117 HR 1729 IH: Fair Access to Banking Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-03-10
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.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1729IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 10, 2021Mr. Barr (for himself, Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Perry, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Issa, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Armstrong, Mrs. Walorski, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Guest, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Rouzer, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Young, Mr. Rose, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr. Hice of Georgia, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Moore of Utah, Mr. Posey, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. LaTurner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesA BILLTo amend the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit certain financial service providers who deny fair access to financial services from using taxpayer funded discount window lending programs, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Fair Access to Banking Act.2.FindingsCongress finds that—(1)article I of the Constitution of the United States guarantees the people of the United States the right to enact public policy through the free and fair election of representatives and through the actions of State legislatures and Congress;(2)banks rightly objected to the Operation Choke Point initiative through which certain government agencies pressured banks to cut off access to financial services to lawful sectors of the economy;(3)banks are now, however, increasingly employing subjective, category-based evaluations to deny certain persons access to financial services in response to pressure from advocates from across the political spectrum whose policy objectives are served when banks deny certain customers access to financial services;(4)the privatization of the discriminatory practices underlying Operation Choke Point by banks represents as great a threat to the national economy, national security, and the soundness of banking and financial markets in the United States as Operation Choke Point itself;(5)banks are supported by the United States taxpayers and enjoy significant privileges in the financial system of the United States and should not be permitted to act as de facto regulators or unelected legislators by withholding financial services to otherwise credit worthy businesses based on subjective political reasons, bias or prejudices;(6)banks are not well-equipped to balance risks unrelated to financial exposures and the operations required to deliver financial services;(7)the United States taxpayers came to the aid for large banks during the great recession of 2008 because they were deemed too important to the national economy to be permitted to fail;(8)when a bank predicates the access to financial services of a person on factors or information (such as the lawful products a customer manufactures or sells or the services the customer provides) other than quantitative, impartial risk-based standards, the bank has failed to act consistent with basic principles of sound risk management and failed to provide fair access to financial services;(9)banks have a responsibility to make decisions about whether to provide a person with financial services on the basis of impartial criteria free from prejudice or favoritism;(10)while fair access to financial services does not obligate a bank to offer any particular financial service to the public, or to operate in any particular geographic area, or to provide a service the bank offers to any particular person, it is necessary that—(A)the financial services a bank chooses to offer in the geographic areas in which the bank operates be made available to all customers based on the quantitative, impartial risk-based standards of the bank, and not based on whether the customer is in a particular category of customers;(B)banks assess the risks posed by individual customers on a case-by-case basis, rather than category-based assessment; and(C)banks implement controls to manage relationships commensurate with these risks associated with each customer, not a strategy of total avoidance of particular industries or categories of customers;(11)banks are free to provide or deny financial services to any individual customer, but first, the banks must rely on empirical data that are evaluated consistent with the established, impartial risk-management standards of the bank; and(12)anything less is not prudent risk management and may result in unsafe or unsound practices, denial of fair access to financial services, cancelling, or eliminating certain businesses in society, and have a deleterious effect on national security and the national economy.3.PurposeThe purposes of this Act are to—(1)ensure fair access to financial services and fair treatment of customers by financial service providers, including national and State banks, Federal savings associations, and State and Federal credit unions;(2)ensure banks conduct themselves in a safe and sound manner, comply with laws and regulations, treat their customers fairly, and provide fair access to financial services;(3)protect against banks being able to impede otherwise lawful commerce and thereby achieve certain public policy goals;(4)ensure that persons involved in politically unpopular businesses but that are lawful under Federal law receive fair access to financial services under the law; and(5)ensure banks operate in a safe and sound manner by making judgments and decisions about whether to provide a customer with financial services on an impartial, individualized risk-based analysis using empirical data evaluated under quantifiable standards.4.Advances to individual member banks(a)Member banksSection 10B of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 347b) is amended by adding at the end the following:(c)Prohibition on use of discount window lending programsNo member bank with more than $10,000,000,000 in total consolidated assets, or subsidiary of the member bank, may use a discount window lending program if the member bank or subsidiary refuses to do business with any person who is in compliance with the law, including section 8 of the Fair Access to Banking Act..(b)Insured depository institutionsSection 8(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(a)(2)(A)) is amended—(1)in clause (ii), by striking or at the end;(2)in clause (iii), by striking the comma at the end and inserting ; or; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(iv)an insured depository institution with more than $10,000,000,000 in total consolidated assets, or subsidiary of the insured depository institution, that refuses to do business with any person who is in compliance with the law, including section 8 of the Fair Access to Banking Act..(c)Nonmember banks, trust companies, and other depository institutionsSection 13 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 342) is amended by inserting Provided further, That no such nonmember bank or trust company or other depository institution with more than $10,000,000,000 in total consolidated assets, or subsidiary of such nonmember bank or trust company or other depository institution, may refuse to do business with any person who is in compliance with the law, including, including section 8 of the Fair Access to Banking Act: after appropriate:.5.Payment card network(a)DefinitionIn this section, the term payment card network has the meaning given the term in section 921(c) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693o–2(c)).