116 HR 2120 IH: Saving for the Future Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-04-08
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
116th CONGRESS1st Session
H. R. 2120
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 8, 2019
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mrs. McBath, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL
To establish a universal personal savings program, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Saving for the Future Act. 2.FindingsCongress finds as follows:
(1)Three out of 10 private-sector workers lack access to any workplace retirement plan, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report in March 2018. (2)A retirement study conducted by the Government Accountability Office found that 52 percent of households age 55-and-older have no retirement savings in a defined contribution plan or individual retirement account, and nearly 30 percent of households age 55-and-older have no retirement savings and no defined benefit plan.
(3)A 2015 report on the economic well-being of United States households conducted by the Federal Reserve found that 31 percent of non-retirees reportedly have no retirement savings or pension whatsoever, and that nearly one-half of non-retirees with self-directed retirement accounts are either not confident or slightly confident in their ability to make the right investment decisions when investing in such accounts. 3.Universal personal savings (a)In generalSubtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

8Universal Personal Savings
801.DefinitionsFor purposes of this part: (1)Applicable employerThe term applicable employer means an employer—
(A)with at least 10 full-time equivalent employees; and (B)that has employed at least 10 full-time equivalent employees for not less than 2 years.
(2)BoardThe term Board means the Federal Universal Personal Savings Investment Board established under section 803. (3)EmployeeThe term employee, unless specified otherwise, includes full-time and part-time employees of an applicable employer.
(4)Executive DirectorThe term Executive Director means the Executive Director of the UP Account Board appointed under section 803. (5)Full timeThe term full time, with respect to employment, means 40 hours per week.
(6)Full-time equivalent employeeThe term full-time equivalent employee means the sum of— (A)the number of employees working full time; and
(B)the full-time equivalent of the number of employees working part-time, as defined and calculated in the manner determined most appropriate by the Secretary. 802.Employer contribution requirements (a)Minimum employer contribution (1)In generalBeginning in the first full taxable year following the date of enactment of the Saving for the Future Act, each applicable employer shall contribute to a qualifying plan, on behalf of each employee that is not enrolled in an active, defined benefit pension plan sponsored by such employer, the applicable minimum amount described in paragraph (2).
(2)Minimum employer contribution
(A)Initial amountsFor the first year in which the requirements of paragraph (1) apply, and the 1 year immediately following such first year, the minimum amount an applicable employer is required to contribute for each full-time employee is $0.50 per hour worked by the employee. (B)Third and fourth yearsFor the 2 years immediately following the period during which subparagraph (A) applies, the minimum amount an applicable employer is required to contribute for each full-time employee is $.60 per hour worked by the employee.
(C)Subsequent yearsThe Secretary shall increase the amounts described in subparagraph (B) for the year immediately following the period during which subparagraph (B) applies, and every 3 years thereafter, by an amount proportional to growth in average nonsupervisory wages. (3)NoncomplianceIn the case of an applicable employer that is found to be in violation of the requirement under paragraph (1), such employer shall be required to make the contributions required under paragraph (1), plus interest, at an interest rate set by the Secretary through rulemaking.
(b)Qualifying plans
(1)In generalEach applicable employer shall provide a pension plan for all employees. (2)Types of plansThe pension plan required under paragraph (1)—
(A)
(i)in the case of an applicable employer with 100 or more full-time equivalent employees, shall be an employer plan, which may be a plan described in section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, defined benefit pension plan, or any other plan described in section 219(g)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (ii)in the case of an applicable employer with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent employees, shall be a plan described in subparagraph (A), a simple retirement account under section 408(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or an automatic payroll deduction individual retirement account or multiple employer plan, including any current or prospective State-established and -facilitated payroll deduction or automatic individual retirement account, or an UP Account described in section 804; or
(B)in the case of an applicable employer who does not provide an employer contribution but offers a State-established or -facilitated program described in subparagraph (A)(ii), such employer shall provide an UP Retirement Account to which the employer makes contributions, and any employee contributions shall be directed to the State plan. (3)Clarification of employer obligations with respect to certain employeesIn the case of an applicable employer that offers an UP Retirement Account plan and any other type of plan described in subparagraph (A)(i), (A)(ii), or (B), as applicable, of paragraph (2), to employees, with respect to employees for whom the employer is not required under this Act to offer participation in such other type of plan, the requirements of this part may be met by allowing such employees to participate in such other plan.
(c)Standard noticeThe board shall develop a standard notice that employers with fewer than 10 workers electing not to make contributions are required to provide to each employee upon hire, and annually thereafter. Such notice shall provide instructions on how to set up an account, make contributions, and claim the individual credit under section 25BB of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 803.UP Account Board (a)Establishment of BoardThere is established a Federal Universal Personal Savings Investment Board, an independent government agency for the purpose of overseeing UP Accounts.
(b)Membership
(1)Appointment of membersThe President shall appoint, by and with the consent of the Senate, 5 members to serve on the Board. Such members shall have substantial experience, training, and expertise in the management of financial investments and pension benefit plans. (2)Executive directorThe Board shall hire an Executive Director of the Board.
(3)TermsEach member shall serve a term of 5 years, except that, of the members first appointed, one shall serve a term of 1 year, one shall serve a term of 2 years, one shall serve a term of 3 years, one shall serve a term of 4 years, and one shall serve a term of 5 years. Each member of the Board may serve up to 2 consecutive terms. (c)FundingAdministrative expenses incurred to carry out this part shall be paid first out net earnings in the UP Account Fund.
804.UP Account Fund
(a)In generalThere is established in the Treasury of the United States an UP Account Fund. (b)FundsThe UP Account Fund shall consist of all amounts contributed by participants, and employees on behalf of participants, into UP Retirement Accounts and UP Savings Accounts, increased by the total net earnings from investments of sums in the UP Account Fund or reduced by the total net losses from investments of the UP Account Fund, and reduced by the total amount of payments made from the UP Account Fund (including payments for administrative expenses).
(c)Permissible uses of fundsThe sums in the UP Account Fund are appropriated and shall remain available without fiscal year limitation— (1)to invest in accordance with section 805(h);
(2)to pay benefits or purchase annuity contracts under this subchapter; and (3)to pay administrative expenses.
805.UP Retirement Accounts
(a)In generalThe Board shall establish UP Retirement Accounts that are portable, defined contribution pension plans. (b)Rollovers (1)DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection—
(A)the term eligible rollover distribution has the meaning given such term by section 402(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (B)the term qualified trust has the meaning given such term by section 402(c)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(2)RolloversA participant may contribute to the UP Retirement Account an eligible rollover that a qualified trust could accept under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. A contribution made under this subsection shall be made in the form described in section 401(a)(31) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In the case of an eligible rollover distribution, the maximum amount transferred to the Up Account Fund shall not exceed the amount which would otherwise have been included in the participant's gross income for Federal income tax purposes. (3)RegulationsThe Executive Director shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.
(c)AdministrationThe Board shall contract with one or more private investment firms to administer the UP Accounts. The Board shall contract with multiple private investment firms, as necessary to ensure that no single firm administers more than $500,000,000,000 in UP Account assets. (d)Individual eligibility (1)In generalAn employee is eligible to participate in an UP Retirement Account if—
(A)the employee's employer establishes an UP Retirement Account on the employee's behalf; or (B)the employee demonstrates to the Board that the employee works for a employer that is not an applicable employer.
(2)Maintenance of accountAn individual who becomes a participant in an UP Retirement Account as described in paragraph (1) may maintain such account and may continue to make individual contributions to such account, regardless of such individual's subsequent employment status, provided that the individual is not a participant in another plan described in section 802(b)(2). (e)Quarterly statementsThe Board shall provide participants with a quarterly statement explaining each participant's projected income in retirement under different distribution scenarios and identifying the total dollar amount paid in fees for the year.
