115 S799 IS: Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017
U.S. Senate
2017-03-30
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. 799IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 30, 2017Mr. Warner (for himself and Mr. Rubio) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo simplify and improve the Federal student loan program through income-contingent repayment to
			 provide stronger protections for borrowers, encourage responsible
			 borrowing, and save money for taxpayers.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017.
		2.Termination of authority to make Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized
			 Stafford Loans, and Federal  Direct  PLUS  Loans  to  students under the
 William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan ProgramSection 455(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(4)Termination   of   authority   to   make federal  direct  stafford  loans, federal  direct
			 unsubsidized	stafford   loans,  and federal	direct	plus	loans  to
			 students  under this part
 (A)In generalNotwithstanding any provision of this part or part B, for any period of instruction beginning on or after July 1, 2018—
 (i)a student shall not be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan under this part; and
 (ii)a student shall not be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan or Federal Direct PLUS Loan under this part, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
 (B)ExceptionsSubparagraph (A)(ii) shall not be applicable with respect to the following: (i)Existing student borrowersA student who, as of July 1, 2018, has an outstanding balance of principal or interest owing on any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B or this part may continue to be eligible to borrow a loan under this part, except for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, in accordance with subparagraph (C) until June 30, 2020.
 (ii)Parent plus loansAn excepted PLUS loan or excepted consolidation loan (as such terms are defined in section 493C(a)) under this part that is made to a parent on behalf of an undergraduate dependent student.
 (iii)Federal direct consolidation loansA Federal Direct Consolidation Loan under this part. (C)Maximum annual amounts of federal direct unsubsidized stafford loansThe maximum annual amount of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans a student described in subparagraph (B)(i) may borrow in an academic year (as defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be the maximum annual amount for such student determined under section 428H, plus an amount equal to the amount of Federal Direct Stafford Loans the student would have received in the absence of subparagraph (A)(i)..
		3.Establishment of the income dependent education assistance loan program and the IDEA loan repayment
 programTitle IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				JIncome dependent education assistance loans
					1IDEA loans
						499A.Program authority and agreements
							(a)Program authority
 (1)In generalThere are authorized to be appropriated, in accordance with the provisions of this part, such sums as may be necessary to make loans to all eligible students in attendance at participating institutions of higher education selected by the Secretary, to enable such students to pursue their courses of study at such institutions beginning July 1, 2018. Loans made under this part shall be made by participating institutions, or consortia thereof, that have agreements with the Secretary to originate loans, or by alternative originators designated by the Secretary to make loans for students in attendance at participating institutions.
 (2)DesignationThe program established under this subpart shall be referred to as the Income Dependent Education Assistance Loan Program, or the IDEA Loan Program. (b)Funds for the origination of IDEA loansThe Secretary shall provide funds for student loans under this part in the same manner as the Secretary provided funds for the origination of Federal Direct Student Loans under part D in accordance with section 452 on the day before the date of enactment of the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017. The requirements, rights, and limitations with respect to the Secretary and institutions for funds provided for loans under part D on the day before the date of enactment of the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017 shall apply with respect to the Secretary and institutions for funds provided for loans under this part, except that funds under this part shall not be provided for parent loans.
							(c)Selection  of  institutions  for  participation and origination, and agreements with institutions
 (1)Selection of institutions for participation and originationThe Secretary shall enter into agreements with institutions of higher education to participate in the IDEA Loan Program under this part and agreements with institutions of higher education, or consortia thereof, to originate loans in such program for academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2018. The provisions of section 453 as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017 shall apply with respect to agreements under this section. The Secretary shall provide alternative origination services for loans under this part, as appropriate, in a manner consistent with the provisions of sections 453 and 456 as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017 related to alternative origination services for loans under part D.
 (2)Participation and origination agreements with institutionsAn agreement with any institution of higher education for participation in the IDEA Loan Program under this part, and an agreement with any institution of higher education, or consortia thereof, to originate loans in such program, shall have the same terms as the terms required under section 454 as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017 for agreements with an institution for participation or origination, respectively, in the student loan program under part D, except that agreements for participation or origination under this part shall not apply to parent loans.
 (3)Withdrawal and termination proceduresThe Secretary shall establish procedures by which institutions or consortia may withdraw or be terminated from the program under this part.
								499B.Terms and conditions of IDEA loans
 (a)Parallel terms, conditions, benefits, and amountsUnless otherwise specified in this part, Income Dependent Education Assistance Loans (referred to in this part as IDEA Loans) made to borrowers under this part shall have the same terms, conditions, and benefits, and be available in the same amounts, as Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans made to borrowers under part D, and first disbursed on the day before the date of enactment of the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017.
							(b)Eligible borrowers
 (1)In generalIn addition to the requirements of section 484, to be eligible to receive a loan (other than an IDEA Consolidation Loan) under this part, a borrower—
 (A)shall be an individual who, on the date of application for such loan, has no outstanding balance of principal or interest owing on any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B or D (other than an excepted PLUS loan or an excepted consolidation loan (as such terms are defined in section 493C(a))); or
 (B)in the case of an individual with an outstanding balance of principal or interest owing on any loan described in subparagraph (A), shall consolidate all such existing loans into an IDEA Consolidation Loan under section 499C.
 (2)Only student borrowers eligibleFor purposes of this part, the term borrower shall not include a parent borrower. (c)Annual and aggregate limits (1)In generalSubject to paragraph (2), the maximum annual amount of IDEA Loans in any academic year (as defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent, and the maximum aggregate amount of IDEA Loans that a student may borrow, shall be the maximum annual amounts and maximum aggregate amounts, respectively, of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans under part D that such student would have been eligible to borrow in the absence of section 455(a)(4), as added by the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017.
 (2)Graduate and professional students eligible for PLUS loansIn the case of a graduate or professional student who would have been eligible to borrow a Federal Direct PLUS Loan under part D in the absence of section 455(a)(4), as added by the Dynamic Repayment Act of 2017, the maximum annual amounts and maximum aggregate amounts, respectively, of IDEA Loans that such a student may borrow as determined under paragraph (1) for any academic year (as defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent, may be increased to an amount equal to the maximum annual amounts and maximum aggregate amounts, respectively, of Federal Direct PLUS Loans that such student would have been eligible to borrow in the absence of such section 455(a)(4).
 (d)Loan feeThe Secretary shall charge the borrower of a loan (other than an IDEA Consolidation Loan) made under this part an origination fee. Such fee shall be the sum of—
 (1)for the portion of the principal amount of the loan that is equal to (or less than) the maximum annual amount a student may borrow under subsection (c)(1), 1.0 percent of such portion of the principal amount of the loan; plus
 (2)for the portion of the principal amount of the loan that exceeds the maximum annual amount a student may borrow under subsection (c)(1), as authorized by subsection (c)(2), 4.0 percent of such portion of the principal amount of the loan.
								(e)Interest rates
 (1)Undergraduate studentsWith respect to IDEA Loans made to undergraduate students for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2018, the applicable rate of interest shall, during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to the lesser of—
 (A)a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1, plus 2.05 percent; or
 (B)8.25 percent. (2)Graduate and professional studentsWith respect to IDEA Loans made to graduate or professional students for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2018, the applicable rate of interest shall, during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to the lesser of—
 (A)the rate determined under paragraph (1)(A), except that 3.6 percent shall be substituted for 2.05 percent in such determination; or (B)9.25 percent.
 (3)ConsultationThe Secretary shall determine the applicable rate of interest under paragraphs (1) and (2) after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and shall publish such rate in the Federal Register as soon as practicable after the date of determination.