(b)ProhibitionNo payment card network, including a subsidiary of a payment card network, may, directly or through any agent, processor, or licensed member of the network, by contract, requirement, condition, penalty, or otherwise, prohibit or inhibit the ability of any person who is in compliance with the law, including section 8 of this Act, to obtain access to services or products of the payment card network because of political or reputational risk considerations.(c)Civil penaltyAny payment card network that violates subsection (b) shall be assessed a civil penalty by the Comptroller of the Currency of not more than 10 percent of the value of the services or products described in that subsection, not to exceed $10,000 per violation.6.Credit unionsSection 206(b)(1) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1786) is amended by inserting or is refusing or has refused, or has a subsidiary that is refusing or has refused, to do business with any person who is in compliance with the law, including section 8 of the Fair Access to Banking Act, after as an insured credit union,.7.Use of automated clearing house network(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Covered credit unionThe term covered credit union means—(A)any insured credit union, as defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752); or(B)any credit union that is eligible to make application to become an insured credit union under section 201 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1781).(2)Member bankThe term member bank has the meaning given the term in the third undesignated paragraph of the first section of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 221).(b)ProhibitionNo covered credit union, member bank, or State-chartered non-member bank with more than $10,000,000,000 in total consolidated assets, or a subsidiary of the covered credit union, member bank, or State-chartered non-member bank, may use the Automated Clearing House Network if that member bank, credit union, or subsidiary of the member bank or credit union, refuses to do business with any person who is in compliance with the law, including section 8 of this Act.8.Fair access to financial services(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)BankThe term bank—(A)means an entity for which the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is the appropriate Federal banking agency, as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); and(B)includes—(i)member banks;(ii)non-member banks;(iii)covered credit unions;(iv)State-chartered non-member banks; and(v)trust companies.(2)Covered bank(A)In generalThe term covered bank means a bank that has the ability to—(i)raise the price a person has to pay to obtain an offered financial service from the bank or from a competitor; or(ii)significantly impede a person, or the business activities of a person, in favor of or to the advantage of another person.(B)Presumption(i)In generalA bank shall not be presumed to be a covered bank if the bank has less than $10,000,000,000 in total assets.(ii)Rebuttable presumption(I)In generalA bank is presumed to be a covered bank if the bank has $10,000,000,000 or more in total assets.(II)RebuttalA bank that meets the criteria under subclause (I) can seek to rebut this presumption by submitting to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency written materials that, in the judgement of the agency, demonstrate the bank does not meet the definition of covered bank.(3)Covered credit unionThe term covered credit union means—(A)any insured credit union, as defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752); or(B)any credit union that is eligible to make application to become an insured credit union under section 201 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1781).(4)DenyThe term deny means to deny or refuse to enter into or terminate an existing financial services relationship with a person.(5)Fair access to financial servicesThe term fair access to financial services means persons engaged in activities lawful under Federal law are able to obtain financial services at banks without impediments caused by a prejudice against or dislike for a person or the business of the customer, products or services sold by the person, or favoritism for market alternatives to the business of the person.(6)Financial serviceThe term financial service means a financial product or service, including—(A)commercial and merchant banking;(B)lending;(C)financing;(D)leasing;(E)cash, asset and investment management and advisory services;(F)credit card services;(G)payment processing;(H)security and foreign exchange trading and brokerage services; and(I)insurance products.(7)Member bankThe term member bank has the meaning given the term in the third undesignated paragraph of the first section of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 221).(8)PersonThe term person—(A)means—(i)any natural person; or(ii)any partnership, corporation, or other business or legal entity; and(B)includes a customer.(b)Requirements(1)In generalTo provide fair access to financial services, a covered bank, including a subsidiary of a covered bank, shall, except as necessary to comply with another provision of law—(A)make each financial service it offers available to all persons in the geographic market served by the covered bank on proportionally equal terms;(B)not deny any person a financial service the covered bank offers unless the denial is justified by such quantified and documented failure of the person to meet quantitative, impartial risk-based standards established in advance by the covered bank;(C)not deny, in coordination with or at the request of others, any person a financial service the covered bank offers; and(D)when denying any person financial services the covered bank offers, to provide written justification to the person explaining the basis for the denial, including any specific laws or regulations the covered bank believes are being violated by the person or customer, if any.(2)Justification requirementA justification described in paragraph (1)(D) may not be based solely on the reputational risk to the depository institution.(c)Cause of action for violations of this section(1)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may commence a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United States against any covered bank or covered credit union that violates or fails to comply with the requirements under this Act, for harm that person suffered as a result of such violation.(2)No exhaustionIt shall not be necessary for a person to exhaust its administrative remedies before commencing a civil action under this Act.(3)DamagesIf a person prevails in a civil action under this Act, a court shall award the person—(A)reasonable attorney’s fees and costs; and(B)treble damages.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 3069
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			March 3, 2010
			Mr. Schumer (for
			 himself, Mr. Casey,
			 Mr. Brown of Ohio,
			 Mr. Tester, and Mr. Specter) introduced the following bill; which
			 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To amend the American Recovery and
		  Reinvestment Act of 2009 to provide for the preservation and creation of jobs
		  in the United States for projects receiving grants for specified energy
		  property.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 American Renewable Energy Jobs
			 Act.
		2.Modifications to grants for specified
			 energy property in lieu of tax credits
			(a)Discretion To provide grantsSubsection (a) of section 1603 of division
			 B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is amended by striking
			 Upon application, the Secretary of the Treasury shall and
			 inserting Upon application, the Secretary of the Treasury
			 may.
			(b)Preservation and creation of jobs in the
			 United StatesSection 1603 of
			 division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is amended by
			 redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (l), and by inserting after
			 subsection (i) the following new subsections:

					(j)Buy AmericanAny grants provided under this section
				shall be subject to the requirements of section 1605 of division A without
				regard to whether the specified energy property involves a public building or
				public work.
					(k)Domestic job preservation and
				creationThe Secretary of the
				Treasury shall not make any payment of any grant under this section unless the
				Secretary—
						(1)analyzes and takes into consideration
				domestic job preservation and creation provided by a specified energy property,
				including domestic job preservation and creation related to—
							(A)production of equipment for the
				property,
							(B)installation of equipment for the property,
				and
							(C)operation of the property, and
							(2)submits a copy of the analysis carried out
				under paragraph (1) for the specified energy property to the Committee on
				Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
				Representatives—
							(A)not later than 30 days after the date of
				application for a grant, for applications filed after the date of enactment of
				the American Renewable Energy Jobs
				Act, or
							(B)not later than 30 days after the date of
				enactment of such Act, for applications filed prior to the date of enactment of
				such
				Act.
							.
			(c)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by
			 this section shall apply to any grants for which full payment by the Secretary
			 of the Treasury has not yet been made as of the date of the enactment of this
			 Act.


110 HR 5130 IH: To provide for the payment of interest on claims paid by

U.S. House of Representatives
2008-01-23
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		110th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5130
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 23, 2008
			Mr. McDermott
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Armed
			 Services

		A BILL
		To provide for the payment of interest on claims paid by
		  the United States in connection with the correction of military records when a
		  military corrections board sets aside a conviction by
		  court-martial.

		1.Interest payments on certain
			 claims arising from correction of military records
			(a)Interest payable
			 on claimsSubsection (c) of
			 section 1552 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
			 the following new paragraph:

					(4)If the correction of military records under
				this section involves setting aside a conviction by court-martial, the payment
				of a claim under this subsection in connection with the correction of the
				records shall include interest at not less than the rate of interest in effect
				under section 1035 of this title at the time the payment is made. The interest
				shall be calculated on an annual basis, and compounded, using the amount of the
				lost pay, allowances, compensation, emoluments, or other pecuniary benefits
				involved, and the amount of any fine or forfeiture paid, beginning from the
				date of the conviction through the date on which the payment is
				made.
					.
			(b)Conforming
			 amendment regarding corrections board authority to overturn
			 convictionsSubsection (f) of such section is amended by
			 inserting convened after May 4, 1950, and after
			 court-martial cases.
			(c)Clerical
			 amendmentsSubsection (c) of
			 such section is further amended—
				(1)by
			 redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C),
			 respectively;
				(2)by inserting
			 (1) after (c);
				(3)by striking
			 If the claimant and inserting the following:

						(2)If the
				claimant
						;
				and
				(4)by striking
			 A claimant’s acceptance and inserting the following:

						(3)A
				claimant’s
				acceptance
						.
				(d)Retroactive
			 effectiveness of amendmentsThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall
			 apply with respect to any sentence of a court-martial set aside by a
			 Corrections Board on or after October 1, 2007, when the Corrections Board
			 includes an order or recommendation for the payment of a claim for the loss of
			 pay, allowances, compensation, emoluments, or other pecuniary benefits, or for
			 the repayment of a fine or forfeiture, that arose as a result of the
			 conviction. In this subsection, the term Corrections Board has
			 the meaning given that term in section 1557 of title 10, United States
			 Code.


