).
 (3)No requirement to receive technical or support grantsThe receipt or lack of receipt of technical assistance under subsection (g)(1) or a support grant under subsection (g)(2) shall not affect the eligibility of a State to be selected as a winner of the program under paragraph (1).
				(f)Program eligibility
 (1)ApplicationsNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall invite States to submit applications to participate in the program.
 (2)Application processA State seeking to participate in the program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including evidence that the State—
 (A)has partnered with, at a minimum—
 (i)an electric utility; (ii)an energy technology manufacturer; and
 (iii)a National Laboratory or institution of higher education; and (B)has established a plan for appropriate use of any funds made available under the program.
					(3)Determination by Secretary
 (A)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date on which an application is submitted under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall determine whether the applicant State may participate in the program.
 (B)Basis of determinationIn selecting States under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that the application of a selected State demonstrates an ability to achieve one or more of the goals described in subsection (c).
					(g)Technical assistance and grants
 (1)Technical assistanceThe Secretary shall provide to participant States selected under subsection (f)(3) technical assistance in the form of individual consultations, tools, and other resources, on an as-needed basis.
				(2)Support grants
 (A)In generalThe Secretary shall provide support grants to participant States selected under subparagraph (E). (B)Application processA participant State seeking a support grant shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a plan describing the proposed use of funds.
 (C)EligibilityIn determining the eligibility of a participant State for a support grant under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider whether the plan of the participant State described in subparagraph (B) includes methods for achieving one or more of the goals described in subsection (c).
 (D)Amount of support grantThe amount of a support grant awarded to a participant State selected under subparagraph (E) shall be not less than $500,000 and not greater than $10,000,000.
					(E)Determination by Secretary
 (i)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date on which an application is submitted under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall determine—
 (I)whether the applicant State shall receive a support grant; and (II)if so, the amount of the support grant.
 (ii)Basis of determinationIn making a determination under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure that the application of a selected State demonstrates an ability to achieve improvement in flexible peak load management one or more of the goals described in subsection (c).
 (F)RequirementAs a condition of receiving financial assistance under this subsection, a State receiving a support grant shall provide to the Secretary such information, at such time, and in such manner as the Secretary may require, to be made publicly available by the Secretary subject to applicable Federal privacy laws.
 (G)Reporting by participantsNot later than 1 year after the date on which a State initially receives a support grant, and each year thereafter for the duration of the grant period, a State that receives a support grant shall submit to the Secretary a written report that—
 (i)summarizes the benefits gained throughout the duration of the program; (ii)describes barriers overcome during the program;
 (iii)outlines a continuation plan in the event the State is not selected as a winner of the program under subsection (e); and
 (iv)provides feedback on the program, including proposed modifications to the program. (h)ReportsNot later than 3 years after the date on which amounts are first distributed under this section, and not later than the date that is 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress reports describing—
 (1)the number, type, and details of projects proposed and projects undertaken under the program; (2)a summary of benefits gained and barriers faced by participant States in the competition;
 (3)a summary of continuation plans collected from the participant States; (4)national and regional observations and recommendations to improve peak load management and flexibility, including feedback from participant States;
 (5)the administrative costs of the program; and (6)the total amount of funds distributed under the program, including the amount awarded to each participant State.
				(i)Authorization of appropriations
 (1)In generalSubject to paragraph (2), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $150,000,000, of which $15,000,000 is authorized for use by the Department of Energy to administer the prize.
 (2)AvailabilityThe amounts authorized under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.


114 S536 IS: Indian Health Service Health Professions Tax Fairness Act of 2015
U.S. Senate
2015-02-24
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 536IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 24, 2015Mr. Udall (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income payments under the Indian
			 Health Service Loan Repayment Program and certain amounts received under
			 the Indian Health Professions Scholarships Program.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Indian Health Service Health Professions Tax Fairness Act of 2015 . 2.Exclusion from gross income for payments under Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program (a)In generalParagraph (4) of section 108(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting under section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, after 338I of such Act,.