								(4)Application of interest rate during the life of the loan
 (A)In-school deferment periodInterest shall accrue and be capitalized or paid by the borrower (but periodic installments of principal need not be paid) during the in-school deferment period with respect to an IDEA Loan. For the purposes of this part, the in-school deferment period with respect to an IDEA Loan is the first period during which the borrower is pursuing at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload (as determined by the institution) in the course of study for which the borrower received such loan and ending on the first day of the first month that begins after the borrower ceases to carry at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload (as determined by the institution) in the course of study.
 (B)Grace and repayment periodsInterest that accrues during the borrower’s grace period (for the purposes of this title, defined as the period between the borrower’s in-school deferment period and the borrower’s repayment period) and during the borrower’s repayment period shall not be capitalized.
 (f)Armed forces student loan interest payment programUsing funds received by transfer to the Secretary under section 2174(f)(2) of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary shall pay the interest on a loan made under this part to a member of the Armed Forces as due for a period not in excess of 36 consecutive months. The Secretary may not pay interest on such a loan out of any funds other than funds that have been so transferred.
							(g)No accrual  of	interest  for  active  duty service members
 (1)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of this part and in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (4), interest shall not accrue for an eligible military borrower on a loan made under this part for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2018.
 (2)IDEA consolidation loansIn the case of any IDEA Consolidation loan made under this part that is disbursed on or after July 1, 2018, interest shall not accrue pursuant to this subsection only on such portion of such loan as was used to repay a loan made under part D for which the first disbursement is made on or after October 1, 2008.
 (3)Eligible military borrowerIn this subsection, the term eligible military borrower means an individual who— (A)(i)is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; or
 (ii)is performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; and
 (B)is serving in an area of hostilities in which service qualifies for special pay under section 310 of title 37, United States Code.
 (4)LimitationAn individual who qualifies as an eligible military borrower under this subsection may receive the benefit of this subsection for not more than 60 months.
 (h)Loan cancellation and dischargeThe Secretary shall discharge a borrower’s liability on a loan made under this part in accordance with subsections (a) and (c) of section 437.
 (i)Loan forgivenessA loan made under this part shall be eligible for loan forgiveness under the following conditions: (1)After 20 years of payments pursuant to section 499F for borrowers who begin repayment with an outstanding balance of principal and interest that is less than the maximum aggregate amount of IDEA Loans that an undergraduate student may borrow as provided under subsection (c).
 (2)After 30 years of payments pursuant to section 499F for borrowers who begin repayment with an outstanding balance of principal and interest that is equal to or greater than the maximum aggregate amount of IDEA Loans that an undergraduate student may borrow as provided under subsection (c).
								499C.IDEA consolidation loans
							(a)IDEA consolidation loans
 (1)In generalExcept as otherwise provided in this section, an IDEA Consolidation Loan under this section shall have the same terms, conditions, and benefits as IDEA Loans made under this part.
 (2)Borrower and loan eligibilityTo be eligible to receive an IDEA Consolidation Loan under this section, a borrower— (A)shall—
 (i)meet the criteria described in section 428C(a)(3)(A); and (ii)in the case of a borrower described in section 499B(b)(1)(B), agree to consolidate into an IDEA Consolidation Loan all loans made to the borrower that are described in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 428C(a)(4) (other than an excepted PLUS loan or an excepted consolidation loan (as such terms are defined in section 493C(a)));
 (B)may consolidate the loans described in subparagraphs (B), (D), and (E) of section 428C(a)(4) into such IDEA Consolidation Loan; and
 (C)may not consolidate an IDEA Loan made under section 499B into such IDEA Consolidation Loan.
 (3)Requirements for the secretaryIn making IDEA Consolidation Loans under this section, the Secretary— (A)shall ensure that—
 (i)each IDEA Consolidation Loan will be made, notwithstanding any other provision of this title limiting the annual or aggregate principal amount for all loans made to the borrower, in an amount that is equal to the sum of the unpaid principal, interest, penalties, and fees of all loans received by the borrower which are selected by the borrower for consolidation under this section; and
 (ii)the proceeds of each IDEA Consolidation Loan will be paid by the Secretary to the holder or holders of the loans being consolidated to discharge the liability on such loans;
 (B)shall not discriminate against any borrower seeking such an IDEA Consolidation Loan— (i)based on the number or type of loans the borrower seeks to consolidate;
 (ii)based on the interest rate to be charged to the borrower with respect to the consolidation loan; or
 (iii)based on the type or category of institution of higher education that the borrower attends or attended; and
 (C)shall disclose to a prospective borrower, in simple and understandable terms, at the time the Secretary provides an application for an IDEA Consolidation Loan—
 (i)whether consolidation would result in a loss of loan benefits under part B or part D, including loan forgiveness, cancellation, and deferment;
 (ii)with respect to Federal Perkins Loans under part E— (I)that if a borrower includes a Federal Perkins Loan under part E in the consolidation loan, the borrower will lose all interest-free periods that would have been available for the Federal Perkins Loan, including—
 (aa)the periods during which no interest accrues on such loan while the borrower is enrolled in school at least half-time;
 (bb)the grace period under section 464(c)(1)(A); and (cc)the periods during which the borrower’s student loan repayments are deferred under section 464(c)(2);
 (II)that if a borrower includes a Federal Perkins Loan in the consolidation loan, the borrower will no longer be eligible for cancellation of part or all of the Federal Perkins Loan under section 465(a); and
 (III)the occupations listed in section 465 that qualify for Federal Perkins Loan cancellation under section 465(a);
 (iii)the options of the borrower to prepay the IDEA Consolidation Loan; (iv)the consequences of default on the IDEA Consolidation Loan; and
 (v)that by applying for an IDEA Consolidation Loan, the borrower is not obligated to agree to take the consolidation loan.
 (b)Interest rateNotwithstanding section 499B(e), an IDEA Consolidation Loan for which the application is received on or after July 1, 2018, shall bear interest at an annual rate on the unpaid principal balance of the loan that is equal to the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher one-eighth of one percent. Interest that accrues on such an IDEA Consolidation Loan shall not be capitalized.
							2IDEA Loan Repayment Program
						1Establishment of the IDEA Loan Repayment Program
							499D.Duties	of  the  Secretary  of	the  Treasury
 (a)In generalAs part of the IDEA Loan Repayment Program established under this subpart, the Secretary of the Treasury shall, with respect to each individual for whom a loan made under this part is in repayment status during a taxable year, transmit to the Secretary of Education—
 (1)in the case of such an individual who files an income tax return for such taxable year, such tax information as is necessary to determine the individual’s income-based repayment obligation under section 499E; and
 (2)in the case of any such individual who does not file a return for such taxable year, any available tax information of the individual as may be necessary to determine such obligation and whether such individual is in default under the terms of such loan for not so filing.
 (b)Additional program requirementsThe Secretary of the Treasury shall establish such other policies, procedures, and guidance as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subpart, including measures to prevent underreporting and evasion of repayment or filing.
								499E.Duties of the Secretary of Education
 (a)In generalThe Secretary shall carry out, as part of the IDEA Loan Repayment Program established under this subpart, the following activities:
 (1)Calculation of annual repayment amountsThe Secretary shall calculate the annual repayment amount under this subpart for borrowers with 1 or more loans made under this part in repayment status, including the income-based repayment obligations of such borrowers in accordance with section 499F(i).
 (2)Communication with the secretary of the treasuryThe Secretary shall transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury such information as is necessary for the Secretary of the Treasury to carry out section 499F(i).
 (3)Annual statementsUpon calculating the annual repayment amounts under paragraph (1) for a taxable year, the Secretary shall provide a statement, on an annual basis, to each borrower with a loan made under this part, which lists the following:
 (A)Total payments made on the borrower’s annual repayment amount for such taxable year. (B)The borrower’s annual repayment amount for such taxable year.
 (C)In the case of a borrower who, according to section 499F(f), has underpaid such annual repayment amount, the amount of such underpayment and the process for paying such underpayment under section 499F(f)(2).
 (D)In the case of a borrower with an overpayment on such annual repayment amount, the amount of such overpayment and the process for requesting a refund of such amount under section 499F(g), if applicable.
 (E)The outstanding balances on all the loans made to the borrower under this part. (F)A description of how the borrower’s annual repayment amount was calculated under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 499F(b).