(f)Employee and employer contributions
(1)Employee contributions
(A)In generalApplicable employers making contributions required under section 802 to an UP Retirement Account shall auto-enroll all employees in such an account with an employee contribution that is equal to 4 percent of the employee's wages, with the option for any such employee to elect a different employee contribution level or to opt out of such account at any time. (B)Auto-escalationEmployees making contributions to an UP Retirement Account shall have their contributions automatically escalated by half a percentage point at the conclusion of each full year during which such employer is so enrolled, until reaching the level of a 10 percent employee contribution. Any employee may opt out of such automatic escalation.
(C)Default elections in the case of changes in employmentIn the case of an employee who was enrolled in an UP Retirement Account through one employer and subsequently ceases to work for such employer, if the employee subsequently is employed by another applicable employer, the employee's default contribution level under this paragraph shall be the same level that it was on the last day of employment with the previous employer. (2)Employer contributions (A)In generalApplicable employers may contribute more to an employee's UP Retirement Account than is required under section 802, but may not contribute more than 1/2 the amount in effect under section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the taxable year.
(B)Default rulesAny employer matching requirements under this part shall apply to any employer contributions that are in addition to the minimum employer contribution. (C)Fiduciary dutiesAn applicable employer’s fiduciary duties with respect to an employee's UP Retirement Account extend only to the full and timely payment of contributions to their employees’ UP Retirement Accounts. For all other purposes, the members of the Board are the fiduciaries of such accounts.
(g)Participant accounts
(1)In generalThe Executive Director shall establish and maintain an account for each individual who makes contributions or for whom contributions are made under this section. (2)BalancesThe balance in a participant's account at any time is the excess of—
(A)the sum of— (i)all contributions made to the UP Retirement Account by the participant;
(ii)all contributions made to such Account for the benefit of the participant; and (iii)the total amount of the allocations made to and reductions made in the account pursuant to paragraph (3), over
(B)the amounts paid out of the UP Retirement Account with respect to such participant. (3)AdjustmentsPursuant to regulations prescribed by the Executive Director, the Executive Director shall allocate to each account an amount equal to a pro rata share of the net earnings and net losses from each investment of sums in the UP Account Fund attributable to sums credited to such account, reduced by an appropriate share of the administrative expenses paid out of the net earnings, as determined by the Executive Director.
(h)InvestmentsThe following investment rules shall apply with respect to an UP Retirement Account: (1)The Board shall make available a reasonable menu of investment products, including low-fee index funds, sufficient to provide participants with the opportunity to diversify their UP Retirement Accounts in order to minimize the risk of large losses.
(2)The default investment option for participants shall minimize fees, be diversified, and automatically reduce risk to the participant as the participant approaches retirement age. (3)UP Retirement Accounts shall allow participants to change or customize investment allocation.
(4)The board shall select investments solely in the interests of participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits and deferring reasonable expenses with the prevailing care, skill, prudence, and diligence that a prudent individual acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use. (i)Distributions (1)In generalThe Board shall ensure that investors are offered forms of distribution that include—
(A)monthly income for life for the participant or surviving spouse, if applicable; (B)monthly income until the normal or maximum Social Security retirement age for the participant or surviving spouse, if applicable; and
(C)automatic, regular withdrawals, under which a set percentage of initial capital is withdrawn each year, on a monthly basis. (2)Death of participantIn case of death of a participant, a lump sum shall be paid to designated beneficiary.
806.UP Savings Accounts
(a)In generalIn addition to a standard UP Retirement Account under section 805, a participant may maintain an UP Savings Account, established by the Board, and designed as safe, short- to medium-term savings vehicles. (b)Contributions; maximum balance (1)In generalParticipants may make contributions to their UP Savings Account until the account reaches the maximum balance amount described in paragraph (1). Any contributions a participant wishes to make after the participant's account reaches such maximum balance amount shall be credited to the participant's UP Retirement Account established under section 805. An UP Savings Account may grow past the maximum balance amount due to accumulation without penalty.
(2)Increased amountsThe Board shall establish the maximum balance amount for purposes of paragraph (1) as follows: (A)For the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of the Saving for the Future Act, the maximum balance amount shall be 2,500.
(B)For fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year described in subparagraph (A), and each fiscal year thereafter, the Board shall increase the maximum balance amount from the previous year, in increments of $100 that most closely reflects the average wage growth during the applicable 12-month period. (3)Default ruleAny contributions a participant makes pursuant to accounts established under this part shall be credited to the participant's UP Savings Account, until such has reached the maximum balance amount, unless the participant specifies otherwise. Once the maximum balance is reached, additional contributions will go to a participant's UP Retirement Account.
(c)InvestmentThe Board may invest contributions to UP Savings Account only in cash, money market funds, certificates of deposit, or government bonds. (d)WithdrawalsParticipants may withdraw amounts from their UP Savings Account when experiencing a specific financial situation that requires a non-routine use of money, as determined by the Board (in rules similar to the rules governing hardship distributions from a trust described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code). Such situations may include a major reduction in earnings, an on-the-job injury, disability, family or medical leave, a large medical bill, the down payment for a home, and the beginning of a training or educational experience. The Board shall determine the rules regarding such withdrawals, including allowable needs, and demonstration of the need, but shall not impose a withdrawal penalty or impose a repayment requirement. Loans to investors shall not be permitted.
(e)Other pension plansAny pension plan may offer a safe, short- to medium-term savings account with terms similar to the terms that apply to UP Savings Accounts described in this section. For purposes of this Act, any such account shall be considered part of the pension plan. 807.Tax treatment of UP Accounts (a)In generalFor purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986—
(1)the UP Account Fund shall be treated as a trust described in section 401(a) of such Code which is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; (2)any contribution to, or distribution from, the UP Account Fund shall be treated in the same manner as contributions to or distributions from such a trust; and
(3)subject to section 401(k)(4)(B) of such Code and any dollar limitation on the application of section 402(a)(8) of such Code, contributions to the UP Account Fund shall not be treated as distributed or made available to an employee or Member nor as a contribution made to the Fund by an employee or Member merely because the employee or Member has, under the provisions of this part, an election whether the contribution will be made to the UP Account Fund or received by the employee or Member in cash. (b)Nondiscrimination requirementsNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the UP Account Fund is not subject to the nondiscrimination requirements applicable to arrangements described in section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or to matching contributions (as described in section 401(m) of such Code), so long as it meets the requirements of this section.
(c)Rule of constructionSubsection (a) shall not be construed to provide that any amount of the employee's or Member's basic pay which is contributed to the UP Account Fund shall not be included in the term wages for the purposes of section 209 of the Social Security Act or section 3121(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 808.Qualified Roth contribution program (a)DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—
(1)the term qualified Roth contribution program means a program described in paragraph (1) of section 402A(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which meets the requirements of paragraph (2) of such section; and (2)the terms designated Roth contribution and elective deferral have the meanings given such terms in section 402A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(b)Authority To establishThe Executive Director shall by regulation provide for the inclusion in the UP Accounts of a qualified Roth contribution program, under such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe. (c)Required provisionsThe regulations under subsection (b) shall include—
(1)provisions under which an election to make designated Roth contributions may be made by any individual who is eligible to make contributions to an UP Account under section 805(d); and (2)any other provisions which may be necessary to carry out this section.
809.Survivor annuitiesThe rules on survivor annuities under subchapter IV of chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, that are applicable to the Thrift Savings Plan, shall apply to UP Accounts. The Executive Director shall promulgate regulations to provide for the application of such rules to UP Accounts, as appropriate.. (b)Clerical amendmentThe table of contents in section 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 734 the following new items:

Part 8—Universal Personal Savings
Sec. 801. Definitions.
Sec. 802. Employer contribution requirements.
Sec. 803. UP Account Board.
Sec. 804. UP Account Fund.
Sec. 805. UP Retirement Accounts.
Sec. 806. UP Savings Accounts.
Sec. 807. Tax treatment of UP Accounts.
Sec. 808. Qualified Roth contribution program.
Sec. 809. Survivor annuities..
4.Increase in credit for small employer pension plan startup costs
(a)In generalParagraph (1) of section 45E(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking $500 and inserting $2,000. (b)Eligible employersParagraph (1) of section 45E(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting , applied by substituting 250 for 100 after 408(p)(2)(C)(i).
(c)Penalty for noncompliant employersSubsection (c) of section 45E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:  (3)Employers failing to make required contributionsSuch term shall not include an employer subject to the requirement of section 802(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that fails, within the time prescribed by the Secretary, to make any required contribution under such section 802 for the taxable year or any of the 4 taxable years preceding such year..
(d)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 5.Credit for minimum employer contributions (a)In generalSubpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

45T.Credit for minimum employer contributions
(a)General ruleFor purposes of section 38, the minimum employer contribution credit determined under this section for any taxable year is an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the qualified retirement contributions paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year. (b)Applicable percentageFor purposes of subsection (a), the applicable percentage is—
(1)50 percent, in the case of contributions made with respect to not more than 15 employees of the employer (or the number of employees of the employer which is the equivalent of 15 full-time employees), and (2)25 percent, in the case of contributions made with respect to so many of the employees of the employer (or the equivalent of so many full-time employees) as exceeds 15 but does not exceed 30.
(c)Qualified retirement contributionsFor purposes of this section— (1)In generalThe term qualified retirement contributions means—
(A)contributions made by an employer as required under section 802 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and (B)contributions to a plan described in section 802(b)(2) of such Act made by an employer which is not subject to the requirement of section 802(a)(1) of such Act.
(2)Only required contribution amount taken into accountThe term qualified retirement contributions does not include any amount in excess of— (A)the amount determined under section 802(a)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act with respect to each employee of the employer, or
(B)the amount which would be so determined if the employer were subject to the requirement of section 802(a)(1) of such Act. (d)Employers excluded for failure To make contributionsSubsection (a) shall not apply to any employer which fails, within the time prescribed by the Secretary, to make any contribution required to be made by such employer under section 802 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 for the taxable year or any of the 4 taxable years preceding such year.
(e)Special rulesFor purposes of this section— (1)Aggregation rules, etcRules similar to the rules of section 45E(e) shall apply.
(2)Denial of double benefitNo credit shall be allowed under this section for any taxable year in which the credit under section 45E is allowed with respect to the taxpayer. (f)Credit made available to tax-Exempt eligible employers (1)In generalIn the case of a tax-exempt eligible employer, there shall be treated as a credit allowable under subpart C (and not allowable under this subpart) the lesser of—
(A)the amount of the credit determined under this section with respect to such employer, or (B)the amount of the payroll taxes of the employer during the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.
(2)Tax-exempt eligible employerFor purposes of this section, the term tax-exempt eligible employer means an eligible employer which is any organization described in section 501(c) which is exempt from taxation under section 501(a). (3)Payroll taxesFor purposes of this subsection—
(A)In generalThe term payroll taxes means— (i)amounts required to be withheld from the employees of the tax-exempt eligible employer under section 3401(a),
(ii)amounts required to be withheld from such employees under section 3101(b), and (iii)amounts of the taxes imposed on the tax-exempt eligible employer under section 3111(b).
(B)Special ruleA rule similar to the rule of section 24(d)(2)(C) shall apply for purposes of subparagraph (A).. (b)Credit To be made part of business creditSubsection (b) of section 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking plus at the end of paragraph (31), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (32) and inserting , plus, and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(33)in the case of an eligible employer, the minimum employer contribution credit determined under section 45T(a).. (c)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 45S the following new item:

Sec. 45T. Credit for minimum employer contributions..
(d)Transfers to Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust FundThere are hereby appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the Treasury by reason of the enactment of section 45T(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Amounts appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be transferred from the general fund at such times and in such manner as to replicate to the extent possible the transfers which would have occurred to such Trust Fund had such amendments not been enacted. (e)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
6.Additional credit for individuals making retirement contributions
(a)In generalSubpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 25B the following new section:  25BB.Additional credit for certain individuals making retirement contributions (a)Allowance of creditIn the case of an eligible individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for the taxable year an amount equal to 50 percent of so much of the qualified retirement contributions of the individual for the taxable year as do not exceed the base amount.
(b)Eligible individualFor purposes of this section, the term eligible individual means an individual whose employer does not provide a defined benefit plan (as defined in section 414(j)), defined contribution plan (as defined in section 414(i)), or participation in an UP Account under section 805 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or who is not employed, at the time the qualified retirement contributions are made. (c)Qualified retirement contributions, EtcFor purposes of this section—
(1)In generalThe term qualified retirement contributions means, with respect to any taxable year, any amounts paid in cash by an individual to— (A)an individual retirement plan, or
(B)an UP Account established under section 805 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,for the benefit of the individual. (2)Base amountThe base amount for any taxable year is an amount equal to the amount in effect under section 802(a)(3)(i) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 for such year.
(d)Special rules
(1)Investment in the contractRules similar to the rules of section 25B(f) shall apply for purposes of this section. (2)Coordination with saver's creditThe credit under this section and the credit under section 25B shall each be determined without regard to the other..
(b)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections for subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 25B the following new item:   Sec. 25BB. Additional credit for certain individuals making retirement contributions.. (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
7.Increase in highest individual income tax rate
(a)In generalEach of the tables contained in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) of section 1(j)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 37% in the last line and inserting 39.6%. (b)Conforming amendmentClause (iii) of section 1(j)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(1)by striking 37 percent and inserting 39.6 percent, (2)by striking 37-percent in subclause (II) and inserting 39.6-percent, and
(3)by striking 37-percent in the heading and inserting 39.6-percent. (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.
8.Increase in corporate income tax rate
(a)In generalSubsection (b) of section 11 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 21 percent and inserting 23 percent. (b)Effective dateThe amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.


117 HR 3167 IH: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the “George Henry White Post Office Building”.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-05-12
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3167IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 12, 2021Mr. Van Drew introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and ReformA BILLTo designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the George Henry White Post Office Building.1.George Henry White Post Office Building(a)DesignationThe facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, shall be known and designated as the George Henry White Post Office Building.(b)ReferencesAny reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the George Henry White Post Office Building.