 (b)Clerical amendmentThe heading for section 108(f)(4) of such Code is amended by striking and certain and inserting , Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program, and certain. (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to payments made after the date of the enactment of this Act.
			3.Exclusion of certain amounts received under Indian Health Professions Scholarships Program
 (a)In generalParagraph (2) of section 117(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking or at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting , or, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

 (C)the Indian Health Professions Scholarships Program under section 104 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act..
 (b)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to amounts received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.


116 HR 6267 IH: State- and Science-based Gray Wolf Reintroduction Act of 2020
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-03-12
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6267IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 12, 2020Mr. Tipton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo establish a process for State determinations with respect to Canis lupus reintroduction, to protect ungulate, stock animal, and dog populations, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the State- and Science-based Gray Wolf Reintroduction Act of 2020.2.FindingsCongress finds the following:(1)For the last 20 years, scientists at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have recommended against further reintroduction of gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains where the species has already exceeded recovery goals.(2)The United States Fish and Wildlife Service wrote in the final rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To Reclassify and Remove the Gray Wolf From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in Portions of the Conterminous United States; Establishment of Two Special Regulations for Threatened Gray Wolves (68 Fed. Reg. 15803; April 1, 2003) that [e]stablishing additional populations would provide no additional genetic benefits to wolf recovery under the Act… and new recovery programs are not necessary to achieve recovery of the gray wolf under the Act either as formerly listed in the 48 States and Mexico or under the new listings established by this final rule.(3)Under President Obama, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule on April 2, 2009, titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To Identify the Western Great Lakes Populations of Gray Wolves as a Distinct Population Segment and To Revise the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (74 Fed. Reg. 15070), which states that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has identified a distinct population segment of the gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountains of the United States and revises the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife by removing gray wolves within the Northern Rocky Mountain distinct population segment boundary, except in Wyoming.(4)Under President Obama, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule on September 10, 2012 (77 Fed. Reg. 55530), that was reinstated on March 3, 2017, by the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (No. 14–5300), and further republished on May 1, 2017 (82 Fed. Reg. 20284), which states that the best scientific and commercial data available indicate that gray wolves in Wyoming have recovered and are no longer in need of protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.3.State reintroduction of Canis lupus(a)State petition for reintroductionIf Canis lupus is listed as an endangered species or threatened species pursuant to section 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)), or is part of a monitoring strategy under section (4)(g) of such Act, a State may not reintroduce Canis lupus within the boundaries of such State unless—(1)the Governor of such State submits to the Secretary a petition that includes the information described in subsection (b); and(2)such petition is approved by the Secretary.(b)Information describedThe information described in this subsection is the following:(1)A science-based finding from the State fish and wildlife department that reintroduction of Canis lupus is necessary—(A)to support a Canis lupus recovery plan developed under section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)); or(B)to support Canis lupus monitoring under section 4(g) of such Act.(2)A description of the impact that Canis lupus reintroduction will have on the wild ungulate population of the State.(3)A description of—(A)the wild ungulate population management objectives of such State;(B)the Federal resources the State uses to maintain and meet such objectives; and(C)how Canis lupus reintroduction may impact such objectives and resources.(c)Notice of petitionNot later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a State petition for reintroduction of Canis lupus under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—(1)provide to each chief executive of an affected county notice of the State petition; and(2)solicit from each such chief executive—(A)information about the anticipated effects of such reintroduction, including how—(i)hunting opportunities for wild ungulate populations in the county could be impacted by such reintroduction and the estimated economic effect of any expected reduction in such opportunities; and(ii)such reintroduction could result in losses of stock animals within the county and the economic impact of such losses; and(B)a recommendation for approval or denial of the petition.(d)Effect of county determinationNot later than 6 months after the date on which the Secretary makes a solicitation under subsection (c)(2), if a chief executive of an affected county submits to the Secretary a recommendation under subsection (c)(2)(B) that the relevant petition be denied, the Secretary may not approve such petition pursuant to subsection (a)(2).(e)Protection of stock animals and dogs(1)In generalIf the Secretary approves a petition pursuant to subsection (a)(2), and if a person meets the requirements described in paragraph (2), such person may take a Canis lupus that is attacking a stock animal or dog.(2)Requirements describedThe requirements described in this paragraph are the following:(A)The person is not—(i)trespassing; or(ii)on land administered by the Director of the National Park Service.(B)The person did not intentionally bait, feed, or otherwise attract the Canis lupus.(f)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Chief executive of an affected countyThe term chief executive of an affected county means the highest elected or appointed executive of each county in which Canis lupus would be reintroduced pursuant to a State petition submitted under subsection (a).(2)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.(3)State fish and wildlife departmentThe term State fish and wildlife department has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a). (4)Stock animalThe term stock animal means cattle, sheep, horses, goats, and other domestic animals ordinarily raised or used on a farm.(5)TakeThe term take has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532).(6)Wild ungulate populationThe term wild ungulate population means deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, antelope, and bison.