 (4)Direct paymentThe Secretary shall enable a borrower to make direct payments on the borrower’s annual repayment amount for the taxable year to the Secretary throughout the year.
 (5)Payments on a borrower's behalfThe Secretary shall— (A)provide a mechanism for other individuals or entities to make payments on the annual repayment amount of a borrower for a taxable year; and
 (B)notify the borrower that any payments made under subparagraph (A) for the taxable year that exceed the annual repayment amount for the year shall not be refunded to the borrower.
 (6)Calculating interest accruedThe Secretary shall calculate the interest accrued for the taxable year as if the borrower’s payments under wage withholding under paragraph (10) for the taxable year were made in 12 equal increments throughout the year.
 (7)Appeals processThe Secretary shall make available a process through which a borrower can appeal the calculation of the borrower’s annual repayment amount, including a worksheet that enables a borrower to calculate the borrower’s annual repayment amount.
 (8)Default for failure to file a returnIn a case in which the Secretary receives information from the Secretary of the Treasury under section 499D that a borrower with a loan made under this part in repayment status has failed to file a return under section 6012(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and such borrower was required to file such a return, the Secretary shall—
 (A)notify the borrower of the borrower’s failure to file such a return; and (B)if the borrower fails to file such a return within 90 days of receipt of the notice described in subparagraph (A), consider the borrower’s loans made under this part in repayment status to be in default.
 (9)Withholding opt-outThe Secretary shall establish a process through which a borrower can indicate that the borrower would like to opt-out of the withholding process under subsection (b) and, in lieu of such process, make payments on a monthly basis, as described in subsection (c).
 (10)Employer withholdingThe Secretary shall establish a process that meets the requirements of subsection (b) under which employers making payment of wages deduct and withhold upon such wages amounts determined in accordance with subsection (b)(3) with respect to an employee—
 (A)who has a loan made under this part that is in repayment status; (B)who has not opted out of the withholding process under this paragraph; and
 (C)who is not in a forbearance period under section 499F(a)(2)(C). (11)Monthly payments processThe Secretary shall establish a monthly payments process described in subsection (c).
									(b)Requirements for employer withholding
 (1)Withholding ordersIn carrying out the employer withholding process under subsection (a)(10), the Secretary shall carry out the following:
 (A)New employmentUpon determining, using the information provided under section 453(j)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)(12)), that a borrower who meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(10) obtains new employment, issue a withholding order to the borrower’s employer directing the employer to withhold and transmit the amounts described in paragraph (3) to the Secretary.
 (B)Other purposesUpon notification by a borrower that the borrower no longer wishes to opt out of the withholding process under subsection (a)(10) or that a borrower who has been in forbearance under section 499F(a)(2)(C), voluntarily ends or no longer qualifies for such forbearance, or upon determining that a borrower has entered repayment status on 1 or more loans made under this part (and the borrower had no loans made under this part already in repayment status), using the information provided under section 453(j)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)(12)), issue a withholding order to all of the borrower’s employers directing such employers to withhold and transmit the amounts described in paragraph (3) to the Secretary.
 (C)Stop withholding orderUpon determining that a borrower is eligible for a forbearance under section 499F(a)(2)(C), that the borrower has opted out of the withholding process under subsection (a)(10), or that a borrower has repaid the borrower’s loans made under this part, using the information provided under paragraph 12 of section 453(j)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)(12)), issue a withholding order to the borrower’s employers directing such employers to cease withholding under this paragraph.
 (D)Transfer of paymentsOutline clearly the process through which employers shall transfer money withheld under this subsection to the Secretary.
										(E)Electronic transmission
 (i)In generalMake available electronic means of transmitting and processing both withholding orders and payments from employers, including a means to correct under- and overpayments to the extent feasible, with the goal of streamlining the processing of such orders and payments and minimizing impacts on employers.
 (ii)No requirement to use electronic transmissionNothing in this part shall be construed to require an employer, in carrying out a withholding order under this section, to use the electronic process described in clause (i).
											(2)Employer remittance
 (A)In generalIn the case where an employer has received a withholding order under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) or the employee has indicated under paragraph (4)(A) that the employee has a loan that meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(10), and the employer has not subsequently received an order to stop withholding under paragraph (1)(C) for such employee, the employer shall withhold and transmit the amounts described in paragraph (3) to the Secretary as directed under paragraph (1)(D) and shall be liable for, and the Secretary, as appropriate, may sue the employer in a State or Federal court of competent jurisdiction to recover any amount that such employer fails to withhold from wages with respect to an employee after being directed to do so for such employee, plus attorneys’ fees, costs, and, in the court’s discretion, punitive damages. Such employer shall not be required to vary the normal pay and disbursement cycles in order to comply with this subparagraph.
 (B)TimingAn employer transmitting to the Secretary withholding payments under this subsection shall transmit such payments on a periodic basis, as determined by the employer but not less frequently than quarterly.
 (3)Withholding amountThe amount withheld by an employer for each pay period with respect to any employee for whom the employer is withholding under this subsection shall be an amount equal to the sum of—
 (A)the amount that results from the employer withholding— (i)10 percent of the employee’s wages for such pay period that will count towards the employee’s annual repayment amount under section 499F(b) that is in excess of the employee’s exemption amount for such pay period (as determined by dividing the employee’s exemption amount under section 499F(i)(3) by the number of pay periods for the taxable year); or
 (ii)in a case in which an employee requests that such exemption amount not be taken into account, 10 percent of the employee’s wages for such pay period that will count towards the employee’s annual repayment amount under section 499F(b); and
 (B)any additional amounts the employee wishes to have withheld in accordance with paragraph (4)(C). (4)Withholding preferencesThe Secretary shall provide forms and procedures to allow an employee to indicate to the employee’s employer—
 (A)that the employee has a loan that meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(10) and therefore the employer shall withhold payments under this subsection;
 (B)that the employer shall not take into account the exemption amount to which the employee is eligible under this part in determining the employee’s withholding amount because the exemption amount has already been taken into account with respect to such employee; and
 (C)an election by the employee to have amounts withheld in addition to the employee’s withholding amount as calculated under paragraph (3).
 (5)Employee protectionAn employer may not discharge from employment, refuse to employ, or take disciplinary action against an individual subject to wage withholding in accordance with this section by reason of the fact that the individual’s wages have been subject to withholding under this section, nor may an employer require that an individual opt-out under subsection (a)(9) and such individual may sue in a State or Federal court of competent jurisdiction any employer who takes such action. The court shall award attorneys’ fees to a prevailing employee and, in its discretion, may order reinstatement of the individual, award punitive damages and back pay to the employee, or order such other remedy as may be reasonably necessary.
 (6)GarnishmentFor purposes of title III of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.), amounts withheld under this subsection shall—
 (A)not be considered a garnishment; and (B)be considered to be amounts required by law to be withheld.
										(c)Monthly payments process
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall establish a process under which a borrower may make monthly payments towards the borrower’s annual repayment amount, at any time in the taxable year, because the borrower—
 (A)has opted-out of withholding under subsection (a)(10); or (B)expects to have income that is not subject to the withholding process described in subsection (b).
 (2)Information requiredThe procedure for initiating the monthly payments process under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
 (A)Income estimateA requirement for a borrower to provide an estimate of the borrower’s income for the taxable year that will count towards the borrower’s income-based repayment obligation, excluding, in the case of a borrower subject to the withholding process, any income subject to the withholding process.
 (B)Amortization scheduleIn the case of a borrower who has opted out of the withholding process, the ability for the borrower to indicate that the borrower would like the borrower’s monthly payments set such that the borrower’s outstanding loans made under this part would be repaid within a specified number of years.
 (3)Monthly payments amountsThe Secretary shall set the borrower’s monthly payment amount to the greater of— (A)the difference between the borrower’s annual repayment amount that would result given the income estimate provided by the borrower under paragraph (2)(A) and the payments the borrower has already made in the year towards such amount (excluding, for borrowers who have not opted-out of withholding, payments through the withholding process), divided by the remaining months in the taxable year; or
