I
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2839
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 11, 2009
Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Pierluisi, Mr. Crowley, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Sires, Mr. Mica, and Mr. Towns) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make residents of Puerto Rico eligible for the earned income tax credit.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Puerto Rico Work and Empowerment Act of 2009.
2.Puerto rico residents eligible for earned income tax credit
(a)In generalSection 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to earned income) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(n)Residents of puerto rico
(1)In generalIn the case of residents of Puerto Rico—
(A)the United States shall be treated as including Puerto Rico for purposes of subsections (c)(1)(A)(ii)(I) and (c)(3)(C),
(B)subsection (c)(1)(D) shall not apply to nonresident alien individuals who are residents of Puerto Rico, and
(C)adjusted gross income and gross income shall be computed without regard to section 933 for purposes of subsections (a)(2)(B) and (c)(2)(A)(i).
(2)Limitation on credit
(A)In generalThe credit allowed under this section by reason of this subsection for any taxable year shall not exceed the taxpayer’s social security taxes for such year.
(B)Social security taxesFor purposes of subparagraph (A)—
(i)In generalThe term social security taxes means, with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year—
(I)the amount of the taxes imposed by sections 3101 and 3201(a) on amounts received by the taxpayer during the calendar year in which the taxable year begins,
(II)the amount of the taxes imposed on employers by section 3111 and 3221(a) on amounts received by the taxpayer during the calendar year which the taxable year begins,
(III)the amount of the taxes imposed by section 1401 on the self-employment income of the taxpayer for the taxable year, and
(IV)the amount of the taxes imposed by section 3211(a) on amounts received by the taxpayer during the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.
(ii)Coordination with special refund of social security taxesThe term social security taxes shall not include any taxes to the extent the taxpayer is entitled to a special refund of such taxes under section 6413(c).
(iii)Special ruleAny amounts paid pursuant to an agreement under section 3121(l) (relating to agreements entered into by American employers with respect to foreign affiliates) which are equivalent to the taxes imposed by sections 3101 and 3111 shall be treated as such taxes for purpose of clause (i)..
(b)Child tax credit not reducedSubclause (II) of section 24(d)(1)(B)(ii) of such Code (relating to child tax credit) is amended by inserting before the period (determined without regard to section 32(n) in the case of residents of Puerto Rico).
(c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.


I
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5022
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 7, 2004
Mr. Sweeney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

A BILL
To strengthen and expand scientific and technological education capabilities of associate-degree-granting colleges through the establishment of partnership arrangements with bachelor-degree-granting institutions.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Higher Education Science and Technology Competitiveness Act.
2.FindingsThe Congress finds the following:
(1)The United States is losing its dominance in the sciences and technology, and faces serious challenges from highly educated foreign competitors.
(2)The workforce of the United States must be better prepared for the scientifically and technologically advanced competition of the global economy.
(3)New scientific knowledge is the engine of American technological innovation, national security, economic growth, and prosperity.
(4)The competitiveness of the United States depends on strengthening and expanding postsecondary educational efforts in science, math, engineering, and technology.
(5)Shortages of scientifically and technologically educated workers will be best addressed through partnerships between the Nation's associate degree-granting colleges and public four-year colleges and universities.
(6)Enlarging the traditional role of community colleges in workforce training by developing seamless transitions from occupational competency or certificate programs to associate degree programs in math, science, engineering, and technology.
3.Articulation agreement programPart G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 486 (20 U.S.C. 1093) the following new section:

486A.Articulation agreement program
(a)Purpose; definition
(1)PurposeThe purpose of this section is to strengthen and expand scientific and technological education capabilities of associate-degree-granting public institutions of higher education through the establishment of partnership arrangements with bachelor-degree-granting public institutions of higher education.
(2)DefinitionFor the purposes of this section, the term articulation agreement means an agreement between institutions of higher education that specifies the acceptability of courses in transfer toward meeting specific degree requirements.
(b)Program authorized
(1)Grants to public institutionsFrom the sums appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretary shall award grants under this section to public institutions of higher education for the support of programs to establish and implement statewide articulation agreements in accordance with subsection (d).
(2)Eligibility of private institutions to participate in agreementsNothing in this section shall be construed to preclude a nonprofit or for-profit private institution of higher education from participating in the development and implementation of a statewide articulation agreement under subsection (d).
(c)ApplicationsEach institution, system, or consortium of institutions desiring to participate in a demonstration program under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
(d)Use of fundsFunds provided by grant under this section may be used—
(1)to establish statewide articulation agreements in math, science, engineering, and technology among public 2-year institutions and public 4-year institutions to provide a seamless transition for the transfer of students from the public 2-year institutions to the public 4-year institutions by having both such types of institutions provide and use a common core curricula that reflects the workforce needs of private industry;
(2)to establish articulation agreements within community colleges between occupational competency or certification programs and associate degree programs in math, science, engineering, and technology to increase the proportion of students who enroll to complete their associates degree;
(3)to collect data on transfers from 2-year institutions to 4-year institutions on a regular basis and to submit such data to commissioners or departments of higher education, for transmission by such commissioners and departments to the Secretary, in order to monitor program progress and success;
(4)to develop a statewide articulation guide in consultation with public colleges and universities to provide students with descriptions of articulation requirements; and
(5)to develop a plan for professional development of 2-year college faculty, including inter-institutional workshops, consultations, and professional meetings.
(e)Evaluations and reportsThe Secretary shall collect from State commissioners and departments the data provided by grant recipients under subsection (d)(3) for the purposes of evaluating the success of the program authorized by this section. The Secretary shall submit a report on the results of such evaluation to the Congress not later than 2 years after the end of the first fiscal year for which funds are made available for grants under this section.
(f)Additional definitionThe Secretary shall by regulation define the term degree programs in math, science, engineering, and technology.
(g)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years..


115 HR 5702 IH: Preventing NAS and Protecting Babies Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-05-08
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.