117 S1137 IS: Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-04-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1137IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESApril 15, 2021Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Smith, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Booker, Mr. Menendez, Mr. King, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit gay and trans panic defenses.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2021.2.FindingsCongress finds that—(1)the American Bar Association has urged the Federal Government to take legislative action to curtail the availability and effectiveness of the gay panic and trans panic defenses, which seek to partially or completely excuse crimes such as murder and assault on the grounds that the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim is provocation enough for the violent reaction of the defendant;(2)gay and trans panic legal defenses, which continue to be raised in criminal proceedings in Federal courts across the United States, are surprisingly long-lived historical artifacts, remnants of a time when widespread public antipathy was the norm for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this Act as LGBTQ) individuals;(3)gay and trans panic defenses characterize sexual orientation and gender identity as objectively reasonable excuses for loss of self-control, and thereby illegitimately mitigate the responsibility of a perpetrator for harm done to LGBTQ individuals;(4)gay and trans panic defenses appeal to irrational fears and hatred of LGBTQ individuals, thereby undermining the legitimacy of Federal criminal prosecutions and resulting in unjustifiable acquittals or sentencing reductions;(5)the use of gay and trans panic defenses is entirely incompatible with the express intent of Federal law to provide increased protection to victims of bias-motivated crimes, including crimes committed against LGBTQ individuals;(6)continued use of these anachronistic defenses reinforces and institutionalizes prejudice at the expense of norms of self-control, tolerance, and compassion, which the law should encourage, and marks an egregious lapse in the march of the United States toward a more just criminal justice system; and(7)to end the antiquated notion that LGBTQ lives are worth less than others and to reflect modern understanding of LGBTQ individuals as equal citizens under law, gay and trans panic defenses must end.3.Prohibition on gay and trans panic defenses(a)In generalChapter 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:28.Prohibition on gay and trans panic defenses(a)ProhibitionNo nonviolent sexual advance or perception or belief, even if inaccurate, of the gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation of an individual may be used to excuse or justify the conduct of an individual or mitigate the severity of an offense.(b)Past traumaNotwithstanding the prohibition in subsection (a), a court may admit evidence, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence, of prior trauma to the defendant for the purpose of excusing or justifying the conduct of the defendant or mitigating the severity of an offense..(b)Technical and conforming amendmentThe table of sections for chapter 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:28. Prohibition on gay and trans panic defenses..(c)ReportThe Attorney General shall submit to Congress an annual report that details prosecutions in Federal court involving capital and noncapital crimes committed against LGBTQ individuals that were motivated by the victim’s gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.