 (B)for a borrower who indicates a time frame under paragraph (2)(B), the monthly payment amount that would result in the borrower’s currently outstanding loans made under this part being repaid within the number of years specified by the borrower.
 (4)Automatic continuationThe monthly payments process shall continue until— (A)the borrower elects to stop such payments; or
 (B)the borrower’s loans made under this part are repaid. (5)Updating payment amounts (A)SecretaryThe Secretary shall automatically recalculate a borrower’s monthly payment amount at the beginning of a new taxable year using the most recent income estimate provided under paragraph (2)(A) by the borrower.
 (B)BorrowerThe borrower may update the borrower’s income estimate under paragraph (2)(A) at any time. 2Borrower repayment of IDEA loans and IDEA consolidation loans 499F.Borrower repayment (a)Repayment periodThe repayment period of a loan made under this part shall—
 (1)begin on the first day of the first taxable year that begins after the borrower’s in-school deferment period, or in the case of an IDEA Consolidation Loan, on the first day of the first taxable year that begins after such Consolidation Loan is disbursed; and
 (2)continue until the loan is paid in full, except that the Secretary may grant a borrower forbearance of the borrower’s annual repayment amount—
 (A)for a period not to exceed 60 days, due to administrative or technical reasons; (B)for a period not to exceed 3 months, due to unusual circumstances that disrupt the borrower’s ability to make timely payments on the loan; or
 (C)renewable at 12-month intervals for a period not to exceed 3 years, due to documented extreme economic hardship on the part of a borrower.
 (b)Annual repayment amountThe annual repayment amount under this part for a taxable year for a borrower with 1 or more loans made under this part in repayment status shall be equal to the lesser of—
 (1)the income-based repayment obligation for such borrower for such year, as calculated under section 499E(a)(1); or
 (2)an amount equal to the sum of the outstanding balances (equal to the sum of the unpaid principal, interest, penalties, and fees) that the borrower owes on such loans.
 (c)Methods of repaymentA borrower who expects to have an annual repayment amount for the taxable year that is greater than the amount specified in subsection (f)(1)(D) shall make payments through the following methods:
 (1)With respect to any wages earned by the borrower that are subject to Federal income tax withholding, the withholding process described in section 499E(a)(10).
 (2)The monthly payments process described in section 499E(c), to meet the portion of the borrower’s obligation that is not paid through withholding, or, in the case of a borrower who opts out of the withholding process, to meet the borrower’s entire obligation.
 (3)The direct payments process under section 499E(a)(4). (4)The process described in section 499E(a)(5) that allows other individuals or entities to make payments on the borrower’s annual repayment amount for the year.
 (d)Order of creditingPayments on loans made under this part shall be applied, without regard to the method of such payments, first toward penalties due on the loans, next toward any fees due on the loans, then toward any interest due on the loans, and finally toward the principal due on the loan with the highest applicable rate of interest among such loans.
 (e)Prepayment authorizedA borrower shall have the right to prepay all or part of such loan, at any time and without penalty. Any such prepayment amount will be applied to loans made under this part in the same order as described in subsection (d).
								(f)Underpayments
									(1)Penalties for underpayments
 (A)In generalSubject to subparagraph (C), if, as of the last day of a taxable year, a borrower has not paid at least 90 percent of the borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year, the borrower shall be charged a penalty in an amount equal to 10 percent of the difference between—
 (i)an amount equal to 90 percent of the borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year; and (ii)the amount paid on such annual repayment amount as of such day.
 (B)Increase of annual repayment amountA borrower’s annual repayment amount calculated under subsection (b) for such year shall be increased by the amount of such penalty, but such penalty shall not be treated as a principal or interest amount for a loan made under this part.
 (C)Exception for meeting the obligation for the previous yearA borrower who has paid 100 percent of the borrower’s annual repayment amount for the taxable year preceding the taxable year described in subparagraph (A) shall not be subject to the penalty under this paragraph for the taxable year described in subparagraph (A).
 (D)De minimis exceptionA borrower whose annual repayment amount is less than $300 shall not be subject to the penalty under this paragraph for the taxable year described in subparagraph (A).
										(2)Reconciling underpayments
 (A)In generalIf, as of the last day of a taxable year, the sum of the payments made on a borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year is less than the total amount of the borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year, the borrower—
 (i)in the case of the first year that the borrower has a difference between such amounts— (I)may request, in such manner as the Secretary shall require, that the Secretary reduce the borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year to the sum of—
 (aa)the payments made, as of such day, on the borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year; and
 (bb)any penalties calculated under paragraph (1) resulting from such underpayment; and (II)if the borrower qualifies for the reduction requested under subclause (I), shall pay the sum calculated under such subclause at such time and in such manner as required by the Secretary;
 (ii)if the borrower does not qualify for a reduction under clause (i) or does not request such a reduction, shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the difference between such amounts within the 30-day period beginning on the date of receipt by the borrower of the borrower’s annual statement described in section 499E(a)(3) for such year; or
 (iii)if the borrower fails to pay the amount owed by the borrower as calculated under clause (ii) within the 30-day period, shall be charged a penalty equal to 2 percent of such amount for each month (prorated based on the percentage of a month such penalty is charged) that such amount is owed or until the borrower defaults on the loan for which such amount is owed, whichever occurs first.
 (B)DefaultA loan for which an amount is owed under subparagraph (A) and that is not paid within 270 days after the date of receipt by the borrower of the borrower’s annual statement described in section 499E(a)(3) shall be considered to be in default.
 (g)OverpaymentsIf, as of the last day of a taxable year, the sum of the payments made on a borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year is greater than the total amount of the borrower’s annual repayment amount for such year, the Secretary shall—
 (1)refund the overpayment amount, if the borrower notifies the Secretary, within the 90-day period beginning on the date of receipt of the borrower’s annual statement described in section 499E(a)(3) for such year and in a manner prescribed by the Secretary, that the borrower desires to have the overpayment amount refunded; or
 (2)if a borrower fails to notify the Secretary of the borrower’s desire for a refund of such amount within such 90-day period, apply such amount as a prepayment to the borrower’s loans made under this part in the same manner as a prepayment authorized under subsection (e).
 (h)Employer failure To withhold paymentsIn the case of a borrower whose employer fails to withhold amounts under section 499E(b) upon any wages earned by the borrower that are subject to Federal income tax withholding and with respect to which the borrower made an election to have amounts withheld under such section, the Secretary shall—
 (1)reduce the borrower’s annual repayment to an amount equal to the borrower’s annual repayment amount had wages from such employer been excluded when calculating the borrower’s annual repayment amount; and
 (2)reduce any penalties for underpayments calculated under subsection (f)(1) and refund any overpayments on such annual repayment amount, accordingly.
									(i)Determination of income-Based repayment obligation
 (1)In generalThe income-based repayment obligation with respect to an individual for any taxable year is an amount equal to 10 percent of the excess of—
 (A)the sum of— (i)the wages, salaries, tips, and other employee compensation of the individual, but only if such amounts are includible in gross income for the taxable year (determined without regard to sections 911, 931, and 933 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) and are readily attributable to the individual, plus
 (ii)any other amount included in total income of the taxpayer for the taxable year but not described in clause (i), except that such amount shall be divided by 2 in the case of an individual who is married and filing a joint tax return, over
 (B)the sum of— (i)the exemption amount with respect to such individual, plus
 (ii)the lesser of the amount determined with respect to the taxpayer under subparagraph (A)(ii), or $3,000.
 (2)Exclusion of certain amounts paid on behalf of individualAny amount paid on the borrower's behalf under section 499E(a)(5) shall not be taken into account in determining such borrower's income-based repayment obligation.
 (3)Exemption amountFor purposes of this subpart, the exemption amount with respect to an individual shall be $10,000 (adjusted each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor for the most recent 12-month period for which such data are available).
 (4)Individuals not filing a returnThe income-based repayment obligation with respect to an individual not required to file a return under section 6012(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be treated as zero..
		4.Conforming changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965
			(a)Loan forgiveness and cancellation for teachers
 (1)Loan forgiveness for teachersSection 428J of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–10) is amended— (A)in subsection (b), by inserting or for an IDEA loan made under part J, after or 428H,; and
 (B)in subsection (c)— (i)in paragraph (1), by inserting or an IDEA loan made under part J after or 428H; and
 (ii)in paragraph (2)— (I)by striking A loan and inserting the following:

 (A)Loans made under section 428CA loan; and (II)by adding at the end the following:

 (B)IDEA consolidation loanA loan amount for an IDEA Consolidation Loan may be a qualified loan amount for purposes of this subsection only to the extent that such loan amount was used to repay a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a loan made under section 428, 428C, or 428H..
 (2)Loan cancellation for teachersSection 460 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087j) is amended— (A)in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or for an IDEA loan made under part J after under this part; and
 (B)in subsection (c)— (i)in paragraph (1), by striking or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and inserting , a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or an IDEA loan made under part J; and
 (ii)in paragraph (2)— (I)by striking A loan and inserting the following:

 (A)Federal direct consolidation loanA loan; and (II)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

 (B)IDEA consolidation loanA loan amount for an IDEA Consolidation Loan may be a qualified loan amount for purposes of this subsection only to the extent that such loan amount was used to repay a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a loan made under section 428, 428C, or 428H..
 (b)Loan forgiveness for service in areas of national needSection 428K(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–11(a)(2)) is amended— (1)in subparagraph (A), by striking and after the semicolon;
 (2)in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following:

 (C)to cancel a qualified loan amount for a loan made under part J.. (c)Loan repayment for civil legal assistance attorneysSection 428L(b)(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–12(b)(2)(A)) is amended—
 (1)in clause (i), by striking or part E and inserting , part E, or part J; and (2)in clause (ii)—
 (A)in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking or 455(g) and inserting , 455(g), or 499C; (B)in subclause (II), by striking or after the semicolon;
 (C)by redesignating subclause (III) as subclause (IV); and (D)by inserting after subclause (II) the following:

 (III)a Federal Direct Consolidation loan or a loan made under section 428C, in the case of a loan made under section 499C; or.
 (d)Master promissory noteSection 432(m)(1)(D) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1082(m)(1)(D)) is amended— (1)by striking this part and part D each place it appears and by inserting this part, part D, and part J; and
 (2)by striking this part or part D each place it appears and by inserting this part, part D, or part J. (e)ContractsSection 456 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087f) is amended—
 (1)in subsection (a)— (A)in paragraph (2), by striking this part each place it appears and inserting this part or part J; and
 (B)in paragraph (4), by inserting or part J after this part; and (2)in subsection (b)—
 (A)in paragraph (1), by inserting or the program under part J after (or their parents); (B)in paragraph (2), by inserting or part J after this part;
 (C)in paragraph (3), by inserting or part J after this part; and (D)in paragraph (4), by inserting or the IDEA Loan Program after loan program.
 (f)Funds for administrative expensesSection 458(a)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087h(a)(3)) is amended— (1)by striking this part and part B and inserting this part, part B, and part J; and
 (2)by inserting before the period at the end the following: and part J. (g)Student eligibilitySection 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091) is amended—
 (1)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (3), by striking or D and inserting , D, or E; and
 (B)in paragraph (4)(B), by striking or E and inserting E, or J; (2)in subsection (d)(1), by striking and E and inserting E, and J;
 (3)in subsection (f), by striking or part E both places it appears and inserting part E, or part J; and (4)in subsection (m), by striking and E and inserting E, and J.
 (h)Institutional and financial assistance information for studentsSection 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)—
 (A)in paragraph (1)(M), by striking and E and inserting E, and J; and (B)in paragraph (7)(A)(i), by striking Loan) each place it appears and inserting Loan) or part J;
 (2)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1)(A)—
 (i)in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting or made under part J after part E; and (ii)in clause (vii)—
 (I)by inserting or an IDEA Consolidation Loan after Federal Direct Consolidation Loan; and (II)by striking and E and inserting E, and J; and
 (B)in paragraph (2)(A), by striking or E and inserting E, or J; and (3)in subsection (l)(1)—
 (A)in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting or made under part J after student); and (B)in subparagraph (B), by striking or D and inserting , D, or J.
 5.National directory of new hiresSection 453(j) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(12)Information comparisons and disclosure to assist with collection of IDEA student loans
 (A)Furnishing of information by the secretary of educationThe Secretary of Education shall furnish to the Secretary, on such periodic basis as determined by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the Secretary, information in the custody of the Secretary of Education for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires, in order to obtain information in such Directory with respect to persons who have a loan made under part J of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in repayment status.
 (B)Requirement to seek minimum informationThe Secretary of Education shall seek information pursuant to this section only to the extent necessary to improve collection of the debts owed on the loans described in subparagraph (A).
					(C)Duties of the secretary
 (i)Information disclosureThe Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, shall compare information in the National Directory of New Hires with information provided by the Secretary of Education with respect to persons described in subparagraph (A) and shall disclose information in such Directory regarding such persons to the Secretary of Education in accordance with this paragraph, for the purposes specified in this paragraph.
 (ii)Condition on disclosureThe Secretary shall make disclosures in accordance with clause (i) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosures do not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part.
						(D)Prohibition and unauthorized use
 (i)In generalIndividual data collected under this paragraph shall not be used for any purpose not specifically authorized by Federal law.
 (ii)Penalties for unauthorized disclosure of dataAny individual who willfully discloses information provided under this paragraph, in any manner to an entity not entitled to receive the information, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
 (E)Use or disclosure of information by the secretary of educationThe Secretary of Education may use or disclose information provided under this paragraph only for purposes of collecting the debts owed on the loans described in subparagraph (A).
 (F)Reimbursement of HHS costsThe Secretary of Education shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this paragraph.
 (G)Compliance with FERPAIn carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary and Secretary of Education shall not share any personally identifiable information and shall act in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g, commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974)..
		6.Disclosure of return information for purposes of IDEA loan repayment program
 (a)In generalSubsection (l) of section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

					(23)Disclosure of return information to department of education for purposes of administering IDEA loan
			 repayment program
 (A)In generalThe Secretary shall, upon written request, disclose to the Department of Education such return information as is necessary for purposes of carrying out the IDEA Loan Repayment Program established under subpart 2 of part J of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
 (B)Restriction on disclosureReturn information disclosed under subparagraph (A) may be used by officers, employees, and contractors of the Department of Education only for purposes of, and to the extent necessary in determining income-based repayment obligations under the IDEA Loan Repayment Program..
 (b)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 7.Exclusion for loan forgiveness of certain student loans (a)In generalParagraph (1) of section 108(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking any student loan if and all that follows and inserting

 any student loan if—(A)such discharge was pursuant to a provision of such loan under which all or part of the indebtedness of the individual would be discharged if the individual worked for a certain period of time in certain professions for any of a broad class of employers, or
 (B)such discharge was pursuant to section 499B(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (relating to the cancellation of loan liability)..
			(b)Effective
 DateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to discharges of indebtedness after the date of enactment of this Act.


114 S3271 IS: Workforce Advance Act
U.S. Senate
2016-07-14
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		II
		114th CONGRESS2d Session
		S. 3271
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			July 14, 2016
			Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Hatch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

		A BILL
		To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 regarding dual or
			 concurrent enrollment programs and early college high schools.

		1.Short title
 This Act may be cited as the Workforce Advance Act.
		2.Amendments to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
 (a)DefinitionsSection 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended—
 (1)paragraph (7)— (A)in subparagraph (A), by inserting opportunities, after regarding career awareness; and
 (B)by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:  (B)provides information to students (and parents, as appropriate) with respect to career options, financial aid, job training, and secondary and postsecondary education options, including baccalaureate degree programs, dual or concurrent enrollment programs, and early college high schools, as appropriate.;
 (2)by redesignating paragraph (10), paragraphs (11) through (23), and paragraphs (24) through (34), as paragraph (11), paragraphs (14) through (26), and paragraphs (28) through (38), respectively;
 (3)by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:  (10)Credit Transfer AgreementsThe term ‘credit transfer agreement’ refers to an opportunity for secondary school students to be awarded transcripted postsecondary credit, supported with formal agreements among secondary and postsecondary education systems or different levels within postsecondary systems, such as dual enrollment, dual credit, 2-year to 4-year college articulation agreements, or articulated credit, which may include credit awarded for performance on technical assessments.;
 (4)by inserting after paragraph (11), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following:  (12)Dual or concurrent enrollmentThe term dual or concurrent enrollment means a dual or concurrent enrollment program as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
 (13)Early college high schoolThe term ‘early college high school’ has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
						; and
 (5)by inserting after paragraph (26), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following:  (27)Pre-apprenticeship programThe term pre-apprenticeship program means a program or set of strategies that—
 (A)is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program; (B)is carried out in partnership with at least 1 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; and
 (C)includes each of the following elements: (i)Training (including a curriculum for the training), aligned with industry standards and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the registered apprenticeships within the documented partnership, that will prepare individuals by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more registered apprenticeship programs.
 (ii)Provision of hands-on training and theoretical education to individuals that— (I)accurately simulates the industry and occupational conditions of the registered apprenticeship program described in subparagraph (B);
 (II)is carried out in a manner that includes proper observation of supervision and safety protocols; and
 (III)is carried out in a manner that does not displace a paid employee. (iii)A formal agreement with a sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program that would enable participants who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program to enter directly into the registered apprenticeship program (if a place in the program is available), and includes agreements concerning earning credit recognized by a postsecondary educational institution for skills and competencies acquired during the pre-apprenticeship program..
 (b)Local reportingSection 113 (20 U.S.C. 2323) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 is amended—
 (1)in subsection (b)(4)(C)— (A)in clause (i), by inserting before the period at the end and in the case of an eligible recipient that is a local educational agency, the data described in clause (iii);
 (B)by redesignating clauses (iii) through (v) as clauses (iv) and (vi), respectively; (C)in clause (ii), by striking clauses (iii) and (iv) and inserting clauses (iv) and (v); and
 (D)by inserting after clause (ii) the following:  (iii)Secondary school reportingEach eligible recipient that receives an allocation described in section 112, and is a secondary school, shall report—
 (I)the number and percentage of students enrolled in, and the number and percentage of students completing, career and technical education courses as part of a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school;
 (II)the number and percentage of students whose tuition and fees in a dual or concurrent enrollment or early college high school were paid in part or in full using funding under this Act, and the per-pupil amount per such student, if applicable; and
 (III)the number of teachers receiving support from funding under this Act to obtain required credentials, as described under section 135(c)(21), and the per-teacher amount of such support, if applicable.; and
 (2)in subsection (c)(1)— (A)in subparagraph (A), by striking and after the semicolon;
 (B)in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (C)by adding at the end the following:

 (C)the information reported under subsection (b)(4)(C)(iii).. (c)National activitiesSection 114(d) (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 is amended—
 (1)in paragraph (4)(A)— (A)by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v);
 (B)in clause (iii)— (i)in subclause (II), by striking and after the semicolon; and
 (ii)by adding at the end the following:  (IV)activities and strategies to provide teachers, principals, or other school leaders with opportunities to complete coursework or acquire skills, credentials, or certifications required to educate students in postsecondary career and technical education coursework as part of a career and technical education program through early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs;; and
 (C)by inserting after clause (iii) the following:  (iv)to carry out evidence-based research and evaluation for the purpose of developing, improving, and identifying the most successful methods, best practices, and models for providing dual or concurrent enrollment programs, early college high schools, and other opportunities for students to earn postsecondary career and technical education credit while still in high school as part of career and technical education programs; and; and
 (2)in paragraph (5)— (A)by inserting or eligible recipient after upon request of a State; and
 (B)by inserting , including for providing and integrating dual or concurrent enrollment, early college high schools, pre-apprenticeship programs, and other opportunities for secondary students to earn postsecondary education credit, in career and technical educational programs after under this Act.
 (d)State planSection 122(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342) is amended—
 (1)in paragraph (1)— (A)in subparagraph (I)—
 (i)in clause (ii), by striking and after the semicolon; (ii)in clause (iii), by inserting and after the semicolon; and
 (iii)by adding at the end the following:  (iv)that allow secondary school students to earn postsecondary credit, such as through dual or concurrent enrollment and early college high schools, including how, if applicable, funds will be used to provide assistance to local educational agencies and students to defray the costs of postsecondary courses (such as tuition, fees, and textbooks), particularly for students who are underrepresented in higher education;
 (B)in subparagraph (K), by striking and after the semicolon; (C)in subparagraph (L), by adding and after the semicolon; and
 (D)by adding at the end the following:  (M)how the eligible agency will enable or support the development and implementation of dual or concurrent enrollment or early college high school career and technical education opportunities as part of a career and technical education program, and ensure the dual or concurrent enrollment credit transferability toward a postsecondary education credential or degree;; and
 (2)in paragraph (2)— (A)in subparagraph (F), by striking and after the semicolon;
 (B)in subparagraph (G), by adding and after the semicolon; and (C)by adding at the end the following:

 (H)provides teachers, principals, or other school leaders with the skills, coursework, credentials, or certifications required to educate students in postsecondary career and technical education coursework through early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs;.
 (e)State leadership activitiesSection 124 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344) is amended—
 (1)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (8), by striking and after the semicolon;
 (B)in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (C)by adding at the end the following:

 (10)the development and dissemination of model articulation agreements and memoranda of understanding to support local educational agencies, secondary schools, and postsecondary institutions with the process of arranging such agreements and memoranda.; and
 (2)in subsection (c)— (A)in paragraph (2), by inserting statewide before articulation agreements;
 (B)in paragraph (10)(A)(ii), by inserting , including the development of dual or concurrent enrollment or early college high school programs after education and training;
 (C)in paragraph (16)(B), by striking and after the semicolon; (D)in paragraph (17), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
 (E)by adding at the end the following:  (18)supporting, facilitating, or providing dual or concurrent enrollment or early college high school career and technical education opportunities as part of a career and technical education program in secondary schools (particularly for students who are underrepresented in higher education and students in areas with limited access to higher education course, including rural communities), which may include providing distance learning or interactive video conferencing, or paying for the costs of tuition, fees, and books;
 (19)developing, or assisting local educational agencies in developing, strategies that provide teachers, principals, or other school leaders with the skills, coursework, credentials, or certifications required to educate students in postsecondary career and technical education coursework through early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs; and
 (20)developing, or assisting local educational agencies and postsecondary institutions in developing, processes and agreements to provide secondary and postsecondary education credit for apprenticeships and work-based learning experiences..
 (f)Local planSection 134(b)(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)(3)) is amended—
 (1)in subparagraph (D), by striking and after the semicolon; (2)in subparagraph (E), by adding and after the semicolon; and
 (3)by adding at the end the following:  (F)provide secondary school students with opportunities for dual or concurrent enrollment, early college high school, or other opportunities to earn postsecondary career and technical education credit, if applicable;.
 (g)Local uses of fundsSection 135 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355) is amended—
 (1)in subsection (c)— (A)in paragraph (19)(D) by striking and after the semicolon;
 (B)by redesignating paragraph (20) as paragraph (22); and (C)by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:

 (20)to support career and technical education dual or concurrent enrollment courses or career and technical education courses in early college high schools as part of a career and technical education program in accordance with subsection (d), including using funds for the costs associated with dual or concurrent enrollment or early college high school career and technical education courses for eligible students, which, if identified in the needs assessment, may include paying for—
 (A)the costs of tuition, fees, books, and required instructional materials for eligible students in a relevant career and technical education course or program; and
 (B)support services, including transportation costs to and from such courses or programs for eligible students;
 (21)to support activities and strategies that provide teachers, principals, or other school leaders with the skills, postsecondary coursework, credentials, or certifications, required to educate students in postsecondary career and technical education coursework as part of a career and technical education program through dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school, in accordance with subsection (d); and;
 (2)by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (3)by adding after subsection (c) the following:

						(d)Special rules
 (1)For purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(20)— (A)an eligible recipient may use not more than a total of 15 percent of funds received under this part to support the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(20), in the aggregate, unless an eligible recipient—
 (i)receives approval from the State, in which case the eligible recipient may use not more than a total of 25 percent of such funds for such activities, in the aggregate; or
 (ii)is a rural local educational agency with a locale code 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, or an educational service agency representing rural local educational agencies with locale codes 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, and receives approval from the State, in which case the eligible recipient may use not more than a total of 40 percent of such funds for such activities, in the aggregate;
 (B)in order to use funds under this Act for activities described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (c)(20), an eligible recipient must demonstrate that not less than 50 percent of any individualized student expenses for such activities are being met—
 (i)by funds other than those provided under this Act; (ii)through in-kind tuition reduction; or
 (iii)through a combination of the methods described in clauses (i) and (ii); and (C)the term eligible student means a secondary school student who is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
 (2)As part of the activities described in subsection (c)(21), an eligible recipient may use not more than 40 percent of funds received under this part to pay the costs of the tuition and fees for a secondary school teacher employed, at the time such funds are used, in a school served under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in order to enable that teacher to meet the requirements (including by completing postsecondary education coursework or professional development) to teach dual or concurrent enrollment or early college high school career and technical education courses as part of a career and technical education program that is offered or will be offered in such school.
 (3)Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), activities that are a permissible use of such funds under a provision of this Act other than subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(20) and subsection (c)(21) shall not be subject to the spending caps under this subsection.
							.


113 HR 5198 IH: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an appeal process for designation as qualified census tracts and difficult development areas under the low-income housing credit.
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-07-24
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.