114 HR 2367 IH: Opportunity for Military Academies and Readiness Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-05-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2367
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2015
Mr. Castro of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize aliens who are covered by certain immigration policies and who otherwise satisfy the requirements for admission to a military service academy to be appointed to and attend a military service academy and, upon graduation, to be appointed as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Opportunity for Military Academies and Readiness Act. 2.Authority to appoint certain aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States as cadets and midshipmen at military service academies (a)United States Military academySection 4346 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)
(1)An alien who, at the time of application for admission to the Academy, possesses an employment authorization document issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services under the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security policy dated June 15, 2012, and entitled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or the memorandum dated November 20, 2014, and entitled Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States and Children and with Respect to Certain Individuals Who are Parents of U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents and who otherwise satisfies the requirements for admission to the Academy, other than the United States citizenship requirement, may be— (A)appointed as a cadet and attend the Academy; and
(B)upon graduation, be appointed as a commissioned officer in the armed forces. (2)Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to alter the process prescribed by sections 328, 329, and 329A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439, 1440, 1440) by which a person may naturalize through service in the armed forces..
(b)Naval academySection 6958 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:  (e) (1)An alien who, at the time of application for admission to the Naval Academy, possesses an employment authorization document issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services under the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security policy dated June 15, 2012, and entitled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or the memorandum dated November 20, 2014, and entitled Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States and Children and with Respect to Certain Individuals Who are Parents of U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents and who otherwise satisfies the requirements for admission to the Academy, other than the United States citizenship requirement, may be—
(A)appointed as a midshipman and attend the Academy; and (B)upon graduation, be appointed as a commissioned officer in the armed forces.
(2)Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to alter the process prescribed by sections 328, 329, and 329A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439, 1440, 1440) by which a person may naturalize through service in the armed forces.. (c)Air force academySection 9346 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)
(1)An alien who, at the time of application for admission to the Academy, possesses an employment authorization document issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services under the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security policy dated June 15, 2012, and entitled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or the memorandum dated November 20, 2014, and entitled Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States and Children and with Respect to Certain Individuals Who are Parents of U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents and who otherwise satisfies the requirements for admission to the Academy, other than the United States citizenship requirement, may be— (A)appointed as a cadet and attend the Academy; and
(B)upon graduation, be appointed as a commissioned officer in the armed forces. (2)Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to alter the process prescribed by sections 328, 329, and 329A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439, 1440, 1440) by which a person may naturalize through service in the armed forces..


117 HR 4751 IH: Exposing Discrimination in Higher Education Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-07-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4751IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 28, 2021Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself, Mr. Pappas, Ms. Davids of Kansas, and Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborA BILLTo amend the Department of Education Organization Act and the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require publication of information relating to religious exemptions to the requirements of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Exposing Discrimination in Higher Education Act.2.Publication on website of the Department of EducationSection 203 of the Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3413) is amended by adding at the end the following:(d)The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights shall publish, on the Department’s website, in a prominent location, information regarding religious exemptions to the requirements of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) in accord with this paragraph. Such information shall include a list naming each institution of higher education that requests such an exemption, the name of each such institution that has received an exemption, and the nature and scope of that exemption (including each program or activity covered by the exemption and the personal characteristics or behaviors to which the exemption applies)..3.Publication on website of each institution of higher educationSection 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) is amended by adding at the end the following:(n)Disclosure of religious exemptions to title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972Each institution of higher education participating in any program under this title that requests, receives, or exercises or intends to exercise a religious exemption to the requirements of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) shall submit in writing to the Assistant Secretary a statement by the highest ranking official of the institution, identifying the provisions of part 106 of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations that conflict with a specific tenet of the religious organization and shall publish on its website, in a prominent location, the following:(1)Request letterEach letter submitted by the educational institution to the Department to request such an exemption.(2)Exemption letterEach letter from the Department to the educational institution that grants or denies such an exemption.(3)Notice of requestNotice that the educational institution has requested an exemption under section 901(a)(3) of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681(a)(3)).(4)Notice of exemptionIf applicable, notice that the educational institution has received an exemption under section 901(a)(3) of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681(a)(3)).(5)Covered personal characteristics or behaviorsA list of the personal characteristics or behaviors to which each requested or granted exemption applies.(6)Covered activities or programsA list of the activities or programs to which each exemption applies.(7)Statement of rightsThe statement Students continue to have rights under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Any student who experiences discrimination may contact the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education at _____ or _____., with the first blank space being filled with a link to the website of the Office for Civil Rights and the second blank space being filled with the telephone number of the Office for Civil Rights..


117 HJ 28 IH: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women.
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-02-26
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IA
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 28
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 26, 2021
Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York (for herself, Mr. Reed, Ms. Speier, Ms. Adams, Mrs. Axne, Mr. Bera, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Bourdeaux, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Cárdenas, Mr. Carson, Mr. Case, Ms. Chu, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Costa, Mr. Crow, Ms. Dean, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Evans, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Foster, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. García of Illinois, Ms. Haaland, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Jones, Mr. Keating, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Levin of California, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Manning, Ms. Matsui, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Meng, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Moulton, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Newman, Ms. Norton, Mr. O'Halleran, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Payne, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Quigley, Miss Rice of New York, Ms. Ross, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Sarbanes, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Schrader, Ms. Schrier, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Sherrill, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Spanberger, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Takano, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Torres of New York, Mrs. Trahan, Ms. Velázquez, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Wexton, and Ms. Williams of Georgia) submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women.

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:  — 1.Women shall have equal rights in the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
2.Congress and the several States shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. 3.This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification..


116 HRES 775 IH: Recognizing and honoring Smokey Bear’s 75 years of service to the United States and commitment to preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires and promoting forest health.
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-12-19
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 775IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 19, 2019Ms. McCollum (for herself, Mr. Joyce of Ohio, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Young, Ms. Haaland, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Fortenberry) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedRESOLUTIONRecognizing and honoring Smokey Bear’s 75 years of service to the United States and commitment to
			 preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires and promoting forest health.

 Whereas Smokey Bear has served the United States for 75 years, preventing wildfires and protecting the Nation’s forests, above and beyond the call of duty;
 Whereas the Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service advertising campaign in United States history;
 Whereas Smokey Bear was the first individual animal ever to be honored on a postage stamp and receives so much mail he has his own ZIP Code;
 Whereas Smokey Bear has worked diligently with the United States Forest Service to educate Americans of all ages and particularly America’s youth, the future stewards of our forests, about the need for vigilance regarding wildfires and forest health;
 Whereas Smokey Bear released videos for his 75th birthday that included celebrity voiceovers filling in for Smokey, all stating Smokey’s signature only you can prevent wildfires slogan and directing viewers back to Smokey Bear’s website to learn more about forest health;
 Whereas Smokey Bear’s website includes a Benefits of Fire section that describes fire as one of nature’s most essential agents of change that can trigger a rebirth of forests; Whereas Native Americans and indigenous people long used prescribed fires to manipulate and improve landscapes, maintain prairies, and preserve healthy ecosystems;
 Whereas while there are benefits to occasional natural fires under specific conditions, it is important to remember Smokey’s ABCs: Always Be Careful with fire;
 Whereas Smokey Bear’s commitment to educating the public about wildfires can be applied to the need to improve public awareness about the benefits of prescribed fires, and how they are one of the most effective tools in preventing wildfires and managing the intensity and spread of wildfires;
 Whereas Smokey Bear’s dedication to forest health can be applied to educating the public about the benefits of natural fires in maintaining healthy ecosystems dependent on periodic fires, supporting native vegetation, promoting wildlife diversity, and reducing excessive amounts of dead plant material;
 Whereas Smokey Bear’s message of vigilance can be applied to overall forest health and protection, including the management of invasive species, the effects of insect and disease infestations, the impacts of changing climates, water quality and quantity, and increasingly severe weather events; and
 Whereas the United States Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Advertising Council have provided extraordinary support and dedication to the purposes and efforts of Smokey Bear: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives— (1)recognizes and honors Smokey Bear’s 75 years of service to the United States;
 (2)expresses support for Smokey Bear’s commitment to preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires and promoting forest health; and
 (3)encourages the United States Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Advertising Council to explore ways Smokey Bear’s message can be modernized to reflect current science and differentiate between unwanted human-caused wildfires and beneficial natural and prescribed fires.