I115th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 5702IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 8, 2018Mrs. Bustos (for herself, Mr. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, and Ms. DeGette) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a strategy implementing
			 recommendations relating to the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015, and
			 for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Preventing NAS and Protecting Babies Act. 2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
 (1)Neonatal abstinence syndrome (referred to in this section as NAS) is a group of conditions that can afflict a newborn who had in utero exposure to drugs, including opioids.
 (2)According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, symptoms of NAS include irritability, loud crying, stiffness, sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, poor feeding, seizures, and respiratory distress.
 (3)According to a 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was based on data from 28 States, the incidence of NAS increased 300 percent between 1999 and 2013.
 (4)According to another study entitled, Neonatal abstinence syndrome and associated health care expenditures: United States, 2000–2009, the incidence rate of NAS in rural America rose from 1.2 per 1,000 hospital births in 2004 to 7.5 per 1,000 hospital births in 2013.
 (5)Innovative, specialized, and collaborative efforts are needed to address the treatment of infants diagnosed with NAS.
 (6)The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–198), which was enacted in July 2016, required the Government Accountability Office to examine treatment options for infants with NAS (including options available under State Medicaid plans under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.)), assesses different medical care models and settings for the treatment of NAS, and prioritizes finding best practices for the treatment of infants with NAS.
 (7)An October 2017 report by the Government Accountability Office entitled, “Federal Action Needed to Address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome”, recommended that the Department of Health and Human Services should take action on its report entitled, Protecting Our Infants Act: Final Strategy.
 3.Strategy implementing recommendations relating to Protecting Our Infants ActNot later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a strategy for implementing recommendations in the Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Coordinating Council report entitled, Protecting Our Infants Act: Final Strategy. Such strategy shall—
 (1)include a timeline for the implementation of each such recommendation; (2)provide for the dissemination of information to State health agencies on best practices and available resources and data with respect to implementing each such recommendation; and
 (3)include recommendations for any statutory change, including providing for additional authorities, that would help the Department of Health and Human Services implement the strategy.


		II
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 2283
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 1, 2007
			Mr. Crapo introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Energy and Natural
			 Resources

		A BILL
		To preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock
		  animals on public land administered by the National Park Service, the Bureau of
		  Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest
		  Service on which there is a historical tradition of the use of pack and saddle
		  stock animals.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Preserving our Equine Heritage on
			 Public Land Act.
		2.Use and access
			 of pack and saddle animals on public land
			(a)National park
			 system landSection 12 of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–7) is
			 amended by adding at the end the following:

					(c)Use and access
				of pack and saddle animals
						(1)In
				generalThe Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this
				subsection as the Secretary) shall manage the National Park
				System in a manner that preserves and facilitates the continued use and access
				of pack and saddle stock animals at units of the National Park System at which
				there is a historical tradition of the use of pack and saddle stock
				animals.
						(2)Use
							(A)In
				generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), National Park
				System land shall remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle
				stock animals.
							(B)Limitation
								(i)In
				generalThe Secretary may implement a nonemergency reduction in
				the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on National Park System
				land after complying with—
									(I)the National
				Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
									(II)clauses (ii)
				through (iv).
									(ii)Public notice
				and commentThe Secretary shall provide to the public advance
				notice of proposed reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock
				animals on National Park System land to allow for public comment on the
				proposed reductions.
								(iii)Public
				meetingAfter providing advance notice of the location, date, and
				time of the meeting, the Secretary shall conduct a public meeting at an
				appropriate location close to the unit of the National Park System on which the
				reduction in pack and saddle stock access is proposed.
								(iv)Public
				collaborationTo encourage meaningful public participation with
				respect to reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on
				National Park System land, the Secretary shall facilitate collaboration among
				different recreational users.
								(3)EffectNothing
				in this subsection—
							(A)authorizes the
				Secretary to refuse to issue a permit for a new use of pack and saddle stock
				animals, including use by a commercial outfitter or guide, without complying
				with applicable resource management plans and planning processes required under
				this Act or any other Federal law;
							(B)alters or limits
				the authority of the Secretary to issue permits;
							(C)alters or limits
				the authority of the Secretary to implement a temporary emergency closure of a
				trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals;
							(D)creates a
				preference for 1 recreational use of an area within the National Park System
				over other uses without consideration of the stated purpose of the area;
				or
							(E)supersedes any
				other authorizations and prohibitions in effect on the date of enactment of
				this
				subsection.
							.
			(b)Bureau of land
			 management landSection 302 of the Federal Land Policy and
			 Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1732) is amended by adding at the end the
			 following:

					(e)Use and access
				of pack and saddle animals
						(1)In
				generalThe Secretary shall manage land administered by the
				Bureau of Land Management in a manner that preserves and facilitates the
				continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on land on which
				there is a historical tradition of the use of pack and saddle stock
				animals.
						(2)Use
							(A)In
				generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), Bureau of Land
				Management land shall remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle
				stock animals.
							(B)Limitation
								(i)In
				generalThe Secretary may implement a nonemergency reduction in
				the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on Bureau of Land
				Management land after complying with—
									(I)the National
				Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
									(II)clauses (ii)
				through (iv).
									(ii)Public notice
				and commentThe Secretary shall provide to the public advance
				notice of proposed reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock
				animals on Bureau of Land Management land to allow for public comment on the
				proposed reductions.
								(iii)Public
				meetingAfter providing advance notice of the location, date, and
				time of the meeting, the Secretary shall conduct a public meeting at an
				appropriate location close to the Bureau of Land Management land on which the
				reduction in pack and saddle stock access is proposed.
								(iv)Public
				collaborationTo encourage meaningful public participation with
				respect to reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on
				Bureau of Land Management land, the Secretary shall facilitate collaboration
				among different recreational users.
								(3)EffectNothing
				in this subsection—
							(A)authorizes the
				Secretary to refuse to issue a permit for a new use of pack and saddle stock
				animals, including use by a commercial outfitter or guide, without complying
				with applicable resource management plans and planning processes required under
				this Act or any other Federal law;
							(B)alters or limits
				the authority of the Secretary to issue permits;
							(C)alters or limits
				the authority of the Secretary to implement a temporary, emergency closure of a
				trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals;
							(D)creates a
				preference for 1 recreational use for any area under the jurisdiction of the
				Bureau of Land Management over other uses without consideration of the stated
				purpose of the area;
							(E)supersedes the
				multiple use authority or policy of an applicable agency; or
							(F)supersedes any
				other authorizations and prohibitions in effect on the date of enactment of
				this
				subsection.
							.
			(c)National
			 wildlife refuge system landSection 4(d) of the National Wildlife
			 Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(d)) is amended by
			 adding at the end the following:

					(5)Use and access
				of pack and saddle animals
						(A)In
				generalThe Secretary shall manage the System in a manner that
				preserves and facilitates the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock
				animals on System land on which there is a historical tradition of the use of
				pack and saddle stock animals.
						(B)Use
							(i)In
				generalExcept as provided in clause (ii), System land shall
				remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle stock animals.
							(ii)Limitation
								(I)In
				generalThe Secretary may implement a nonemergency reduction in
				the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on System land after
				complying with—
									(aa)the National
				Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
									(bb)subclauses (II)
				through (IV).
									(II)Public notice
				and commentThe Secretary shall provide to the public advance
				notice of proposed reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock
				animals on System land to allow for public comment on the proposed
				reductions.
								(III)Public
				meetingAfter providing advance notice of the location, date, and
				time of the meeting, the Secretary shall conduct a public meeting at an
				appropriate location close to System land on which the reduction in pack and
				saddle stock access is proposed.
								(IV)Public
				collaborationTo encourage meaningful public participation with
				respect to reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on
				System land, the Secretary shall facilitate collaboration among different
				recreational users.
								(C)EffectNothing
				in this paragraph—
							(i)authorizes the
				Secretary to refuse to issue a permit for a new use of pack and saddle stock
				animals, including use by a commercial outfitter or guide, without complying
				with applicable management plans (including a comprehensive conservation plan,
				comprehensive management plan, master plan, or step-down management plan) and
				planning processes required under this Act or any other Federal law;
							(ii)alters or limits
				the authority of the Secretary to issue permits for a compatible use that is
				not inconsistent with public safety;
							(iii)alters or
				limits the authority of the Secretary to implement a temporary, emergency
				closure of a trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals;
							(iv)creates a
				preference for 1 recreational use within any refuge within the System without
				consideration of the mission of the System and the purposes for which the
				refuge was established;
							(v)supersedes the
				conservation authority or policy of any applicable agency;
							(vi)supersedes the
				priority of applicable agencies for compatible wildlife-dependent recreational
				uses; or
							(vii)supersedes any
				other authorizations and prohibitions in effect on the date of enactment of
				this
				paragraph.
							.
			(d)National forest
			 system landThe Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning
			 Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.) is amended—
				(1)by redesignating
			 section 16 as section 17; and
				(2)by inserting
			 after section 15 the following:

						16.Use and access
				of pack and saddle animals
							(a)In
				generalThe Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section
				as the Secretary) shall manage National Forest System in a
				manner that preserves and facilitates the continued use and access of pack and
				saddle stock animals on National Forest System land on which there is a
				historical tradition of the use of pack and saddle stock animals.
							(b)Use
								(1)In
				generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), National Forest
				System land shall remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle
				stock animals.
								(2)Limitation
									(A)In
				generalThe Secretary may implement a nonemergency reduction in
				the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on National Forest System
				land after complying with—
										(i)the National
				Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
										(ii)subparagraphs
				(B) through (D).
										(B)Public notice
				and commentThe Secretary shall provide to the public advance
				notice of proposed reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock
				animals on National Forest System land to allow for public comment on the
				proposed reductions.
									(C)Public
				meetingAfter providing advance notice of the location, date, and
				time of the meeting, the Secretary shall conduct a public meeting at an
				appropriate location close to the unit of the National Forest System on which
				the reduction in pack and saddle stock access is proposed.
									(D)Public
				collaborationTo encourage meaningful public participation with
				respect to reductions in the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on
				National Forest System land, the Secretary shall facilitate collaboration among
				different recreational users.
									(c)EffectNothing
				in this section—
								(1)authorizes the
				Secretary to refuse to issue a special use authorization or wilderness permit
				for a new use of pack and saddle stock animals, including use by a commercial
				outfitter or guide, without complying with applicable land management plans and
				planning processes required under this Act or any other Federal law;
								(2)alters or limits
				the authority of the Secretary to issue special use authorizations or
				wilderness permits;
								(3)alters or limits
				the authority of the Secretary to implement a temporary, emergency closure of a
				trail, route, or area to pack and saddle stock animals;
								(4)creates a
				preference for 1 recreational use of an area within the National Forest System
				over other uses of the area;
								(5)supersedes the
				multiple use authority or policy of an applicable agency; or
								(6)supersedes any
				other authorizations and prohibitions in effect on the date of enactment of
				this
				section.
								.
				(e)Issuance of
			 policyNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
			 this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall
			 issue a policy for the Department of the Interior and the Department of
			 Agriculture, respectively, that defines the term historical tradition of
			 the use of pack and saddle stock animals for purposes of the amendments
			 made by this section.


114 HR 2956 IH: Preventing Illegal Immigrants From Abusing Tax Welfare Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-07-07
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2956
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 7, 2015
			Mr. Grothman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

		A BILL
		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to limit the earned income tax credit to citizens and
			 lawful permanent residents and to require a valid social security number
			 to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Preventing Illegal Immigrants From Abusing Tax Welfare Act of 2015. 2.Earned income tax credit limited to citizens and lawful permanent residents (a)In generalSection 32(c)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:

 (G)Limited to citizens and lawful permanent residentsThe term eligible individual shall not include any individual who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States..
 (b)Effective dateThe amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
			3.Social security number required to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit
 (a)In generalSection 24(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

					(5)Identification requirement with respect to taxpayer
 (A)In generalParagraph (1) shall not apply to any taxpayer for any taxable year unless the return of tax for such taxable year includes the taxpayer’s social security number and the social security number of any qualifying child with respect to whom a credit is allowed under this section (determined without regard to this subsection).
 (B)Joint returnsIn the case of a joint return, the requirement of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as met with respect to the taxpayer if the social security number of either spouse is included on such return.
 (C)Omission treated as mathematical or clerical errorAny failure to meet the requirement of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as a mathematical or clerical error and assessed according to section 6213(b)(1)..
 (b)Conforming amendmentSection 24(e) of such Code is amended by inserting with respect to qualifying children after Identification requirement in the heading thereof. (c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.