116 HR 7707 IH: Providing Liquidity for Uncollectible Sales Act of 2020
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-07-21
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7707IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 21, 2020Mr. LaHood (for himself and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for the uncollectible accounts of eligible wholesale distributors.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Providing Liquidity for Uncollectible Sales Act of 2020 or as the PLUS Act of 2020. 2.Credit for uncollectible accounts of eligible wholesale distributors(a)In generalSubpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding after section 45T the following new section:45U.Wholesale distributor uncollectible accounts credit(a)In generalFor purposes of section 38, in the case of an eligible wholesale distributor, the wholesale distributor uncollectible accounts credit determined under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to the qualified accounts receivables of such distributor which become uncollectible during such taxable year.(b)Eligible wholesale distributorFor purposes of this section, the term eligible wholesale distributor means any person engaged in the trade or business of selling inventory to food and beverage establishments.(c)Qualified accounts receivableFor purposes of this section—(1)In generalThe term qualified accounts receivable means any accounts receivable which was accrued pursuant to normal payment terms by an eligible wholesale distributor for the sale of inventory delivered on or before March 25, 2020, to a qualified food and beverage establishment.(2)Normal payment termsAn amount shall be treated as accrued pursuant to normal payment terms if it is accrued under the applicable payment terms in effect on March 25, 2020, under an agreement established prior to that date between the eligible wholesale distributor and the qualified food and beverage establishment.(3)Presumption of uncollectabilityFor purposes of this section, a qualified accounts receivable shall be treated as becoming uncollectible during the taxable year of the eligible wholesale distributor which includes July 15, 2020, if—(A)the qualified food and beverage establishment to which such qualified accounts receivable relates does not provide on-premises consumption pursuant to an order or recommendation of an applicable Federal, State, or municipal authority for at least 30 days during the period beginning on March 25, 2020, and ending on July 15, 2020, and(B)such qualified accounts receivable is not paid before the close of such taxable year.(d)Qualified food and beverage establishmentFor purposes of this section—(1)Qualified food and beverage establishmentThe term qualified food and beverage establishment means a food and beverage establishment within the United States that ceases to provide on-premises consumption of food and beverage on or after March 25, 2020, pursuant to an order or recommendation of an applicable Federal, State, or municipal authority.(2)Food and beverage establishmentThe term food and beverage establishment means a commercial establishment engaged in the trade or business of preparing food and beverage for consumption on-premises or off-premises.(e)InventoryFor purposes of this section, the term inventory means property described in section 1221(a)(1) in the hands of the food and beverage establishments to which sold by the eligible wholesale distributor.(f)Coordination with deduction for bad debtsAny amount allowed as a credit under this section will not be allowable as a deduction under section 166..(b)Conforming amendmentsSection 38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking plus at the end of paragraph (32), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (33) and inserting , plus, and by adding after paragraph (33) the following new paragraph:(34)in the case of an eligible wholesale distributor (as defined in section 45U(b)), the wholesale distributor uncollectible accounts credit determined under section 45U(a)..(c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this sections shall apply to taxable years ending after March 25, 2020.


113 HR 4090 IH: Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2014
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-02-26
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.

		I
		113th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 4090
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 26, 2014
			Mr. Becerra (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Schwartz, and Mr. Crowley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 amend title II of the Social Security Act to improve the Social Security Administration’s
			 ability to fight fraud, prevent errors, and protect the Social Security
			 Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2014.
		2.Fraud and error prevention
			(a)In generalSection 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) is amended by striking subsection
			 (n) and inserting the following:

					(n)Fraud and error prevention
						(1)Subject to paragraph (4), there is hereby appropriated from any one or all of the Trust Funds to
			 the Social Security Administration for each fiscal year beginning with
			 fiscal year 2015 for fraud and error prevention activities described in
			 paragraph (3), in addition to any other amounts otherwise appropriated for
			 such fiscal year, an amount equal to the sum of—
							(A)the applicable dollar amount (determined under paragraph (2)), plus
							(B)an amount equal to the sum of any fines or other monetary penalties recovered in the previous
			 fiscal year pursuant to sections 208(a), 1129(a), 1140 (to the extent that
			 such penalties are imposed for misuse of words, letters, symbols, or
			 emblems relating to the Social Security Administration), and 1632(a).
							(2)The applicable dollar amount determined under this clause is—
							(A)for fiscal year 2015, $1,750,000,000;
							(B)for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020, $1,800,000,000; and
							(C)for each fiscal year thereafter, $1,800,000,000 multiplied by the ratio (not less than 1) of—
								(i)the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI–U, published by the Bureau of Labor
			 Statistics of the Department of Labor) for the 1st full calendar year
			 preceding such fiscal year, to
								(ii)the CPI–U for 2018.
								(3)The Commissioner of Social Security may use funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for the
			 following purposes:
							(A)Medical continuing disability reviews conducted pursuant to section 221(i) and section
			 1614(a)(3)(H).
							(B)SSI redeterminations conducted pursuant to section 1611(c).
							(C)Work-related continuing disability reviews conducted pursuant to section 223(f).
							(D)Establishment or expansion of cooperative disability investigations (CDI) units.
							(E)Pre-effectuation reviews conducted pursuant to section 221(c) and section 1633(e).
							(F)Quality reviews of decisions made by an administrative law judge under this title or title XVI in
			 accordance with section 221(n).
							(G)Recovery of overpayments under sections 204 and 1631(b).
							(H)Recovery of civil penalties imposed under sections 1129 and 1140.
							(I)Supporting prosecution of felonies under section 208.
							(4)Funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year shall not be available for obligation
			 until the report required to be submitted under paragraph (5) 60 days
			 prior to the beginning of such fiscal year has been submitted.
						(5)Not later than 60 days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year after 2014, the Commissioner of
			 Social Security shall submit a report to the Committee on Ways and Means
			 of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate,
			 and the Office of Management and Budget that includes the following:
							(A)A plan for conducting the fraud and error prevention activities described in paragraph (3) in such
			 fiscal year, including—
								(i)an itemized statement of the dollar amounts expected to be spent on each such activity during such
			 fiscal year;
								(ii)an itemized statement of the estimated long-term savings to the Trust Funds and the Treasury
			 expected to be obtained as a result of each such activity, and a statement
			 of the estimated total value of benefits paid under this title solely as a
			 result of such activities;
								(iii)performance targets for each such activity; and
								(iv)a certification from the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration that the plan will
			 improve the actuarial status of the Trust Funds.
								(B)An assessment of the fraud and error prevention activities described in paragraph (3) conducted in
			 the previous fiscal year, including—
								(i)an itemized statement of the dollar amounts spent on each such activity during such fiscal year;
								(ii)an itemized statement of the estimated long-term savings to the Trust Funds and the Treasury
			 obtained as a result of each such activity, and a statement of the
			 estimated total value of benefits paid under this title solely as a result
			 of such activities;
								(iii)an assessment of the extent to which performance targets set in the applicable plan for such fiscal
			 year were met;
								(iv)an explanation and a corrective action plan for any failure to meet such performance targets; and
								(v)an assessment of whether funds made available under paragraph (1) for such fiscal year were
			 adequate to protect the Trust Funds from fraud and errors, an explanation
			 of any such funds that remained unobligated at the end of the fiscal year,
			 and recommendations for needed adjustments to future funding in order to
			 protect the Trust Funds from fraud and errors and any additional
			 cost-effective strategies for improving the actuarial status of the Trust
			 Funds.
								(6)Of the discretionary amounts made available for Social Security Administration—Limitation on Administrative Expenses for each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2015, the amount obligated for the activities
			 described in paragraph (3) shall be not less than the sum of—
							(A)$273,000,000; plus
							(B)the amount obligated from funds made available for Social Security Administration—Limitation on Administrative Expenses for fiscal year 2013 for the activities described in subparagraphs (C) through (I) of paragraph
			 (3)..
			3.Expansion of cooperative disability investigations unitsNot later than October 1, 2017, the Commissioner of Social Security shall take any necessary
			 actions to ensure that cooperative disability investigations (CDI) units
			 have been established for each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia,
			 Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and
			 American Samoa.
		4.Codification of requirement to conduct quality reviews
			Section 221 of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(n)
					(1)The Commissioner of Social Security shall conduct quality reviews in accordance with section 969 of
			 part 404 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, in cases described in
			 section 970(a) of such part (as such sections were in effect on January 1,
			 2014) with respect to decisions in connection with applications for
			 benefits under this title and title XVI, in a sufficient number to ensure
			 compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance issued by the
			 Commissioner of Social Security.
					(2)The Commissioner of Social Security shall annually submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the
			 House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a
			 report that includes—
						(A)the total number of cases selected for a quality review as described in paragraph (1);
						(B)the number of such cases in which a decision is remanded; and
						(C)the number of such cases in which a decision is modified or reversed.
						.
		5.Report on work-related continuing disability reviewsSection 223 of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(k)Report on work-Related continuing disability reviewsThe Commissioner of Social Security shall annually submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the
			 House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a
			 report on the number of work-related continuing disability reviews
			 conducted pursuant to subsection (f). Such report shall include—
					(1)the total number of reports of earnings received by the Commissioner in the previous calendar year
			 from individuals receiving benefits on account of disability under this
			 title or title XVI;
					(2)the number of such reports that resulted in a determination by the Commissioner to conduct a
			 work-related continuing disability review with respect to the beneficiary
			 to whom such report pertains, and the basis on which such determinations
			 were made;
					(3)in the case of a beneficiary selected for a work-related continuing disability review on the basis
			 of a report of earnings—
						(A)the average number of days between the submission of the report and the initiation of the review,
			 and the average number of days between the initiation and the completion
			 of the review;
						(B)the number of such reviews completed during such calendar year, and the number of such reviews that
			 result in a suspension or termination of benefits; and
						(C)the number of such reviews that had not been completed as of the end of such calendar year;
						(4)the total savings to the Trust Funds and the Treasury generated from benefits terminated as a
			 result of such reviews; and
					(5)with respect to individuals for whom a work-related continuing disability review was completed
			 during such calendar year—
						(A)the number who participated in the Ticket to Work program under section 1148 during such calendar
			 year;
						(B)the number who used any program work incentives during such calendar year; and
						(C)the number who received vocational rehabilitation services during such calendar year with respect
			 to which the Commissioner of Social Security reimbursed a State
			 agency under section 222(d)..
		6.Coordination of reports relating to disability benefitsSection 221(i)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 421(i)(3)) is amended by adding at the end
			 the following: To the extent the Commissioner of Social Security determines to be necessary for maximum
			 efficiency, the Commissioner may submit a combined report consisting of
			 the information required to be submitted under this paragraph, subsection
			 (c)(3)(C), subsection (n)(2), section 201(n)(5), and section 223(k)..
		7.Increased penalties in certain cases of fraud
			(a)Conspiracy To commit Social Security fraudSection 208(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 408(a)) is amended—
				(1)in paragraph (7)(C), by striking or at the end;
				(2)in paragraph (8), by adding or at the end; and
				(3)by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:

						(9)conspires to commit any offense described in any of paragraphs (1) through (4),.
				(b)Increased criminal penalties for certain individuals in positions of trustSection 208(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 408(a)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by
			 striking the period at the end and inserting , except that in the case of a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in
			 connection with any determination with respect to benefits under this
			 title, or who is a physician or other health care provider who submits
			 medical evidence in connection with any such determination, such person
			 shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined
			 under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than ten
			 years, or both..
			(c)Increased civil penalties for certain individuals in positions of trustSection 1129(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–8(a)(1)) is amended, in the matter following
			 subparagraph (C), by inserting after withholding disclosure of such fact the following: , except that in the case of such a person who receives a fee or other income for services
			 performed in connection with any such determination or who is a physician
			 or other health care provider who submits medical evidence in connection
			 with any such determination, the amount of such penalty shall be not more
			 than $7,500.
			(d)References to Social Security and Medicare in electronic communicationsSection 1140(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–10(a)(1)) is amended by inserting (including any electronic communication) after or other communication.
			(e)Inflation adjustment of certain civil penaltiesTitle XI of the Social Security Act is amended by inserting after section 1129B the following:

					1129C.Civil penalty inflation adjustment
						(a)Adjustment by regulationThe Commissioner of Social Security shall, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
			 the Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2014, and at least once every 4 years thereafter—
							(1)by regulation adjust the maximum amount of each civil monetary penalty by the inflation adjustment
			 described under subsection (b); and
							(2)publish each such regulation in the Federal Register.
							(b)Amount of adjustmentThe inflation adjustment under subsection (a) shall be determined by increasing the maximum amount
			 of each civil monetary penalty by the cost-of-living adjustment. Any
			 increase determined under this subsection shall be rounded to the nearest—
							(1)multiple of $1,000 in the case of penalties greater than $1,000 but less than or equal to $10,000;
			 and
							(2)multiple of $5,000 in the case of penalties greater than $10,000 but less than or equal to
			 $100,000.
							(c)DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—
							(1)the term civil monetary penalty means—
								(A)a penalty imposed by paragraph (1) or (3) of section 1129(a); and
								(B)a penalty imposed by paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1140(b).
								(2)the term cost-of-living adjustment means the percentage (if any) for each civil monetary penalty by which—
								(A)the Consumer Price Index for the month of June of the calendar year preceding the adjustment,
			 exceeds
								(B)the Consumer Price Index for the month of June of the calendar year in which the amount of such
			 civil monetary penalty was last set or adjusted pursuant to law.
								(d)Application of increaseAny increase under this Act in a civil monetary penalty shall apply only to violations which occur
			 after the date the increase takes effect..
			8.Exclusion of certain medical evidence in disability cases
			(a)In generalSection 223(d)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423(d)(5)) is amended by adding at the end
			 the following:

					(C)In making any determination with respect to whether an individual is under a disability or
			 continues to be under a disability, the Commissioner of Social Security
			 may not consider, except for good cause as determined by the Commissioner,
			 any evidence furnished by a physician or other health care provider who—
						(i)has been barred from practice in any State; or
						(ii)has been assessed a penalty under section 1128 or 1129 for the submission of false evidence.
						.
			(b)RegulationsNot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social
			 Security shall issue regulations to carry out the amendment made by
			 subsection (a).
			(c)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to determinations of disability made
			 on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this
			 Act.
			9.Repeal of program integrity adjustments to discretionary spending limitsSection 251(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is
			 amended—
			(1)in subclause (II), by adding and at the end;
			(2)in subclause (III), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and
			(3)by striking subclauses (IV) through (X).


109 HR 1596 IH: Alternative Energy Enhancement Act of 2005
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-04-13
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.