117 S1617 IS: Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act
U.S. Senate
2021-05-13
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1617IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 13, 2021Mr. Risch (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and EntrepreneurshipA BILLTo modify the requirements for the Administrator of the Small Business Administration relating to declaring a disaster in a rural area, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act.2.Disaster declaration in rural areas(a)In generalSection 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (15) the following:(16)Disaster declaration in rural areas(A)DefinitionsIn this paragraph—(i)the term rural area means an area with a population of less than 200,000 outside an urbanized area; and(ii)the term significant damage means, with respect to property, uninsured losses of not less than 40 percent of the estimated fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property, whichever is lower.(B)Disaster declarationFor the purpose of making loans under paragraph (1) or (2), the Administrator may declare a disaster in a rural area for which a major disaster was declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) if—(i)the Governor of the State in which the rural area is located requests such a declaration; and(ii)any home, small business concern, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative has incurred significant damage in the rural area.(C)SBA reportNot later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every year thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on, with respect to the 1-year period preceding submission of the report—(i)any economic injury that resulted from a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) in a rural area; (ii)each request for assistance made by the Governor of a State under subparagraph (B)(i) and the response of the Administrator, including the timeline for each response; and(iii)any regulatory changes that will impact the ability of communities in rural areas to obtain disaster assistance under this subsection..(b)RegulationsNot later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall issue regulations to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a).(c)GAO report(1)Definition of rural areaIn this subsection, the term rural area means an area with a population of less than 200,000 outside an urbanized area.(2)ReportNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on—(A)any unique challenges that communities in rural areas face compared to communities in urbanized areas when seeking to obtain disaster assistance under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)); and(B)legislative recommendations for improving access to disaster assistance for communities in rural areas.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 870
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 3, 2011
			Mr. Tester introduced
			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Environment and Public
			 Works

		A BILL
		To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to
		  modify oil and hazardous substance liability, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Pollution Accountability Act of
			 2011.
		2.Oil and hazardous
			 substance liabilitySection
			 311(b)(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(7)) is
			 amended—
			(1)in subparagraph
			 (A), by inserting , whichever amount is higher before the period
			 at the end; and
			(2)in subparagraph
			 (D), by inserting , whichever amount is higher before the period
			 at the end.


116 HR 4868 IH: Stop UN Support for Assad Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-10-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4868IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 28, 2019Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, and Mr. Chabot) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsA BILLTo certify that United States assistance to the United Nations for humanitarian programs in the
			 Syrian Arab Republic is not misdirected, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Stop UN Support for Assad Act of 2019. 2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
 (1)The United States, which has been the biggest donor to the United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Response in Syria, has provided more than $6,000,000,000 for UN Syria programming since 2011, including over $435,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 alone.
 (2)During the past eight years of conflict, the Assad regime has repeatedly weaponized access to United Nations aid in prolonged and unlawful sieges of civilians as part of a widespread starve or surrender campaign, with the United Nations estimating 975,000 Syrians under siege at the peak of this strategy.
 (3)The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported repeated failures to deliver aid to the hardest-hit areas due to such obstructions by the Assad regime.
 (4)On February 12, 2018, former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford wrote of UN aid in Syria that it is clear the aid is not neutral and is being used as a weapon by the Syrian government.. (5)The United Nations continues to procure goods and services from several entities that have close ties to the Assad regime, despite their role in supporting the Assad regime’s gross human rights violations and international crimes—including torture, sexual violence, the targeting of medical facilities, weaponized mass starvation, enforced disappearance, and forced displacement—for which the United Nations itself has found the Assad regime culpable.
 (6)A 2016 study of the UN Report of Procurement showed that UN operations in Syria delivered $4 million to Syria’s state-owned fuel industry, $5 million to blood banks operated by the Syrian Arab Army for the benefit of its troops, and $8.5 million to charities co-opted by members of the Assad family.
 (7)International NGOs working with the United Nations are forced to select local partners, many of which are controlled by the Assad family and inner circle, from a government-approved list, therefore allowing these actors to profit from humanitarian relief efforts and perpetuate the conflict, international crimes, and human rights violations.
 (8)The Assad regime compels the United Nations to house its 150 international staff in the Four Seasons Hotel Damascus where, since 2016, the United Nations has spent more than $26,000 a night, equalling nearly $10 million a year.
 (9)On June 11, 2019, the United States Treasury Department sanctioned the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus for its role in fueling an illicit network benefitting the Assad regime, and also sanctioned its owner Samer Foz a businessman who is directly supporting the murderous Assad regime and building luxury developments on land stolen from those fleeing his brutality, according to U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Sigal Mandelker; the European Union likewise sanctioned Foz for funding the Military Security Shield Forces, a pro-government militia responsible for severe human rights abuses.
 (10)United Nation agencies and international NGOs are required to purchase mobile phones from Syriatel, a company owned by Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of Bashar al-Assad who is sanctioned for corruption and whose involvement in human rights abuses in Syria is well documented.
 (11)The Assad regime has regularly siphoned humanitarian funds for the war effort and bypassed international sanctions through exploiting humanitarian exemptions.
 (12)On July 15, 2019, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Middle East Director Amin Awad recognized in an interview with The National that the United Nations has no procedure for assessing ownership and partnerships of suppliers it uses for procurement in Syria: I do not have a mechanism where we comb every single contract to see do you have one, 10 or 90 percent connection with the regime or not..
 (13)On June 28, 2019, Human Rights Watch published a comprehensive report with the following conclusion: While seemingly benign, the Syrian government’s aid and reconstruction policies are being used to punish perceived opponents and reward its supporters. … The Syrian government’s aid framework undermines human rights, and donors need to ensure they are not complicit … ..
 3.Statement of policyIt is the policy of the United States that— (1)the delivery of assistance funded by the United States through the United Nations must meet reasonable expectations that aid reaches its intended recipients;
 (2)programming provided through the United Nations based on United States funding should be determined according to greatest need, not only greatest access;
 (3)United States assistance to Syria should not be manipulated for political or financial gain of any party to the conflict, especially those most responsible for compounding the suffering of Syrian civilians, including the Assad regime, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, any entities owned or controlled thereof, or non-state actors involved in international crimes and human rights abuses;
 (4)no United States assistance should be given directly or indirectly to the Assad regime in Syria, including through organs or subsidiaries of the United Nations;
 (5)the United States should support all efforts by the United Nations to establish an independent mechanism to vet procurement contracts in Syrian government-held areas, and such a mechanism must—
 (A)ensure no contracts are entered into with the Assad regime or its affiliates; (B)develop and implement enhanced human rights due diligence practices, including conducting quarterly human rights impact assessments that review how United Nations aid is disbursed and how such aid flows through its suppliers and local partners in Syria; and
 (C)make certain that the findings of the human rights impact assessments are integrated into all levels of United Nations operations, monitor the effectiveness of such assessments on such operations, and report how human rights impacts are being addressed and mitigated;
 (6)the United Nations procurement operations throughout Syria should abide by its own United Nations Supplier Code of Conduct, which states that suppliers to the United Nations must ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses; and
 (7)the United States will continue providing humanitarian assistance to Syria while also continuing its efforts to facilitate a negotiated political transition from the Assad regime, in accordance with its commitment in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.
			4.Certification
 (a)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees whether United Nations agency programming, including any program or project, in Syria funded in whole or in part by the United States—
 (1)is delivered impartially, without hindrance, to the areas of greatest need; (2)does not directly materially support the Syrian government or entities owned or controlled by the Syrian government, Syrian government officials, their immediate families, or entities under their direction;
 (3)does not directly materially support associated forces of the Syrian government or entities under their direction;
 (4)adheres to the United Nations Supplier Code of Conduct, which states that the United Nations must not support, directly or indirectly, other entities and individuals involved in human rights abuses, and which requires United Nations agencies to secure guarantees from suppliers that they are not complicit in human rights abuses; and
 (5)is vetted by an independent mechanism that reviews contract procurement in Syrian government-held areas, as described in section 3(5).
 (b)Funding limitation and redirectionIf the Secretary of State makes a certification described in subsection (a) in the negative— (1)no Federal department or agency may provide any funding, directly or indirectly, to any United Nations agency programming, including any program or project, in Syria that fails to meet the criteria of the certification specified in subsection (a); and
 (2)amounts made available to the Secretary of State that are withheld from United Nations agency programming, including any program or project, in Syria in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be made available to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance for providing assistance to populations in Syria in need.
 (c)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Appropriate congressional committeesThe term appropriate congressional committees means—
 (A)the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
 (B)the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (2)Associated forcesThe term associated forces includes forces of the Russian government, the Iranian government, Iranian-backed proxy militias, and Hezbollah.