110 HR 2948 IH: Increased Access to Health Insurance Act of 2007
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-06-28
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.

I
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2948
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 28, 2007
Mr. Walberg introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit health insurance to be purchased from a health savings account.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Increased Access to Health Insurance Act of 2007.
2.Purchase of health insurance from health savings accounts
(a)In generalParagraph (2) of section 223(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining qualified medical expenses) is amended to read as follows:

(2)Qualified medical expensesThe term qualified medical expenses means, with respect to an account beneficiary, amounts paid by such beneficiary for medical care (as defined in section 213(d)) for such individual, the spouse of such individual, and any dependent (as defined in section 152, determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B) thereof) of such individual, but only to the extent such amounts are not compensated for by insurance or otherwise..
(b)Effective dateThe amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to insurance purchased after the date of the enactment of this Act in taxable years beginning after such date.


116 S2453 RS: Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-09-10
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.

IICalendar No. 519116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 2453[Report No. 116–258]IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 10, 2019Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Carper, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationAugust 13, 2020Reported by Mr. Wicker, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicA BILLTo assist in the conservation of the North Atlantic right whale by supporting and providing financial resources for North Atlantic right whale conservation programs and projects of persons with expertise required for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales, and for other purposes.1. Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Act of 2019 or the SAVE Right Whales Act.2.Findings; sense of Congress(a)FindingsCongress finds that—(1)North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are critically endangered, with approximately 400 whales remaining at the time of the introduction of this Act;(2)historically, the North Atlantic right whale population was decimated by the whaling industry, although the whale population received protections from such industry in the 1930s;(3)despite a modest recovery prior to 2010, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered whales in the world and has experienced a significant decline since 2010;(4)the North Atlantic right whale has been listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 (Public Law 89–669; 80 Stat. 926) and its successor the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) since 1970 and is designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.);(5)because North Atlantic right whales are long-lived and highly migratory, and at present rates females give birth to a single calf only once every 4 to 10 years, they are highly vulnerable to the impacts of human activity and habitat degradation;(6)North Atlantic right whales frequently cross paths with major shipping lanes and fishing grounds, leaving the whales particularly vulnerable to vessel collisions and fishing gear entanglements, the 2 leading causes of injury and death to the species;(7)even when North Atlantic right whales do not die as a result of fishing gear entanglement, those whales can still experience significant sub-lethal effects such as chronic stress and reproductive failure;(8)in August 2017, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced an unusual mortality event involving North Atlantic right whales in 2017, with 17 known whale deaths that year alone;(9)as of August 2019, such ongoing unusual mortality event includes the loss of at least 28 whales, a significant die-off of a population and, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), demands an immediate response;(10)based on the current rate of mortality of North Atlantic right whales, and because of the small number of breeding females in the population and low birth rates, recent analysis suggests the species will lose its ability to recover in merely a few decades if human-caused mortality is not reduced immediately;(11)under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), United States fishermen in certain locations have been required to modify their fishing gear and behavior to minimize the likelihood of entanglements, including by using sinking groundlines, having weak links in buoy lines, using multiple traps per buoy, appropriately marking fishing gear, and complying with seasonal area-specific closures in North Atlantic right whale habitats;(12)vessels in United States waters that are 65 feet or more in length have been required to comply with a seasonal 10-knot speed limit in certain locations to reduce the threat of vessel collisions; and(13)North Atlantic right whales are now migrating farther north into Canadian waters and there have been at least 20 North Atlantic right whale deaths in Canada’s Gulf of St. Lawrence between 2017 and 2019, as well as 8 documented deaths of such whales in the United States waters in 2017 and 2018.(b)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—(1)the Governments of the United States and Canada must work together to reduce lethal and sub-lethal effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales; and(2)effectively addressing the threats to the long-term viability of the North Atlantic right whales will require a joint commitment and effort from government entities, local communities, marine scientists and conservationists, fishermen, owners and operators of passenger vessels and others in the shipping industry, and other stakeholders.3.PurposesThe purposes of this Act are the following:(1)To rebuild healthy populations of the North Atlantic right whale.(2)To assist in the conservation and protection of North Atlantic right whales by supporting North Atlantic right whale conservation programs that minimize conflicts between North Atlantic right whales and human activities.(3)To provide financial resources for those programs.INorth Atlantic Right Whale Conservation101.North Atlantic right whale conservation assistance(a)Assistance(1)In generalSubject to the availability of funds and in consultation with other Federal officials, the Secretary of Commerce (in this title referred to as the Secretary) shall provide competitive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, for projects for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales for which project proposals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with this section.(2)Use of existing authoritiesAssistance provided under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with authorities available to the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).(b)Project proposals(1)Eligible applicantsA project proposal may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by—(A)relevant State and tribal agencies, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations with expertise required for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales; and(B)any other individual or entity, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the expertise required for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales, including large whale disentanglement teams approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and members in good standing of the National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, sectors of the shipping and fishing industries, fishing gear manufacturers, and rope manufacturers.(2)Federal partnership opportunitiesA Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive funding for a project under this section, but may be included as a partner or collaborator on a project that receives such funding.(3)Required elementsA project proposal shall include—(A)a statement of the purposes of the project;(B)the name of the entity or individual with overall responsibility for the project;(C)a description of the qualifications of the entity or individuals that will conduct the project;(D)a description of—(i)methods for project implementation and outcome assessment;(ii)staffing and stakeholder engagement for the project;(iii)the logistics of the project;(iv)an estimated timeline for the project; and(v)anticipated outcomes of the project;(E)a proposed budget for the funds and time required to complete the project;(F)information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available for the project;(G)information that demonstrates the clear potential of the project to contribute to the conservation of North Atlantic right whales; and(H)any other information that the Secretary considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for funding under this Act.