I
109th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 1596
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 13, 2005
Mr. Alexander (for himself, Mr. Baker, Mr. Jindal, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Boustany, Mr. McCrery, and Mr. Melancon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL
To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to promote uses on the Outer Continental Shelf.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Alternative Energy Enhancement Act of 2005.
2.Alternate energy-related uses on the Outer Continental Shelf
(a)In generalSection 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(p)
(1)The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating and other relevant departments and agencies of the Federal Government, may grant a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit on the outer Continental Shelf for activities not otherwise authorized under this Act, the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.), or other applicable law, if those activities support or promote—
(A)exploration, development, production, transportation, or storage of oil, natural gas, or other minerals;
(B)production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas; or
(C)use, for energy-related or marine-related purposes, of facilities in use on or before the date of enactment of this subsection for activities authorized under this Act.
(2)
(A)
(i)Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall establish reasonable forms of payment for any lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection, including a royalty, fee, rental, bonus, or other payment, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(ii)The Secretary may establish a form of payment described in clause (i) by rule or by agreement with the holder of the lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit.
(B)In establishing a form of, or schedule relating to, a payment under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take into consideration the economic viability of a proposed activity.
(C)The Secretary may, by rule, provide for relief from or reduction of a payment under subparagraph (A)—
(i)if, without the relief or reduction, an activity relating to a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection would be uneconomical;
(ii)to encourage a particular activity; or
(iii)for another reason, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(D)If the holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection fails to make a payment by the date required under a rule or term of the lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit, the Secretary may require the holder to pay interest on the payment in accordance with the underpayment rate established under section 6621(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for the period—
(i)beginning on the date on which the payment was due; and
(ii)ending on the date on which the payment is made.
(E)
(i)The Secretary may allow a credit in the amount of any excess payment made by the holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection or provide a refund in the amount of the excess payment from the account to or in which the excess payment was paid or deposited.
(ii)The Secretary shall pay, or allow the holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection a credit in the amount of, any interest on an amount refunded or credited under clause (i) in accordance with the overpayment rate established under section 6621(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for the period—
(I)beginning on the date on which the Secretary received the excess payment; and
(II)ending on the date on which the refund or credit is provided.
(F)
(i)The Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, may establish reasonable forms of payment, as determined by the Secretary, for a license issued under the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.), including a royalty, fee, rental, bonus, or other payment, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, in addition to the administrative fee under section 102(h) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 9112(h)).
(ii)A form of payment under clause (i) may be established by rule or by agreement with the holder of the lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit.
(3)
(A)Any funds received by the Secretary from a holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection shall be distributed in accordance with this paragraph.
(B)
(i)If a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection covers a specific tract of, or regards a facility located on, the outer Continental Shelf and is not an easement or right-of-way for transmission or transportation of energy, minerals, or other natural resources, the Secretary shall pay 50 percent of any amount received from the holder of the lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit to the State off the shore of which the geographic center of the area covered by the lease, easement, right-of-way, license, permit, or facility is located, in accordance with Federal law determining the seaward lateral boundaries of the coastal States.
(ii)Not later than the last day of the month after the month during which the Secretary receives a payment from the holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit described in clause (i), the Secretary shall make payments in accordance with clause (i).
(C)
(i)The Secretary shall deposit 20 percent of the funds described in subparagraph (A) to a special account maintained and administered by the Secretary to provide research and development grants for improving energy technologies.
(ii)An amount deposited under clause (i) shall remain available until expended, without further appropriation.
(D)The Secretary shall credit 5 percent of the funds described in subparagraph (A) to the annual operating appropriation of the Minerals Management Service.
(E)The Secretary shall deposit any funds described in subparagraph (A) that are not deposited or credited under subparagraphs (B) through (D) in the general fund of the Treasury.
(F)This paragraph does not apply to any amount received by the Secretary under section 9701 of title 31, United States Code, or any other law (including regulations) under which the Secretary may recover the costs of administering this subsection.
(4)Before carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Defense and other appropriate Federal agencies regarding the effect of this subsection on national security and navigational obstruction.
(5)
(A)The Secretary may issue a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under paragraph (1) on a competitive or noncompetitive basis.
(B)In determining whether a lease, easement right-of-way, license, or permit shall be granted competitively or noncompetitively, the Secretary shall consider factors including—
(i)prevention of waste and conservation of natural resources;
(ii)the economic viability of a project;
(iii)protection of the environment;
(iv)the national interest and national security;
(v)human safety;
(vi)protection of correlative rights; and
(vii)the potential return of the lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit.
(6)The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, other relevant Federal agencies, and affected States, as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall promulgate any regulation the Secretary determines to be necessary to administer this subsection to achieve the goals of—
(A)ensuring public safety;
(B)protecting the environment;
(C)preventing waste;
(D)conserving the natural resources of, and protecting correlative rights in, the outer Continental Shelf;
(E)protecting national security interests;
(F)auditing and reconciling payments made and owed by each holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection to ensure a correct accounting and collection of the payments; and
(G)requiring each holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection to—
(i)establish such records as the Secretary determines to be necessary;
(ii)retain all records relating to an activity under a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection for such period as the Secretary may prescribe; and
(iii)produce the records on receipt of a request from the Secretary.
(7)Section 22 shall apply to any activity relating to a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection.
(8)The Secretary shall require the holder of a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit under this subsection to—
(A)submit to the Secretary a surety bond or other form of security, as determined by the Secretary; and
(B)comply with any other requirement the Secretary determines to be necessary to protect the interests of the United States.
(9)Nothing in this subsection displaces, supersedes, limits, or modifies the jurisdiction, responsibility, or authority of any Federal or State agency under any other Federal law.
(10)This subsection does not apply to any area on the outer Continental Shelf designated as a National Marine Sanctuary..
(b)Conforming amendmentSection 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is amended in the section heading by striking Leasing and all that follows and inserting Leases, Easements, and Rights-of-Way on the Outer Continental Shelf..
(c)Savings provisionNothing in the amendment made by subsection (a) requires any resubmission of documents previously submitted or any reauthorization of actions previously authorized with respect to any project—
(1)for which offshore test facilities have been constructed before the date of enactment of this Act; or
(2)for which a request for proposals has been issued by a public authority.