		II

		109th CONGRESS

		1st Session

		S. 1909

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			October 24, 2005

			Mr. Burns introduced the

			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the

			 Committee on

			 Finance

		A BILL

		To improve the provision of telehealth services under the

		  Medicare Program, to provide grants for the development of telehealth networks,

		  and for other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of

			 contents

			(a)Short

			 titleThis Act may be cited as the Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of

			 2005.

			(b)Table of

			 contentsThe table of contents of this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

					TITLE I—Medicare Program

					Sec. 101. Expanding access to telehealth services to all

				areas.

					Sec. 102. Increase in number of types of originating sites;

				clarification.

					Sec. 103. Expansion of use of store-and-forward

				technology.

					Sec. 104. Expansion of practitioners eligible to furnish

				telehealth services.

					Sec. 105. Expansion of covered telehealth services.

					Sec. 106. Facilitating the provision of telehealth services

				across State lines.

					Sec. 107. Effective Date.

					TITLE II—HRSA grant program

					Sec. 201. Grant program for the development of telehealth

				networks.

					Sec. 202. Reauthorization of telehealth network and telehealth

				resource centers grant programs.

			IMedicare

			 Program

			101.Expanding

			 access to telehealth services to all areasSection 1834(m)(4)(C)(i) of the

			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395m(m)(4)(C)(i)) is amended by striking and only if such site is

			 located and all that follows and inserting without regard to the

			 geographic area where the site is located..

			102.Increase in

			 number of types of originating sites; clarification

				(a)IncreaseSection

			 1834(m)(4)(C)(ii) of the Social Security

			 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end

			 the following new subclauses:

						(VI)A skilled

				nursing facility (as defined in section 1819(a)).

						(VII)A renal

				dialysis facility.

						(VIII)A county

				mental health clinic or other publicly funded mental health

				facility.

						.

				(b)Clarification

			 of intent of the term originating siteSuch section is further

			 amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

						(5)ConstructionIn

				applying the term originating site under this subsection, the

				Secretary shall apply the term only for the purpose of determining whether a

				site is eligible to receive a facility fee. Nothing in the application of that

				term under this subsection shall be construed as affecting the ability of an

				eligible practitioner to submit claims for telehealth services that are

				provided to other sites that have telehealth systems and

				capabilities.

						.

				103.Expansion of

			 use of store-and-forward technologyThe second sentence of section 1834(m)(1) of

			 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395m(m)(1)) is amended to read as follows: For purposes of the

			 preceding sentence, in the case of any medicare demonstration program conducted

			 by the Secretary, any disease management program under this title, or any site

			 determined appropriate by the Secretary, the term telecommunications

			 system includes store-and-forward technologies that provide for the

			 asynchronous transmission of health care information in single or multimedia

			 formats..

			104.Expansion of

			 practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services

				Section 1834(m)

			 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395m(m)) is amended—

					(1)in paragraph (1),

			 by striking (as defined in section 1861(r)) or a practitioner (described

			 in section 1842(b)(18)(C)) and inserting or a

			 practitioner; and

					(2)by striking

			 paragraph (4)(E) and inserting the following new subparagraph:

							(E)PractitionerThe

				term practitioner means—

								(i)a

				practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C);

								(ii)a physical

				therapist (as described in section 1861(p));

								(iii)an occupational

				therapist (as so described);

								(iv)a qualified

				speech-language pathologist (as defined in section 1861(ll)(3)(A));

								(v)a certified

				provider (as described in section 1861(qq)(2)(A)); and

								(vi)any other

				individual or entity determined appropriate by the

				Secretary.

								.

					105.Expansion of

			 covered telehealth servicesSection 1834(m)(4)(F)(i) of the

			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395m(m)(4)(F)(i)) is amended to read as follows:

					(i)In

				generalThe term telehealth service means—

						(I)any professional

				service (identified as of July 1, 2000, by HCPCS codes approved for

				face-to-face care, and as subsequently modified by the Secretary); and

						(II)any additional

				service specified by the

				Secretary.

						.

			106.Facilitating

			 the provision of telehealth services across State lines

				(a)In

			 generalFor purposes of expediting the provision of telehealth

			 services, for which payment is made under the medicare program, across State

			 lines, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in consultation with

			 representatives of States, physicians, health care practitioners, and patient

			 advocates, encourage and facilitate the adoption of provisions allowing for

			 multistate practitioner licensure across State lines.

				(b)DefinitionsIn

			 subsection (a):

					(1)Telehealth

			 serviceThe term telehealth service has the meaning

			 given that term in subparagraph (F) of section 1834(m)(4) of the

			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

			 1395m(m)(4)), as amended by this title.

					(2)Physician,

			 practitionerThe terms physician and

			 practitioner have the meaning given those terms in subparagraphs

			 (D) and (E), respectively, of such section, as so amended.

					(3)Medicare

			 programThe term medicare program means the

			 program of health insurance administered by the Secretary of Health and Human

			 Services under title XVIII of the Social Security

			 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).

					107.Effective

			 DateThe amendments made by

			 sections 101 through 105 shall apply to services furnished on or after the date

			 that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

			IIHRSA grant

			 program

			201.Grant program

			 for the development of telehealth networks

				(a)In

			 generalThe Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this

			 section referred to as the Secretary), acting through the

			 Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (of the Health

			 Resources and Services Administration), shall make grants to eligible entities

			 (as described in subsection (b)(2)) for the purpose of expanding access to

			 health care services for individuals in rural areas, frontier areas, and urban

			 medically underserved areas through the use of telehealth.

				(b)Eligible

			 entities

					(1)ApplicationTo

			 be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity described

			 in paragraph (2) shall, in consultation with the State office of rural health

			 or other appropriate State entity, prepare and submit to the Secretary an

			 application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as

			 the Secretary may require, including the following:

						(A)A description of

			 the anticipated need for the grant.

						(B)A description of

			 the activities which the entity intends to carry out using amounts provided

			 under the grant.

						(C)A plan for

			 continuing the project after Federal support under this section is

			 ended.

						(D)A description of

			 the manner in which the activities funded under the grant will meet health care

			 needs of underserved rural populations within the State.

						(E)A description of

			 how the local community or region to be served by the network or proposed

			 network will be involved in the development and ongoing operations of the

			 network.

						(F)The source and

			 amount of non-Federal funds the entity would pledge for the project.

						(G)A showing of the

			 long-term viability of the project and evidence of health care provider

			 commitment to the network.

						The

			 application should demonstrate the manner in which the project will promote the

			 integration of telehealth in the community so as to avoid redundancy of

			 technology and achieve economies of scale.(2)Eligible

			 entitiesAn eligible entity described in this paragraph is a

			 hospital or other health care provider in a health care network of

			 community-based health care providers that includes at least two of the

			 organizations described in subparagraph (A) and one of the institutions and

			 entities described in subparagraph (B) if the institution or entity is able to

			 demonstrate use of the network for purposes of education or economic

			 development (as required by the Secretary).