(c)Annual grant project proposal solicitation, review, and approval(1)In generalThe Secretary shall annually—(A)solicit project proposals for grants under this section;(B)provide to other Federal officials, as appropriate, copies of each proposal submitted in response to the solicitation; and(C)review each such proposal on a timeline that recognizes the urgency of the declining North Atlantic right whale population to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d).(2)Consultation; approval or disapprovalSubject to the availability of funds, the Secretary shall, with respect to each project proposal submitted under this section, and after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate—(A)consult with respect to the proposal with the government of each State and foreign country in which the project is to be conducted;(B)after taking into consideration any comments resulting from the consultation and any potential losses that could be incurred to the fishing industry as a result of the proposal, approve or disapprove the proposal; and(C)provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the individual or entity that submitted the proposal, other Federal officials, and each State and foreign country described in subparagraph (A).(d)Criteria for approvalThe Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project shows promise for contributing to recovering and sustaining a viable population of North Atlantic right whales in the wild by assisting efforts to—(1)implement conservation programs;(2)address the unintentional conflicts between humans and North Atlantic right whales through development, testing, and use of innovative technology or other methods to reduce the lethal and sub-lethal effects on North Atlantic right whales from vessel collisions and fishing gear entanglements;(3)promote cooperative projects on such topics with foreign governments; or(4)promote cooperative projects on such topics with affected local communities, small businesses such as fishermen, others in the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations.(e)PriorityTo the extent practicable, in determining whether to approve project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize projects that are designed to reduce the lethal and sub-lethal effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales. In prioritizing such projects, the Secretary shall prioritize, among such projects, projects that are cooperative in nature and include fishing or shipping sector participants.(f)Matching requirement(1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (3), the non-Federal share of the costs of an activity conducted with financial assistance under this section shall be 25 percent of such costs.(2)In-kind contributionsThe Secretary may apply to the non-Federal share of an activity conducted with financial assistance under this section the amount of funds, and the fair market value of property and services, provided by non-Federal sources and used for the activity.(3)Waiver of requirementsThe Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) if the Secretary finds that such waiver is necessary to support a conservation project that the Secretary has identified as of high priority.(g)Project reporting(1)In generalEach individual or entity that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary may require) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.(2)Availability to the publicReports under paragraph (1), and any other documents relating to projects for which financial assistance is provided under this Act, shall be made available to the public in a timely manner.102.North Atlantic right whale interagency budget(a)In generalThe Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall include, in the budget of the President submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter, an interagency budget that displays for each Federal agency that engages in North Atlantic right whale activities—(1)the amount of appropriations and expenditures for the preceding fiscal year for such activities and a description of such activities;(2)the estimated amount to be expended during the current fiscal year for such activities and a description of such activities; and(3)the amount estimated to be necessary for the next fiscal year for such activities and a description of such activities.(b)North Atlantic right whale activities definedIn this section, the term North Atlantic right whale activities means any activity of a Federal agency to study, observe, monitor, manage, protect, conserve, or restore the North Atlantic right whale population through direct or indirect means, including through the provision of competitive financial assistance to non-Federal entities.103.Report to CongressNot later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results and effectiveness of projects receiving assistance provided under this title, including recommendations concerning how this title might be improved and whether funding for this title should be continued in the future.104.Funding(a)Authorization of appropriations(1)AuthorizationThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2029.(2)Administrative expensesOf the amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subsection for a fiscal year, the Secretary may expend not more than 5 percent, or up to $80,000, whichever is greater, to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this Act.(3)Supplement not supplantThe amount authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall supplement and not supplant other amounts available to the Secretary.(b)Acceptance and use of donationsThe Secretary may accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift, devise, or bequest to provide assistance under section 102.IIContinuous Plankton Recorder201.Survey(a)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on an ongoing basis thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a continuous plankton recorder survey.(b)Required elementsFor the purpose of conducting the survey required under subsection (a), the Northeast Fisheries Science Center shall—(1)to the extent possible, utilize the resources of and partner with, on a volunteer basis, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, commercial vessels, and other Federal agencies;(2)in as short a time as possible, ensure relevant survey samples and results are analyzed, stored, archived, and made publicly available;(3)prioritize the collection of plankton samples and data that inform the conservation of North Atlantic right whales; and(4)to the extent practicable, coordinate with the Government of Canada to develop a transboundary understanding of plankton abundance and distribution.(c)Authorization of appropriationsTo carry out this section there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $300,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2029.1. Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Act of 2019 or the SAVE Right Whales Act.2.Findings; sense of Congress(a)FindingsCongress finds that—(1)North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are critically endangered, with approximately 400 whales remaining at the time of the introduction of this Act;(2)historically, the North Atlantic right whale population was decimated by the whaling industry, although the whale population received protections from such industry in the 1930s;(3)despite a modest recovery prior to 2010, the North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered whales in the world and has experienced a significant decline since 2010;(4)the North Atlantic right whale has been listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 (Public Law 89–669; 80 Stat. 926) and its successor the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) since 1970 and is designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.);(5)because North Atlantic right whales are long-lived and highly migratory, and at present rates females give birth to a single calf only once every 4 to 10 years, they are highly vulnerable to the impacts of human activity and habitat degradation;(6)North Atlantic right whales frequently cross paths with major shipping lanes and fishing grounds, leaving the whales particularly vulnerable to vessel collisions and fishing gear entanglements, the 2 leading causes of injury and death to the species;(7)even when North Atlantic right whales do not die as a result of fishing gear entanglement, those whales can still experience significant sub-lethal effects such as chronic stress and reproductive failure;(8)in August 2017, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced an unusual mortality event involving North Atlantic right whales in 2017, with 17 known whale deaths that year alone;(9)as of August 2019, such ongoing unusual mortality event includes the loss of at least 28 whales, a significant die-off of a population and, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), demands an immediate response;(10)based on the current rate of mortality of North Atlantic right whales, and because of the small number of breeding females in the population and low birth rates, recent analysis suggests the species will lose its ability to recover in merely a few decades if human-caused mortality is not reduced immediately;(11)under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), United States fishermen in certain locations have been required to modify their fishing gear and behavior to minimize the likelihood of entanglements, including by using sinking groundlines, having weak links in buoy lines, using multiple traps per buoy, appropriately marking fishing gear, and complying with seasonal area-specific closures in North Atlantic right whale habitats;(12)vessels in United States waters that are 65 feet or more in length have been required to comply with a seasonal10-knot speed limit in certain locations to reduce the threat of vessel collisions; and(13)North Atlantic right whales are now migrating farther north into Canadian waters and there have been at least 20 North Atlantic right whale deaths in Canada’s Gulf of St. Lawrence between 2017 and 2019, as well as 8 documented deaths of such whales in the United States waters in 2017 and 2018.