		I
		113th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5198
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 24, 2014
			Mr. Gallego introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

		A BILL
		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an appeal process for designation as
			 qualified census tracts and difficult development areas under the
			 low-income housing credit.

		1.Appeal process for designation as qualified census tracts and difficult development areas under the
			 low-income housing credit
			(a)In generalSection 42(d)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following
			 new subparagraph:

					(C)Appeal of qualified census tract and difficult development area designations
						(i)In generalAny State or local government agency may petition the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to
			 review such Secretary’s designation (or failure to designate) for any area
			 within such agency’s jurisdiction as a qualified census tract or difficult
			 development area by filing an appeal with such Secretary during the
			 120-day period beginning on the date that such Secretary publishes the
			 list of qualified census tracts and difficult development areas for the
			 calendar year.
						(ii)Application of population limitationIf a designation is made pursuant to an appeal under clause (i) and such designation would (without
			 regard to this clause) result in a violation of the limitation imposed
			 under clause (ii)(II) or (iii)(II) of subparagraph (B) with respect to the
			 relevant metropolitan statistical area, then the Secretary of Housing and
			 Urban Development shall conduct a review of all of the qualified census
			 tract or difficult development area designations in such metropolitan
			 statistical area. If, after making any additional designations, or
			 revocation of designations as a result of such review, such limitation is
			 still exceeded, the census tract which is the subject of the appeal and
			 such additional designations shall be substituted for so many of the last
			 areas designated when such Secretary made its annual review and
			 determination as is necessary to comply with such limitations.
						(iii)Retroactive application of correctionsAny designation, or revocation of designation, under clause (i) or (ii) with respect to any appeal
			 shall be valid retroactive to the beginning of the calendar year to which
			 the appeal relates.
						(iv)Petition with respect to census block groupsAny landowner whose property is located within a census block group or equivalent geographic area
			 defined by the Bureau of the Census that meets the criteria for
			 designation of a qualified census tract can petition the Secretary of
			 Housing and Urban Development, and upon verification by such Secretary
			 that such area meets such criteria, such Secretary shall designate such
			 area as a qualified census tract. Subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) shall be
			 applied without regard to any area designated under this clause..


116 S2675 IS: Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act
U.S. Senate
2019-10-23
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2675IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESOctober 23, 2019Mr. Booker introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out activities relating to
			 neglected diseases of poverty.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act or the STOP Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act.
 2.FindingsCongress finds as follows: (1)Neglected diseases of poverty, many of which are also known as neglected tropical diseases, are a group of diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations living in extreme poverty.
 (2)More than 1,000,000,000 people worldwide are affected by neglected diseases of poverty. (3)Neglected diseases of poverty can be transmitted—
 (A)through contaminated food, water, and soil; (B)through parasites, insects, blood transfusion, and organ transplant; and
 (C)in some cases, congenitally.
 (4)Neglected diseases of poverty have a high rate of morbidity and mortality and can lead to health complications such as heart disease, epilepsy, asthma, blindness, developmental delays, stillbirth, low birthweight, and gastrointestinal disorders.
 (5)Some neglected diseases of poverty can be asymptomatic at the outset, but debilitating or dangerous symptoms can emerge over time or under certain conditions, such as pregnancy. It is estimated that millions of people are living with these diseases and are not aware that they are infected.
 (6)For tens of thousands of individuals, diseases of poverty that are chronic and neglected can manifest into severe illness later in life.
 (7)Neglected diseases of poverty place a significant financial burden on affected individuals and communities due to the health care costs associated with these diseases and because these diseases limit individuals’ productivity and ability to be active contributors to their communities. This burden could largely be prevented through early screening and treatment, which are highly cost effective.
 (8)Since its inception in 2006, the Neglected Tropical Diseases Program at the United States Agency for International Development and its partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have delivered more than 1,600,000,000 treatments to more than 743,000,000 people.
 (9)Due to the support provided by the United States Agency for International Development and its partners, 140,000,000 people live in regions where they are no longer at risk of contracting lymphatic filariasis, and 65,000,000 people live in regions where they are no longer at risk of contracting trachoma.
 (10)Although the exact prevalence and burden of these diseases in the United States is unknown because of stigma and limited reporting, surveillance, and awareness, one study estimates that there are 12,000,000 individuals living with a neglected disease of poverty throughout the country. These diseases disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities living in poverty and in regions where water quality and sanitation are substandard.
 (11)The major neglected diseases of poverty in the United States that predominantly occur among those living in poverty are the following: Toxocariasis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, and Dengue Fever.
 (12)There is a lack of diagnostic and treatment programs, including for early diagnosis and treatment, for neglected diseases of poverty. These programs would be highly cost effective and would significantly reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality of these diseases.
 (13)Funding for research, preventive strategies, and the development of treatments and diagnostic tests for neglected diseases of poverty in the United States is limited.
 3.Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that there is a need to study the prevalence and incidence of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States, identify preventive methods to combat neglected diseases of poverty, conduct research that will lead to more treatments and diagnostic tests for neglected diseases of poverty, and supply health care providers, public health professionals, and affected individuals and communities with educational resources on neglected diseases of poverty.
 4.Definition of neglected diseases of povertyIn this Act, the term neglected diseases of poverty has the meaning given such term in section 399OO(e) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 5.
 5.Programs relating to neglected diseases of povertyTitle III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				WPrograms relating to neglected diseases of poverty in the United States
					399OO.Interagency Task Force on Neglected Diseases of Poverty in the United States
 (a)EstablishmentNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act, the Secretary shall establish an Interagency Task Force on Neglected Diseases of Poverty in the United States to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary and Congress to prevent, treat, and diagnose neglected diseases of poverty in the United States.
 (b)MembersThe task force shall be comprised of representatives of— (1)the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Assistant Secretary for Health and representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority;
 (2)the Department of State; (3)the United States Agency for International Development;
 (4)the Department of Agriculture; (5)the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
 (6)the Environmental Protection Agency; and (7)any other Federal agency that has jurisdiction over, or is affected by, neglected diseases of poverty policies and projects, as determined by the Secretary.
							(c)Initial report
 (1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act, the task force shall submit a report to the Secretary based on a review of relevant literature to identify gaps in efforts, and guide future efforts, to prevent, identify, and treat neglected diseases of poverty in the United States, particularly toxocariasis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, and Dengue Fever. The report shall include a summary of findings with respect to—
 (A)estimated prevalence of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States; (B)geographic distribution and major distribution routes of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States;
 (C)disparities with respect to the burden of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States;
 (D)risk factors for neglected diseases of poverty in the United States; (E)existing tools for surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States;
 (F)barriers to access to information and tools for surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States;
 (G)comorbidities associated with neglected diseases of poverty in the United States; (H)awareness among health care providers and public health professionals regarding neglected diseases of poverty in the United States;
 (I)public awareness of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States, particularly among high-risk groups;
 (J)the economic burden of neglected diseases of poverty in the United States; and (K)strategies and lessons learned from the United States Agency for International Development Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, particularly those that are most applicable to efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of poverty in the United States.
 (2)ConsultationIn developing the initial report under paragraph (1), the task force shall consult with appropriate external parties, including States, local communities, scientists, researchers, health care providers and public health professionals, and national and international nongovermental organizations.
 (d)DutiesThe task force shall— (1)review and evaluate the current actions and future plans of each applicable agency represented on the task force as described in subsection (b) to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of poverty in the United States;
 (2)identify current and potential areas of partnership and coordination between Federal agencies and develop a unified implementation plan to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of poverty in the United States;
 (3)make efforts to apply applicable strategies and lessons learned from the United States Agency for International Development Neglected Tropical Diseases Program when developing the implementation plan under paragraph (2);
 (4)establish specific goals within and across Federal agencies to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of poverty in the United States, including metrics to assess progress towards reaching those goals;
 (5)coordinate plans to communicate research and relevant accomplishments across Federal agencies and with States and local communities relating to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neglected diseases of poverty;
 (6)develop consensus guidelines for health care providers and public health professionals for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of toxocariasis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, Dengue Fever, and other neglected diseases of poverty;
 (7)biannually make recommendations to Congress on strategies for the development of affordable tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat neglected diseases of poverty, including drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines; and
 (8)in developing the guidelines and recommendations under paragraphs (6) and (7), consult with external parties, including States, local communities, scientists, researchers, health care providers and public health professionals, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and centers of excellence with expertise in neglected diseases of poverty, including the centers of excellence described in section 399OO–5.
 (e)Definition of neglected diseases of povertyIn this part, the term neglected diseases of poverty— (1)means chronic and disabling diseases that are caused by parasites, bacteria, and other pathogens and that primarily impact people living in extreme poverty; and
 (2)includes the following: (A)Chagas disease.
 (B)Cysticercosis. (C)Toxocariasis.
 (D)Toxoplasmosis. (E)Trichomoniasis.
 (F)Dengue Fever. (G)Other neglected tropical diseases, including those defined by the World Health Organization, such as the following:
 (i)Buruli ulcer. (ii)Chikungunya.
 (iii)Dracunculiasis. (iv)Echinococcosis.
 (v)Foodborne trematodiases. (vi)Human African trypanosomiasis.
 (vii)Leishmaniases. (viii)Leprosy.
 (ix)Lymphatic filariasis. (x)Mycetoma.
 (xi)Onchocerciasis. (xii)Rabies.
 (xiii)Schistosomiasis. (xiv)Soil-transmitted helminthiases.
 (xv)Taeniasis and neurocysticercosis. (xvi)Trachoma.
 (xvii)Yaws. 399OO–1.Surveillance regarding neglected diseases of poverty in the United States (a)In generalThe Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants to States to carry out activities relating to implementing a surveillance system to determine the prevalence, incidence, and distribution of neglected diseases of poverty, particularly those that most impact individuals in the United States, including toxocariasis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, and Dengue Fever.
 (b)ConsiderationsIn awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use the findings in the initial report of the Interagency Task Force on Neglected Diseases of Poverty in the United States under section 399OO(c) to identify and prioritize geographic locations and communities that have the highest estimated prevalence of, or have populations at greatest risk of acquiring, neglected diseases of poverty, particularly those described in subsection (a).
						399OO–2.Support for individuals at risk for neglected diseases of poverty
 (a)In generalThe Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants or cooperative agreements to Federally qualified health centers to implement and analyze the guidelines developed under section 399OO(d)(6).
 (b)Initial awardsThe Secretary shall— (1)using the findings in the initial report of the Interagency Task Force on Neglected Diseases of Poverty in the United States under section 399OO(c), identify the geographic locations in the United States that have the highest estimated prevalence of, or have populations at greatest risk of acquiring, neglected diseases of poverty, particularly those that most impact individuals in the United States, including toxocariasis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, and Dengue Fever; and
 (2)prioritize Federally qualified health centers located in such geographic locations in awarding initial grants or cooperative agreements under subsection (a).
 (c)Definition of federally qualified health centerIn this section, the term Federally qualified health center has the meaning given the term in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act. 399OO–3.Education of medical and public health personnel and the public regarding neglected diseases of poverty in the United StatesThe Secretary shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, professional organizations and societies, and such other public health officials as may be necessary, including the centers of excellence described in section 399OO–5, to—
 (1)develop and implement educational programs to increase the awareness of health care providers and public health professionals with respect to the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of neglected diseases of poverty and strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat such diseases; and
 (2)develop and implement educational programs to increase the awareness of the public with respect to the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of neglected diseases of poverty and strategies to prevent such diseases.
 399OO–4.Research and development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnosticsConsistent with the recommendations of the Interagency Task Force on Neglected Diseases of Poverty in the United States established under section 399OO, the Secretary shall, directly or through awards of grants or cooperative agreements to public or private entities, provide for the conduct of research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and studies, including late-stage and translational research, in the health sciences that are related to—
 (1)the development of affordable therapeutics, including vaccines, against neglected diseases of poverty; and
 (2)the development of affordable medical point-of-care diagnostics to detect neglected diseases of poverty.
						399OO–5.Neglected Diseases of Poverty Centers of Excellence
 (a)EstablishmentThe Secretary, acting jointly through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, may enter into cooperative agreements with, and make grants to, public or private nonprofit entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, or strengthening, and providing basic operating support for, one or more centers of excellence for research into, training in, and development of diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment methods for neglected diseases of poverty in the United States, including tools to support prevention.
 (b)EligibilityTo be eligible to receive a cooperative agreement or grant under subsection (a), an entity shall have a demonstrated record of research on neglected diseases of poverty.
 (c)CoordinationThe Secretary shall ensure that activities under this section are coordinated with similar activities of the Federal Government relating to neglected diseases of poverty, including the task force established under section 399OO.
 (d)Use of fundsA cooperative agreement or grant awarded under subsection (a) may be used for— (1)staffing, administrative, and other basic operating costs, including such patient care costs as are required for research;
 (2)clinical training, including training for allied health professionals, continuing education for health professionals and allied health professions personnel, and information programs for the public with respect to neglected diseases of poverty;
 (3)research and development programs, including the end-to-end research and development of new treatments, diagnostics, and vaccines;
 (4)epidemiological surveillance and transmission studies capabilities; and (5)health education programs to raise awareness and reduce stigma of neglected diseases of poverty among high-risk populations.
							(e)Period of Support; Additional Periods
 (1)In generalA cooperative agreement or grant under this section may be provided for a period of not more than 5 years.
 (2)ExtensionsThe period specified in paragraph (1) may be extended by the Secretary for additional periods of not more than 5 years if—
 (A)the operations of the center of excellence involved have been reviewed by an appropriate technical and scientific peer review group; and
 (B)such group has recommended to the Secretary that such period be extended. 399OO–6.Authorization of appropriationsTo carry out this part, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter..