						(A)The organizations

			 described in this subparagraph are the following:

							(i)Community or

			 migrant health centers.

							(ii)Local health

			 departments.

							(iii)Nonprofit

			 hospitals.

							(iv)Private practice

			 health professionals, including community and rural health clinics.

							(v)Other publicly

			 funded health or social services agencies.

							(vi)Skilled nursing

			 facilities.

							(vii)County mental

			 health and other publicly funded mental health facilities.

							(viii)Providers of

			 home health services.

							(ix)Renal dialysis

			 facilities.

							(B)The institutions

			 and entities described in this subparagraph are the following:

							(i)A

			 public school.

							(ii)A

			 public library.

							(iii)A

			 university or college.

							(iv)A

			 local government entity.

							(v)A

			 local health entity.

							(vi)A

			 health-related nonprofit foundation.

							(vii)An academic

			 health center.

							An eligible

			 entity may include for-profit entities so long as the recipient of the grant is

			 a not-for-profit entity.(c)PreferenceThe

			 Secretary shall establish procedures to prioritize financial assistance under

			 this section based upon the following considerations:

					(1)The applicant is

			 a health care provider in a health care network or a health care provider that

			 proposes to form such a network that furnishes or proposes to furnish services

			 in a medically underserved area, health professional shortage area, or mental

			 health professional shortage area.

					(2)The applicant is

			 able to demonstrate broad geographic coverage in the rural or medically

			 underserved areas of the State, or States, in which the applicant is

			 located.

					(3)The applicant

			 proposes to use Federal funds to develop plans for, or to establish, telehealth

			 systems that will link rural hospitals and rural health care providers to other

			 hospitals, health care providers, and patients.

					(4)The applicant

			 will use the amounts provided for a range of health care applications and to

			 promote greater efficiency in the use of health care resources.

					(5)The applicant is

			 able to demonstrate the long-term viability of projects through cost

			 participation (cash or in-kind).

					(6)The applicant is

			 able to demonstrate financial, institutional, and community support for the

			 long-term viability of the network.

					(7)The applicant is

			 able to provide a detailed plan for coordinating system use by eligible

			 entities so that health care services are given a priority over non-clinical

			 uses.

					(d)Maximum amount

			 of assistance to individual recipientsThe Secretary shall

			 establish, by regulation, the terms and conditions of the grant and the maximum

			 amount of a grant award to be made available to an individual recipient for

			 each fiscal year under this section. The Secretary shall cause to have

			 published in the Federal Register or the HRSA Preview notice of

			 the terms and conditions of a grant under this section and the maximum amount

			 of such a grant for a fiscal year.

				(e)Use of

			 amountsThe recipient of a grant under this section may use sums

			 received under such grant for the acquisition of telehealth equipment and

			 modifications or improvements of telecommunications facilities including the

			 following:

					(1)The development

			 and acquisition through lease or purchase of computer hardware and software,

			 audio and video equipment, computer network equipment, interactive equipment,

			 data terminal equipment, and other facilities and equipment that would further

			 the purposes of this section.

					(2)The provision of

			 technical assistance and instruction for the development and use of such

			 programming equipment or facilities.

					(3)The development

			 and acquisition of instructional programming.

					(4)Demonstration

			 projects for teaching or training medical students, residents, and other health

			 profession students in rural or medically underserved training sites about the

			 application of telehealth.

					(5)The provision of

			 telenursing services designed to enhance care coordination and promote patient

			 self-management skills.

					(6)The provision of

			 services designed to promote patient understanding and adherence to national

			 guidelines for common chronic diseases, such as congestive heart failure or

			 diabetes.

					(7)Transmission

			 costs, maintenance of equipment, and compensation of specialists and referring

			 health care providers, when no other form of reimbursement is available.

					(8)Development of

			 projects to use telehealth to facilitate collaboration between health care

			 providers.

					(9)Electronic

			 archival of patient records.

					(10)Collection and

			 analysis of usage statistics and data that can be used to document the

			 cost-effectiveness of the telehealth services.

					(11)Such other uses

			 that are consistent with achieving the purposes of this section as approved by

			 the Secretary.

					(f)Prohibited

			 usesSums received under a grant under this section may not be

			 used for any of the following:

					(1)To acquire real

			 property.

					(2)To purchase or

			 lease equipment to the extent the expenditures would exceed more than 40

			 percent of the total grant funds.

					(3)To purchase or

			 install transmission equipment off the premises of the telehealth site and any

			 transmission costs not directly related to the grant.

					(4)For construction,

			 except that such funds may be expended for minor renovations relating to the

			 installation of equipment.

					(5)Expenditures for

			 indirect costs (as determined by the Secretary) to the extent the expenditures

			 would exceed more than 15 percent of the total grant.

					(g)Administration

					(1)NonduplicationThe

			 Secretary shall ensure that facilities constructed using grants provided under

			 this section do not duplicate adequately established telehealth

			 networks.

					(2)Coordination

			 with other agenciesThe Secretary shall coordinate, to the extent

			 practicable, with other Federal and State agencies and not-for-profit

			 organizations operating similar grant programs to pool resources for funding

			 meritorious proposals.

					(3)Informational

			 effortsThe Secretary shall establish and implement procedures to

			 carry out outreach activities to advise potential end users located in rural

			 and medically underserved areas of each State about the program authorized by

			 this section.

					(h)Prompt

			 implementationThe Secretary shall take such actions as are

			 necessary to carry out the grant program as expeditiously as possible.

				(i)Authorization

			 of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to

			 carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as may

			 be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2012.

				202.Reauthorization

			 of telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant

			 programsSubsection (s) of

			 section 330I of the Public Health Service

			 Act (42 U.S.C. 254c–14) is amended—

				(1)in paragraph

			 (1)—

					(A)by striking

			 and before such sums; and

					(B)by inserting

			 , $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and such sums as may be necessary

			 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 before the semicolon at the

			 end; and

					(2)in paragraph

			 (2)—

					(A)by striking

			 and before such sums; and

					(B)by inserting

			 , $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and such sums as may be necessary

			 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 before the period at the

			 end.


116 S2271 IS: Advancing Infrastructure Development in Appalachia Act
U.S. Senate
2019-07-25
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
		116th CONGRESS1st Session
		S. 2271
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			July 25, 2019
			Mrs. Capito (for herself and Mr. McConnell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

		A BILL
		To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish a program to improve infrastructure development
			 in Appalachia, and for other purposes.