(b)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—(1)the Governments of the United States and Canada must work together to reduce lethal and sub-lethal effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales; and(2)effectively addressing the threats to the long-term viability of the North Atlantic right whales will require a joint commitment and effort from government entities, local communities, marine scientists and conservationists, fishermen, owners and operators of passenger vessels and others in the shipping industry, and other stakeholders.3.PurposesThe purposes of this Act are the following:(1)To rebuild healthy populations of the North Atlantic right whale.(2)To assist in the conservation and protection of North Atlantic right whales by supporting North Atlantic right whale conservation programs that minimize conflicts between North Atlantic right whales and human activities.INorth Atlantic Right Whale Conservation101.North Atlantic right whale conservation assistance(a)Assistance(1)In generalSubject to the availability of funds and in consultation with other Federal officials, the Secretary of Commerce (in this title referred to as the Secretary) shall provide competitive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, for projects designed to reduce the lethal and sub-lethal effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales for which project proposals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with this section.(2)Use of existing authoritiesAssistance provided under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with authorities available to the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).(b)Project proposals(1)Eligible applicantsA project proposal may be submitted to the Secretary under this section by—(A)relevant State and tribal agencies, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations with expertise required for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales; and(B)any other individual or entity, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the expertise required for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales, including large whale disentanglement teams approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and members in good standing of the National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, sectors of the shipping and fishing industries, fishing gear manufacturers, and rope manufacturers.(2)Federal partnership opportunitiesA Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive funding for a project under this section, but may be included as a partner or collaborator on a project that receives such funding.(c)Annual grant project proposal solicitation, review, and approval(1)In generalThe Secretary shall annually—(A)solicit project proposals for grants under this section;(B)provide to other Federal officials, as appropriate, copies of each proposal submitted in response to the solicitation; and(C)review each such proposal on a timeline that recognizes the urgency of the declining North Atlantic right whale population to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in subsection (d).(2)Consultation; approval or disapprovalSubject to the availability of funds, the Secretary shall, with respect to each project proposal submitted under this section, and after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate—(A)consult with respect to the proposal with the government of each State and foreign country in which the project is to be conducted;(B)after taking into consideration any comments resulting from the consultation and any potential losses that could be incurred to the fishing industry as a result of the proposal, approve or disapprove the proposal; and(C)provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the individual or entity that submitted the proposal, other Federal officials, and each State and foreign country described in subparagraph (A).(d)Criteria for approvalThe Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section that is likely to aid in the recovery and sustainability of a viable population of North Atlantic right whales in the wild by assisting efforts to—(1)implement conservation programs;(2)address the unintentional conflicts between humans and North Atlantic right whales through development, testing, and use of innovative technology or other methods to reduce the lethal and sub-lethal effects on North Atlantic right whales from vessel collisions and fishing gear entanglements;(3)promote cooperative projects on such topics with foreign governments; or(4)promote cooperative projects on such topics with affected local communities, small businesses such as fishermen, others in the private sector, or nongovernmental organizations.(e)PriorityTo the extent practicable, in determining whether to approve project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize projects that are designed to reduce the lethal and sub-lethal effects of human activities on North Atlantic right whales. In prioritizing such projects, the Secretary shall prioritize, among such projects, projects that are cooperative in nature and include fishing or shipping sector participants.(f)Matching requirement(1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (3), the non-Federal share of the costs of an activity conducted with financial assistance under this section shall be 25 percent of such costs.(2)In-kind contributionsThe Secretary may apply to the non-Federal share of an activity conducted with financial assistance under this section the amount of funds, and the fair market value of property and services, provided by non-Federal sources and used for the activity.(3)Waiver of requirementsThe Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) if the Secretary finds that such waiver is necessary to support a conservation project that the Secretary has identified as of high priority.(g)Project reporting(1)In generalEach individual or entity that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary may require) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.(2)Availability to the publicReports under paragraph (1), and any other documents relating to projects for which financial assistance is provided under this Act, shall be made available to the public in a timely manner.102.Report to CongressNot later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results and effectiveness of projects receiving assistance provided under this title, including recommendations concerning how this title might be improved and whether funding for this title should be continued in the future.103.Funding(a)Authorization of appropriations(1)AuthorizationThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2029.(2)Administrative expensesOf the amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subsection for a fiscal year, the Secretary may expend not more than 5 percent, or up to $80,000, whichever is greater, to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this Act.(3)Supplement not supplantThe amount authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall supplement and not supplant other amounts available to the Secretary.(b)Acceptance and use of donationsThe Secretary may accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift, devise, or bequest to provide assistance under section 101.IIContinuous Plankton Recorder201.Survey(a)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on an ongoing basis thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a Continuous Plankton Recorder survey.(b)Required elementsFor the purpose of conducting the survey required under subsection (a), the Northeast Fisheries Science Center shall—(1)to the extent possible, utilize the resources of and partner with, on a volunteer basis, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, commercial vessels, and other Federal agencies;(2)in as short a time as possible, ensure relevant survey samples and results are analyzed, stored, archived, and made publicly available;(3)prioritize the collection of plankton samples and data that inform the conservation of North Atlantic right whales; and(4)to the extent practicable, coordinate with the Government of Canada to develop a transboundary understanding of plankton abundance and distribution.(c)Authorization of AppropriationsTo carry out this section there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $300,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2029.August 13, 2020Reported with an amendment