116 HR 8890 IH: District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-12-07
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. 8890IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 7, 2020Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and ReformA BILLTo transfer from the United States Parole Commission to the District of Columbia the authority to grant, deny, and revoke parole and impose conditions on an order of parole, and the authority to modify, revoke, and terminate a term of supervised release and impose conditions on an order of supervised release, in the case of individuals who are imprisoned felons eligible for parole, reparole, or supervised release under the laws of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the District of Columbia Parole and Supervised Release Act.2.Authority of District of Columbia over parole and supervised release under District of Columbia laws(a)Authority describedEffective November 1, 2022—(1)the District of Columbia shall have the authority—(A)to grant, deny, and revoke parole, and impose conditions on an order of parole, in the case of any individual who is an imprisoned felon who is eligible for parole or reparole, and in the case of any individual who is on parole or reparole, under the laws of the District of Columbia;(B)to set conditions on, revoke, and terminate a term of supervised release imposed on any individual who is subject to supervised release under the laws of the District of Columbia; and(C)to exercise any other jurisdiction or authority the United States Parole Commission had prior to such date over individuals described in subparagraphs (A) or (B) (whether such individuals are sentenced before, on, or after such date), as provided under subchapter 3 of subtitle C of title XI of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (sec. 24–131 et seq., D.C. Official Code); and(2)the District of Columbia shall have the authority to enact legislation, promulgate regulations and guidelines, and take other actions to carry out paragraph (1).(b)Termination of authority of United States Parole Commission(1)ParoleSection 11231(a) of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (sec. 24–131(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(4)TerminationThe jurisdiction and authority of the United States Parole Commission under this section shall terminate on November 1, 2022..(2)Rulemaking and legislative responsibilitySection 11231(c) of such Act (sec. 24–131(c), D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: This subsection shall terminate on November 1, 2022..(c)Conforming amendments relating to authority of Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency(1)Powers and duties of DirectorSection 11233(b)(2)(B) of such Act (sec. 24–133(b)(2)(B), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking and the Chairman of the United States Parole Commission and inserting and the District of Columbia. (2)Supervision of released offendersSection 11233(c)(2) of such Act (sec. 24–133(c)(2), D.C. Official Code) is amended to read as follows:(2)Supervision of released offendersThe Agency shall supervise any offender who is released from imprisonment for any term of supervised release imposed by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Such offender shall be subject to the authority of the District of Columbia..(3)Supervision of paroleesSection 11233(c)(4) of such Act (sec. 24–133(c)(4), D.C. Official Code) is amended to read as follows:(4)Supervision of paroleesThe Agency shall supervise all individuals on parole pursuant to the laws of the District of Columbia. The Agency shall carry out the conditions of release imposed by the District of Columbia and shall make such reports to the District of Columbia with respect to an individual on parole supervision as the District of Columbia may require..(4)Effective dateThe amendments made by this subsection shall take effect November 1, 2022, and shall apply to individuals who are subject to supervised release or parole under the laws of the District of Columbia before, on, or after such date.(d)Continuation of Federal benefits for former employees of Parole Commission(1)ContinuationAny individual who is an employee of the United States Parole Commission as of October 31, 2022, and who, on or after such date, is an employee of the office of the District of Columbia which exercises the authority described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a), shall continue to be treated as an employee of the Federal Government for purposes of receiving benefits under any chapter of subpart G of part III of title 5, United States Code.(2)Responsibility for employer contributionBeginning on November 1, 2022, the District of Columbia shall be treated as the employing agency with respect to the benefits described in paragraph (1) which are provided to an individual who, for purposes of receiving such benefits, is continued to be treated as an employee of the Federal Government under such paragraph.


		II
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 941
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			March 20, 2007
			Mr. Sanders (for himself
			 and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
			 and Pensions

		A BILL
		To increase Federal support for Community
		  Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps in order to ensure access
		  to health care for millions of Americans living in medically-underserved
		  areas.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Community Health Centers Investment
			 Act.
		2.FindingsCongress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)An estimated 35,000,000 Americans have no
			 regular source of health care, and lack access to the most basic health
			 services.
			(2)Access to health care is especially
			 difficult for those Americans who live in medically underserved rural
			 communities or inner city neighborhoods, who lack public or private health
			 insurance coverage and the ability to pay directly for care, or who are members
			 of other vulnerable groups, including individuals who are homeless or are
			 migrant farm workers.
			(3)The consequences of poor access to health
			 care is evidenced in elevated infant and childhood mortality rates, dangerously
			 low childhood immunization rates, overutilization of hospital emergency rooms
			 or other inappropriate providers of primary care services, and hospitalization
			 rates for preventable conditions that are significantly higher than the
			 national average.