115 HRES 451 EH: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 806) to facilitate efficient State implementation of ground-level ozone standards, and for other purposes.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-07-18
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 451
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

July 18, 2017

RESOLUTION
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 806) to facilitate efficient State implementation of ground-level ozone standards, and for other purposes.

That at any time after adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 806) to facilitate efficient State implementation of ground-level ozone standards, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115–26. That amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. All points of order against that amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived. No amendment to that amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be in order except those printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Each such amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such amendments are waived. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the amendment in the nature of a substitute made in order as original text. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.   Karen L. Haas,Clerk.


 HR 3979 ENR: Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act
U.S. House of Representatives

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.

™IB
One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of AmericaAt the Second SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and eighteen
H. R. 3979

AN ACT
To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer services, community partnership, and refuge education programs of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act. 2.Reauthorization of National Wildlife Refuge System volunteer services, community partnership, and refuge education programsSection 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f) is amended in subsection (g), by striking 2011 through 2014 and inserting 2018 through 2022.
 Speaker of the House of Representatives.Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.


113 HR 2749 IH: Veterans Education Transparency Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-07-19
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2749
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 19, 2013
			Mr. Larsen of
			 Washington (for himself and Mr. Young of
			 Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Veterans’
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
		  Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make certain records available to educational
		  institutions where veterans or persons receiving educational assistance under
		  the laws administered by the Secretary are enrolled, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Veterans Education Transparency
			 Act.
		2.Availability of
			 Department of Veterans Affairs records to educational institutions in which
			 veterans or persons receiving educational assistance under the laws
			 administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are enrolled
			(a)In
			 generalSubchapter II of
			 chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
			 following new section:

					3699.Availability
				of records to educational institutionsThe Secretary shall provide to any veteran
				or person who receives educational assistance under the laws administered by
				the Secretary the option of making the veteran’s or person’s relevant records
				maintained by the Secretary, including information about the amount of
				educational assistance to which the veteran or person is entitled, available
				through an Internet website to the educational institution that provides the
				course of education in which the veteran or person is enrolled. The Secretary
				shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that—
						(1)an educational
				institution to which such records are made available enters into an agreement
				with the Secretary under which the institution agrees that such records will
				only be made available for the purpose of counseling the veteran or person in
				making decisions related to the veteran’s or person’s education; and
						(2)no unauthorized
				person is given access to any record made available to an educational
				institution under this section, including by requiring the use of passwords and
				other appropriate mechanisms for restricting access to the records by
				unauthorized
				persons.
						.
			(b)Clerical
			 amendmentThe table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
			 is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to such subchapter the
			 following new item:

						3699. Availability of records to
				educational
				institutions.

					.