114 S509 IS: African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act
U.S. Senate
2015-02-12
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.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 509IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 12, 2015Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo establish the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center in New
			 York, New York, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act.
 2.FindingsCongress finds that— (1)the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark in New York, New York, holds the remains of up to 20,000 enslaved Africans and early-generation African-Americans from the colonial era;
 (2)the Africans and African-Americans that suffered under slavery show us the strength of the human character and provide us with a model of courage, commitment, and perseverance;
 (3)as President George W. Bush stated on July 8, 2003, during his remarks at Goree Island, Senegal: “For 250 years the captives endured an assault on their culture and their dignity. The spirit of Africans in America did not break. … All the generations of oppression under the laws of man could not crush the hope of freedom and defeat the purposes of God.”;
 (4)on February 27, 2006, President George W. Bush established the National Monument, which was comprised of the approximately 15,000-square foot parcel of the National Historic Landmark that was bounded by Duane and Elk Streets in Lower Manhattan;
 (5)an international memorial museum facility dedicated to those individuals who suffered the grave injustice of slavery in the United States, while at the same time helping to build the country, would—
 (A)reflect the significance of the African Burial Ground; and
 (B)help the people of the United States understand the past and honor the history of all people in the United States;
 (6)in 1998, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution—
 (A)stated that the African Burial Ground affords the perfect opportunity to gain insight into—
 (i)the institution of slavery, as practiced in urban, rural, northern, and southern parts of the United States; and
 (ii)the international slave trade; and (B)proposed that a partnership be formed among the Smithsonian, the National Park Service, and the General Services Administration to further develop the African Burial Ground;
 (7)the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act (20 U.S.C. 80r et seq.), which authorized construction of a museum in Washington, DC, identified the period of slavery as one of the periods of the African-American diaspora that would be encompassed by the museum;
 (8)the African Burial Ground— (A)is unlike any other anthropological and symbolic site in the United States or the world;
 (B)includes DNA samples from the remarkably well-preserved human remains that will enable researchers to trace the home roots in Africa of those individuals buried at the African Burial Ground; and
 (C)provides a fitting location for a national memorial facility, relating to the National Museum of African American History and Culture that would—
 (i)pay special tribute to— (I)the thousands of enslaved individuals who are buried at the African Burial Ground; and
 (II)all of the individuals who were enslaved during the history of the United States;
 (ii)examine the African cultural traditions brought to the United States by the enslaved; and
 (iii)explore in-depth the institution of slavery;
 (9)a memorial museum at the site of the African Burial Ground—
 (A)was first recommended by a Federal steering committee in 1992; and
 (B)in conjunction with the planned World Trade Center memorial and other nearby sites, would attract millions of visitors from the United States and abroad, making a substantial contribution to the development and revitalization of Lower Manhattan in response to the attacks on the World Trade Center of September 11, 2001;
 (10)Public Law 99–511 (100 Stat. 2080) encouraged support for the establishment of a commemorative structure within the National Park System or on other Federal land that is dedicated to the promotion of understanding, knowledge, opportunity, and equality for all people;
 (11)similar to the National Museum of the Native American that was established by section 3(a) of the National Museum of the American Indian Act (20 U.S.C. 80q–1(a)), a memorial museum at the site of the African Burial Ground would benefit from a partnership among—
 (A)the Federal Government; (B)the State of New York;
 (C)the city of New York; and (D)members of the private sector;
 (12)the African Burial Ground— (A)has been determined to be nationally significant as—
 (i)a National Historic Landmark; and (ii)a National Monument; and
 (B)provides an important opportunity for interpretation, understanding, partnership and pride; and
 (13)the National Park Service— (A)has played an important role in the development of the African Burial Ground (including the designation of the African Burial Ground as a National Monument);
 (B)successfully operates other national facilities in the city of New York that symbolize freedom and the quest for freedom in America, including—
 (i)the Statue of Liberty National Monument; and
 (ii)Ellis Island National Monument; (C)provided key support to the Presidential Study Commission for the National Museum of African American History and Culture; and
 (D)is well-suited to assume a leadership role with respect to the creation of the Museum.
 3.DefinitionsIn this Act: (1)AdministratorThe term Administrator means the Administrator of the General Services Administration.
 (2)Advisory councilThe term Advisory Council means the African Burial Ground Advisory Council established by section 7(a).
 (3)CityThe term City means the city of New York, New York.
 (4)Expansion propertyThe term expansion property means the property that is acquired by the Secretary under section 5(a).
 (5)MuseumThe term Museum means the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center established by section 4(a).
 (6)National landmarkThe term National Landmark means the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark in the City.
 (7)National monumentThe term National Monument means the African Burial Ground National Monument in the City.
 (8)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service.
 (9)StateThe term State means the State of New York.
			4.Establishment of Museum
 (a)EstablishmentThere is established at the National Monument a memorial museum and educational center, to be known as the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center.
 (b)PurposesThe purposes of the Museum are— (1)to serve as a permanent living memorial—
 (A)to the enslaved who are buried at the African Burial Ground; and
 (B)to other Africans and African-Americans who were enslaved;
 (2)to examine the African cultural traditions brought to the United States by the enslaved;
 (3)to explore in-depth the institution of slavery in the United States and other parts of the world;
 (4)to provide a space for— (A)permanent and temporary exhibits; and
 (B)the collection and study of artifacts and documents; and
 (5)to encourage collaboration between the Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, other museums, historically black colleges and universities, historical societies, educational institutions, and other appropriate entities and organizations, including collaboration with respect to—
 (A)the development of cooperative programs and exhibitions, including through digital, electronic, and interactive technologies;
 (B)the identification, management, and care of Museum collections; and
 (C)the training of Museum and National Park Service professionals and other persons concerned with heritage preservation.
					(c)Association with national
 museumThe Museum shall become associated with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in a manner to be determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Council and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