			(4)Community health centers, which serve more
			 than 16,000,000 needy Americans in more than 5,000 communities across the
			 country, provide an effective and proven model for extending access to all
			 medically underserved Americans.
			(5)Numerous independent studies confirm that
			 these health centers have compiled a remarkable record of achievement in
			 providing care of superior quality, with exceptional cost-effectiveness and
			 efficiency, saving billions of dollars for both taxpayers and private
			 payers.
			(6)Over the past 5 years, with strong
			 bipartisan support from the Congress and encouragement by the Executive Branch,
			 nearly 900 underserved communities were funded to establish or expand a health
			 center, offering care to almost 5,000,000 more needy individuals. Yet during
			 that same period, another 800 communities were approved for a health center but
			 were not funded, because not enough funding was available for them, and there
			 are thousands more underserved communities across America that need a health
			 center but do not have one today.
			(7)Furthermore, the existing, currently funded
			 health centers have experienced reduced Federal grant support over the past 2
			 years, jeopardizing their ability to be sustained and meet the needs of the
			 growing number of uninsured in their service areas. Growing new health centers
			 without supporting existing ones is a failed policy that will ultimately weaken
			 this valuable resource for the most disadvantaged Americans.
			(8)Critical to the growth of new and existing
			 health centers is having a sufficient supply of primary care health
			 professionals to staff them. Currently, health centers rely on the National
			 Health Service Corps for over 20 percent of their physician workforce. Yet,
			 fewer than half of all Corps placements are made to health centers, even though
			 they are one of the strongest cords in the health care safety net.
			(9)According to published research, health
			 centers in the last year experienced a 15 percent physician vacancy rate and a
			 19 percent dentist vacancy rate nationally. In rural areas, vacancy rates were
			 higher, 19 percent for physicians and 27 percent for dentists.
			(10)Adequate reimbursement for the services
			 that health centers provide is another pressing need if health centers are to
			 fulfill their mission. While health centers provide care to more than 1,000,000
			 medically underserved Medicare beneficiaries, their Medicare payments are
			 subject to an arbitrary payment cap that is now 15 years old and adversely
			 affects more than three-quarters of all health centers, causing annual revenue
			 losses in excess of $50,000,000 nationally.
			3.Community health centers
			(a)FundingTo carry out the program authorized under
			 section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), there are
			 authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated—
				(1)for fiscal year 2008,
			 $2,563,000,000;
				(2)for fiscal year 2009,
			 $2,863,000,000;
				(3)for fiscal year 2010,
			 $3,263,000,000;
				(4)for fiscal year 2011,
			 $3,663,000,000;
				(5)for fiscal year 2012,
			 $4,163,000,000;
				(6)for fiscal year 2013,
			 $4,663,000,000;
				(7)for fiscal year 2014, $5,263,000,000;
			 and
				(8)for fiscal year 2015,
			 $5,863,000,000.
				(b)Use of fundsIn each of the fiscal years described in
			 subsection (a), amounts appropriated under such section shall be used in
			 accordance with the following priorities:
				(1)Fiscal year 2008With respect to fiscal year 2008:
					(A)First priority shall be given to providing
			 continuing operating grants to all health centers that received operating
			 grants under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b)
			 during the previous fiscal year, and which continue to meet all eligibility
			 requirements for the receipt of funding under such section.
					(B)Second priority shall be given to providing
			 an adjustment (not to exceed $100,000,000 for all health centers) in the amount
			 of each operating grant awarded to a health center pursuant to subparagraph (A)
			 to account for—
						(i)the increased cost of providing services
			 through each such health center based on the average increase in costs per
			 encounter reported by all health centers during the most recent reporting
			 period for which such information is available prior to the beginning of the
			 fiscal year; and
						(ii)the change in the number of users reported
			 by each such health center during the most recent reporting period for which
			 such information is available prior to the beginning of the fiscal year;
						(C)Third priority shall be given to providing
			 initial operating grants (or expanded operating grants, as the case may be) to
			 all eligible applicants for New Access Point or Expanded Medical Capacity
			 grants during fiscal years 2002 through 2007 (not to exceed $225,000,000 for
			 all such grantees), that—
						(i)received a score of Fully
			 Acceptable or better from an Objective Review Committee established by
			 the Health Resources and Services Administration during that period; and
						(ii)did not receive funding because of a lack
			 of available appropriated funds during that period to permit the funding of
			 such applications.