		1.Short title
 This Act may be cited as the Advancing Infrastructure Development in Appalachia Act  or the AID in Appalachia Act.
		2.Balance exchanges for infrastructure program
 (a)In generalChapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:  171.Balance exchanges for infrastructure program (a)DefinitionsIn this section:
 (1)Administratively allocatedThe term administratively allocated means the allocation by the Secretary of budget authority for a project under the TIFIA program that occurs when—
 (A)a potential applicant has been invited into the creditworthiness phase for a project under the TIFIA program; or
 (B)the project is subject to a master credit agreement (as defined in section 601(a)), in accordance with section 602(b)(2).
 (2)Appalachian stateThe term Appalachian State means a State that contains 1 or more counties in the Appalachian region (as defined in section 14102(a) of title 40).
 (3)ProgramThe term program means the Balance Exchanges for Infrastructure Program established under subsection (b). (4)TIFIA carryover balance (A)In generalThe term TIFIA carryover balance means the amounts made available for the TIFIA program for previous fiscal years that are unobligated and have not been administratively allocated.
 (B)InclusionThe term TIFIA carryover balance includes— (i)the applicable amount of contract authority for the amounts described in subparagraph (A); and
 (ii)the equivalent amount of obligation limitation for the fiscal year in which the Secretary makes a transfer under subsection (f)(2).
 (5)TIFIA programThe term TIFIA program has the meaning given the term in section 601(a). (b)EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Balance Exchanges for Infrastructure Program, in accordance with this section to provide flexibility for the Secretary and States to improve highway infrastructure.
						(c)Offer To fund projects or exchange funds
 (1)SolicitationFor each fiscal year for which an amount is reserved under subsection (f)(1), the Secretary shall— (A)not later than December 1 of that fiscal year—
 (i)solicit requests from Appalachian States to return amounts under subsection (d)(1)(A); and (ii)solicit applications from Appalachian States for grants under subsection (e); and
 (B)require that, not later than 60 days after the date of the solicitations under subparagraph (A), each Appalachian State that elects to participate in the program shall submit to the Secretary either—
 (i)a request that describes the amount that the Appalachian State requests to return under subsection (d)(1)(A); or
 (ii)an application for a grant under subsection (e). (d)Exchange agreements (1)In generalThe Secretary shall enter into an agreement with each Appalachian State that submits a request under subsection (c)(1)(A)(i) under which—
 (A)the Appalachian State shall return to the Secretary all, or at the discretion of the Appalachian State, a portion of, the unobligated amounts from the Highway Trust Fund (including the applicable amount of contract authority and an equal amount of special no-year obligation limitation associated with that contract authority) apportioned to the Appalachian State for the Appalachian development highway system under section 14501 of title 40 (but not including any amounts made available by an appropriations Act without an initial authorization); and
 (B)the Secretary shall transfer to the Appalachian State, from amounts transferred to the program under subsection (f)(2) for that fiscal year, an amount (including the applicable amount of contract authority and an equal amount of annual obligation limitation) equal to the amount that the Appalachian State returned under subparagraph (A) that shall be used to carry out projects described in paragraph (3).
 (2)State limitationThe amount of contract authority returned by an Appalachian State under paragraph (1)(A) may not exceed the amount of the special no-year obligation limitation available to the Appalachian State prior to the return of the special no-year obligation limitation under that paragraph.
							(3)Eligible projects
 (A)In generalA project eligible to be carried out using funds transferred to an Appalachian State under paragraph (1)(B) is a project described in subsections (b) and (c) of section 133.
 (B)Federal shareThe Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using funds transferred to an Appalachian State under paragraph (1)(B) shall be up to 100 percent, at the discretion of the Appalachian State.
 (C)Application of section 133Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, section 133 shall not apply to a project carried out using funds transferred to an Appalachian State under paragraph (1)(B).
 (4)Total limitationFor each fiscal year, the total amount exchanged under paragraph (1) shall not exceed the amount available to be transferred to the program under subsection (f).
 (5)Amounts exchangedFor each fiscal year, if the total amount requested by all Appalachian States to return under paragraph (1)(A) is greater than the amount described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall exchange amounts under paragraph (1) based on the proportion that—
 (A)the amount requested to be returned for the fiscal year by the Appalachian State; bears to (B)the amount requested to be returned for the fiscal year by all Appalachian States.
								(e)Appalachian development highway system corridor grants
 (1)In generalUsing amounts returned to the Secretary under subsection (d)(1)(A), the Secretary shall provide grants of contract authority, to remain available until expended, and subject to special no-year obligation limitation, on a competitive basis to Appalachian States for eligible projects described in paragraph (2).
 (2)Eligible projectA project eligible to be carried out with a grant under this subsection is a project that is— (A)eligible under section 14501 of title 40 as of the date of enactment of this section; and
 (B)reasonably expected to begin construction by not later than 2 years after the date of obligation of funds provided under this subsection for the project.
 (3)ApplicationTo be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an Appalachian State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
 (4)Federal shareThe Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant provided under this subsection shall be up to 100 percent, at the discretion of the Appalachian State.
 (5)LimitationAn Appalachian State that enters into an agreement to exchange funds under subsection (d) for any fiscal year shall not be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection.
							(f)Transfer from TIFIA program
 (1)In generalOn October 1 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve, for the purpose of funding transfers under paragraph (2) until the transfers are completed, the amount of TIFIA carryover balance that exceeds the amount available to carry out the TIFIA program for that fiscal year.
 (2)TransfersFor each fiscal year, not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the responses to the solicitations under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall transfer from the TIFIA program to the program an amount of contract authority and equal amount of obligation limitation that is equal to the lesser of—
 (A)the total amount requested by all Appalachian States for the fiscal year under subsection (c)(1)(B)(i);
 (B)the total amount requested by all Appalachian States for grants under subsection (c)(1)(B)(ii); and (C)the amount reserved under paragraph (1)..
 (b)Clerical amendmentThe analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 170 the following:
				171. Balance exchanges for infrastructure program..


114 HR 3833 IH: To require a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram.
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-10-26
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3833
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			October 26, 2015
			Ms. Wilson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Select Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
			 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

		A BILL
		To require a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram.

		1.Regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram
			(a)Strategy required
 (1)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 5-year strategy to help enable the Government of Nigeria, members of the Multinational Joint Task Force to Combat Boko Haram (MNJTF) authorized by the African Union, and relevant partners to counter the regional threat of Boko Haram and assist the Government of Nigeria and its neighbors to accept and address legitimate grievances of vulnerable populations in areas affected by Boko Haram.
 (2)ElementsAt a minimum, the strategy shall address the following elements: (A)Enhance, pursuant to existing authorities and restrictions, the institutional capacity, including military capabilities, of the Government of Nigeria and partner nations in the region, as appropriate, to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram.
 (B)Provide humanitarian support to civilian populations impacted by Boko Haram’s activity. (C)Specific activities through which the United States Government intends to improve and enhance the capacity of MNJTF member nations to investigate and prosecute human rights abuses by security forces and promote respect for the rule of law within the military.
 (D)A means for assisting Nigeria, and as appropriate, MNJTF member nations, to counter violent extremism, including efforts to address underlying societal factors shown to contribute to the ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and recruit individuals.
 (E)A plan to strengthen and promote the rule of law, including by improving the capacity of the civilian police and judicial system in Nigeria, enhancing public safety, and responding to crime (including gender-based violence), while respecting human rights and strengthening accountability measures, including measures to prevent corruption.
 (F)Strengthen the long-term capacity of the Government of Nigeria to enhance security for schools such that children are safer and girls seeking an education are better protected, and to combat gender-based violence and gender inequality.
 (G)Identify and develop mechanisms for coordinating the implementation of the strategy across the interagency and with the Government of Nigeria, regional partners, and other relevant foreign partners.
 (H)Identify the resources required to achieve the strategy’s objectives. (b)AssessmentThe Director of National Intelligence shall submit, to the appropriate committees of Congress, an assessment regarding—
 (1)the willingness and capability of the Government of Nigeria and regional partners to implement the strategy developed under subsection (a), including the capability gaps, if any, of the Government and military forces of Nigeria that would need to be addressed to enable the Government of Nigeria and the governments of its partner countries in the region—
 (A)to counter the threat of Boko Haram; and (B)to address the legitimate grievances of vulnerable populations in areas affected by Boko Haram; and
 (2)significant United States intelligence gaps concerning Boko Haram or on the willingness and capacity of the Government of Nigeria and regional partners to implement the strategy developed under subsection (a).
 (c)Sense of congressIt is the sense of Congress that lack of economic opportunity and access to education, justice, and other social services contributes to the ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and recruit individuals.
 (d)Appropriate committees of congress definedIn this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— (1)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
 (2)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.