			5.Site acquisition and development
 (a)In generalThe Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the City, the State, and the Advisory Council, shall—
 (1)acquire for the Museum property that is located—
 (A)adjacent to the National Monument; or
 (B)in any other area of the National Landmark other than the location described in subparagraph (A); and
 (2)plan, design, and construct the Museum on the property acquired under paragraph (1).
 (b)Federal shareThe Secretary shall pay 2/3 of the total costs of—
 (1)acquiring property for the Museum; and
 (2)planning, designing, constructing, reconstructing, and renovating, as applicable, the Museum.
				(c)Contracting authority
 (1)In generalThe Secretary and the Administrator may enter into any agreements with each other, the City, the State, and other parties that are necessary for the acquisition, by donation or other means, of property for—
 (A)establishing the Museum; and (B)planning, designing, constructing, reconstructing, and renovating, as applicable, the Museum.
 (2)Site acquisitionThe Secretary may acquire property under subsection (a)(1) by purchase, long-term lease, or any other appropriate means of acquisition, as determined by the Secretary.
				(d)Expansion of National
 MonumentThe expansion property is incorporated in, and shall be managed as part of, the National Monument.
			6.Operation of the Museum
 (a)In generalThe Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Council, shall operate the Museum.
 (b)AuthoritiesThe Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Council, may—
 (1)purchase, accept, borrow, and otherwise acquire artifacts for the collections of the Museum;
 (2)loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dispose of any part of the collections of the Museum, if the proceeds of the disposition are used for additions to the collections of the Museum;
 (3)specify criteria with respect to the use of the collections and resources of the Museum, including policies on programming, education, exhibitions, and research;
 (4)provide for preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the collections of the Museum;
 (5)solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, and devises of real and personal property for the purpose of facilitating the work of the Museum;
 (6)contract with such parties as may be necessary to facilitate the operation of the Museum;
 (7)administer the National Monument as a unit of the National Park System in accordance with—
 (A)this Act; and (B)the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including applicable provisions of division A of subtitle I of title 54, United States Code; and
 (8)conduct any other activities that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
				7.Advisory Council
 (a)EstablishmentThere is established within the Department of the Interior an advisory council to be known as the African Burial Ground Advisory Council.
			(b)Membership
 (1)CompositionThe Advisory Council shall be composed of the following members or their designees:
 (A)The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Advisory Council.
 (B)The Director of the National Park Service.
 (C)The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
 (D)The Administrator. (E)The Governor of the State.
 (F)The Mayor of the City. (G)The President of the Borough of Manhattan.
 (H)Fourteen members, to be appointed by the Secretary, taking into consideration—
 (i)recommendations from organizations and entities that are committed to the legacy of the African Burial Ground; and
 (ii)recommendations from the members of the Advisory Council.
 (2)Nonvoting membersThe Secretary may appoint as nonvoting members of the Advisory Council—
 (A)members of the United States Senate; (B)members of the House of Representatives;
 (C)officials representing the City; (D)officials representing the State; and
 (E)any other individuals that the Secretary, in consultation with the members of the Advisory Council, determines to be appropriate.
 (3)Date of appointmentsThe initial appointment of a member under paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
				(c)Terms
 (1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), each member of the Advisory Council shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
 (2)Initial appointeesOf the members first appointed under subsection (b)(1)(H)—
 (A)5 members shall be appointed for a term of 1 year;
 (B)5 members shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and
 (C)4 members shall be appointed for a terms of 3 years.
					(3)Reappointment
 (A)In generalA member of the Advisory Council may be reappointed, except that no individual may serve on the Advisory Council for a total of more than 2 terms.
 (B)Vacancy appointmentsFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the number of terms an individual serves on the Advisory Council shall not include any portion of a term for which an individual is appointed to fill a vacancy under paragraph (4)(B).
					(4)Vacancies
 (A)In generalA vacancy on the Advisory Council— (i)shall not affect the powers of the Advisory Council; and
 (ii)shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.
 (B)TermAny member of the Advisory Council appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of that term.
 (d)DutiesThe Advisory Council shall— (1)make recommendations to the Secretary on the planning, design, and construction of the Museum;
 (2)advise and assist the Secretary on all matters relating to the administration, operation, maintenance, and preservation of the Museum;
 (3)provide significant opportunities for public input with respect to carrying out the duties under paragraphs (1) and (2); and
 (4)adopt bylaws for the operation of the Advisory Council.
				(e)Compensation
 (1)In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), a member of the Advisory Council shall serve without compensation.
 (2)Travel expensesA member of the Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Advisory Council.
				(f)Meetings
 (1)In generalThe Advisory Council shall meet at the call of the chairperson or on the written request of a majority of the members of the Advisory Council, but not fewer than 2 times each year.
 (2)Initial meetingsDuring the 1-year period beginning on the date of the first meeting of the Advisory Council, the Advisory Council shall meet not fewer than 4 times for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the Advisory Council.
 (g)QuorumA majority of the members of the Advisory Council shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business, but a lesser number may receive information on behalf of the Advisory Council.
			8.Director and staff
			(a)Director
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall appoint a Director for the Museum, taking into consideration recommendations by the Advisory Council.
 (2)DutiesThe Director of the Museum shall manage the Museum, in accordance with any policies established by the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Council.
				(b)Staff
 (1)AppointmentThe Secretary may, without regard to the civil service laws, appoint 2 employees to assist the Director of the Museum in carrying out the duties of the Director.
 (2)CompensationThe employees appointed under subsection (b) may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code.
				9.Authorization of appropriations
 (a)In generalExcept as provided in subsection (b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act—
 (1)$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
 (2)such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
 (b)Acquisition of museum siteThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out section 5.
 (c)AvailabilityAmounts made available under subsections (a) and (b) shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.
 (d)Use of funds for fund-RaisingAmounts made available under this section may be used to raise funds from private sources to support and promote the Museum.