						(D)Fourth priority shall be given to providing
			 initial operating grants (or expanded operating grants, as the case may be) to
			 all eligible applicants for New Access Point or Expanded Medical Capacity
			 grants during fiscal year 2008, that received a score of Fully
			 Acceptable or better from an Objective Review Committee established by
			 the Health Resources and Services Administration during that fiscal year,
			 subject to the availability of appropriations. Notwithstanding any funding
			 criteria that may otherwise be utilized in the selection of grantees under the
			 programs described in this subparagraph, the criteria to be used for the
			 approval of applications under this subparagraph shall ensure an equitable
			 geographic distribution with respect to the service areas of the grantees that
			 receive such assistance.
					(E)(i)Fifth priority shall be given to supporting
			 the planning and development of new health centers (not to exceed $25,000,000
			 for all such support) in communities that demonstrate need for a health center
			 under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), including
			 counties, other eligible geographic or governmental subdivisions such as
			 cities, towns, neighborhoods, or groups of such subdivisions in contiguous
			 areas.
					(ii)Funds made available under clause (i) shall
			 be used to award grants in accordance with section 330(c) of the Public Health
			 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(c)), particularly to entities that will serve
			 medically underserved areas identified through the use of criteria including
			 the distance of the area from other sources of primary medical or dental care,
			 the lack of access to existing primary health care practices among the
			 population of the community, the lack of acceptance of Medicaid beneficiaries
			 among existing primary health care practices in the community, significant
			 disparities in health status, the percentage of uninsured and underinsured, and
			 other measures that indicate barriers to appropriate primary health
			 care.
					(iii)Of the amount made available for grants
			 under clause (i), not more than $20,000,000 may be used to provide support to
			 health center networks (as defined in section 330(e)(1)(C) of the Public Health
			 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(e)(1)(C)), or to organizations that represent all
			 health centers in a State, and that have established or have made a commitment
			 to establishing Statewide systems of health centers that will ensure the
			 presence of health centers in all underserved areas in that State.
					(iv)Notwithstanding any funding criteria that
			 may otherwise be utilized in awarding grants of the type described in this
			 subparagraph, the criteria used for the approval of applications under this
			 subparagraph shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution with respect to
			 the service areas of the grantees that receive such assistance.
					(2)Succeeding fiscal yearsFor fiscal year 2009, and for each
			 succeeding fiscal year, funds shall be distributed under this section in
			 accordance with the priorities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and
			 (E) of paragraph (1).
				4.National Health Service Corps
			(a)FundingTo carry out the programs authorized under
			 sections 331 through 338G of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
			 254d–254p), there are authorized to be appropriated, and there are
			 appropriated—
				(1)for fiscal year 2008, $150,000,000;
				(2)for fiscal year 2009, $175,000,000;
				(3)for fiscal year 2010, $200,000,000;
				(4)for fiscal year 2011, $225,000,000;
				(5)for fiscal year 2012, $250,000,000;
				(6)for fiscal year 2013, $275,000,000;
				(7)for fiscal year 2014, $300,000,000;
			 and
				(8)for fiscal year 2015, $325,000,000.
				(b)Assignment of personnel
				(1)In generalSection 333(a)(3) of the Public Health
			 Service Corps (42 U.S.C. 254f(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:

						(3)(A)In approving applications for assignment of
				members of the Corps, the Secretary shall not discriminate against application
				from entities that are not receiving Federal financial assistance under this
				Act.
						(B)In approving such applications, the
				Secretary shall—
							(i)give preference to applications in which a
				nonprofit entity or public entity shall provide a site to which Corps members
				may be assigned; and
							(ii)give the highest preference to
				applications—
								(I)from entities described in clause (i) that
				are federally qualified health centers as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of
				the Social Security Act; and
								(II)from entities described in clause (i) that
				primarily serve racial and ethnic minority and other health disparity
				populations with annual incomes at or below twice those set forth in the most
				recent poverty guidelines issued by the Secretary pursuant to section 673(2) of
				the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C.
				9902(2)).
								.
				(2)Priorities in assignment of corps
			 personnelSection 333A of the
			 Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254f–1) is amended—
					(A)in subsection (a)—
						(i)by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and
			 (3) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and
						(ii)by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so
			 redesignated) the following:

								(1)give preference to applications as set
				forth in subsection (a)(3) of section
				333;
								;
				and
						(B)by striking subsection
			 (a)(1) each place such appears and inserting subsection
			 (a)(2).
					(3)Conforming amendmentSection 338I(c)(3)(B)(ii) of the Public
			 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q–1(c)(3)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking
			 section 333A(a)(1) and inserting section
			 333A(a)(2).
				(c)Revision of scholarship
			 limitationSection 338H(b) of
			 the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q(b)) is amended to read as
			 follows:

					(b)ScholarshipsOf the amount appropriated under subsection
				(a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall obligate not less than 40 percent
				for the purpose of awarding contracts for scholarships under this subpart
				(including scholarships to individuals from disadvantaged
				backgrounds).
					.
			5.Medicare
			(a)Coverage for FQHC ambulatory
			 servicesSection 1861(aa)(3)
			 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(3)) is amended to read as
			 follows:

					(3)The term Federally qualified health
				center services means—
						(A)services of the type described in
				subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), and such other services
				furnished by a Federally qualified health center for which payment may
				otherwise be made under this title if such services were furnished by a health
				care provider or health care professional other than a Federally qualified
				health center; and
						(B)preventive primary health services that a
				center is required to provide under section 330 of the Public Health Service
				Act;
						when furnished to an individual as a
				patient of a Federally qualified health
				center..
			(b)Per visit payment requirements for
			 FQHCsSection 1833(a)(3)(A)
			 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(3)(A)), is amended by adding
			 (which regulations may not limit the per visit payment amount, or a
			 component of such amount, for services described in section
			 1832(a)(2)(D)(ii)) after the Secretary may prescribe in
			 regulations.
			(c)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by
			 this section shall apply to services provided on or after January 1,
			 2007.


116 HR 4565 IH: Responsible Accounting Standards Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-09-27
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4565IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 27, 2019Mr. Luetkemeyer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesA BILLTo amend the Securities Act of 1933 to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue a
			 rule to apply the Administrative Procedure Act to the adoption of
			 accounting principles by the standard setting body, and to require the
			 standard setting body to consider, in adopting accounting principles, the
			 impact such principles will have on the broader U.S. economy, market
			 stability, and availability of credit.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Responsible Accounting Standards Act of 2019. 2.Administrative procedures for adoption of accounting principlesSection 19(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (3)Administrative procedures for adoption of accounting principlesThe Commission shall issue a rule requiring a standard setting body described in paragraph (1) to follow procedures when adopting an accounting principle that are as close as practicable to those requirements for a Federal agency issuing a rule under chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Administrative Procedure Act)..
		3.Consideration of the impact of accounting principles on the broader U.S. economy, market stability,
			 and availability of credit
 (a)In generalSection 19(b)(1)(A)(v) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(b)) is amended by inserting after investors the following: , and the impact such accounting principles will have on the broader U.S. economy, market stability, and availability of credit (particularly for low- and moderate-income borrowers).
 (b)ReportNot later than the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, any standard setting body described in section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall issue a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Congress containing a list of changes the standard setting body has made or will make in order to ensure that the standard setting body takes into consideration the impact of accounting principles on the broader U.S. economy, market stability, and availability of credit, as required by the amendment made under subsection (a).