 S920 ENR: National Clinical Care Commission Act
U.S. Senate

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.

One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America1st SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January, two thousand and
			 seventeenS. 920IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAN ACTTo establish a National
 Clinical Care Commission. 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the National Clinical Care Commission Act.2.National clinical care commission(a)EstablishmentThere is hereby established, within the Department of Health and Human Services, a National Clinical Care Commission (in this section referred to as the Commission) to evaluate and make recommendations regarding improvements to the coordination and leveraging of programs within the Department and other Federal agencies related to awareness and clinical care for at least one, but not more than two, complex metabolic or autoimmune diseases resulting from issues related to insulin that represent a significant disease burden in the United States, which may include complications due to such diseases.(b)Membership(1)In generalThe Commission shall be composed of the following voting members:(A)The heads of the following Federal agencies and departments, or their designees:(i)The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(ii)The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.(iii)The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(iv)The Indian Health Service.(v)The Department of Veterans Affairs.(vi)The National Institutes of Health.(vii)The Food and Drug Administration.(viii)The Health Resources and Services Administration.(ix)The Department of Defense.(x)The Department of Agriculture.(xi)The Office of Minority Health.(B)Twelve additional voting members appointed under paragraph (2).(2)Additional membersThe Commission shall include additional voting members, as may be appointed by the Secretary, with expertise in the prevention, care, and epidemiology of any of the diseases and complications described in subsection (a), including one or more such members from each of the following categories:(A)Physician specialties, including clinical endocrinologists, that play a role in the prevention or treatment of diseases and complications described in subsection (a).(B)Primary care physicians.(C)Non-physician health care professionals.(D)Patient advocates.(E)National experts, including public health experts, in the duties listed under subsection (c).(F)Health care providers furnishing services to a patient population that consists of a high percentage (as specified by the Secretary) of individuals who are enrolled in a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act or who are not covered under a health plan or health insurance coverage.(3)ChairpersonThe members of the Commission shall select a chairperson from the members appointed under paragraph (2).(4)MeetingsThe Commission shall meet at least twice, and not more than four times, a year.(5)VacanciesA vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.(c)DutiesThe Commission shall evaluate and make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress regarding—(1)Federal programs of the Department of Health and Human Services that focus on preventing and reducing the incidence of the diseases and complications described in subsection (a);(2)current activities and gaps in Federal efforts to support clinicians in providing integrated, high-quality care to individuals with the diseases and complications described in subsection (a);(3)the improvement in, and improved coordination of, Federal education and awareness activities related to the prevention and treatment of the diseases and complications described in subsection (a), which may include the utilization of new and existing technologies;(4)methods for outreach and dissemination of education and awareness materials that—(A)address the diseases and complications described in subsection (a);(B)are funded by the Federal Government; and(C)are intended for health care professionals and the public; and(5)whether there are opportunities for consolidation of inappropriately overlapping or duplicative Federal programs related to the diseases and complications described in subsection (a).(d)Operating planNot later than 90 days after its first meeting, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress an operating plan for carrying out the activities of the Commission as described in subsection (c). Such operating plan may include—(1)a list of specific activities that the Commission plans to conduct for purposes of carrying out the duties described in each of the paragraphs in subsection (c);(2)a plan for completing the activities;(3)a list of members of the Commission and other individuals who are not members of the Commission who will need to be involved to conduct such activities;(4)an explanation of Federal agency involvement and coordination needed to conduct such activities;(5)a budget for conducting such activities; and(6)other information that the Commission deems appropriate.(e)Final reportBy not later than 3 years after the date of the Commission’s first meeting, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress a final report containing all of the findings and recommendations required by this section.(f)SunsetThe Commission shall terminate 60 days after submitting its final report, but not later than the end of fiscal year 2021.Speaker of the House of RepresentativesVice President of the United States and President of the Senate


I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 836IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 2, 2017Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a standard home office deduction.
1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Helping Our Middle-Class Entrepreneurs Act or the HOME Act. 2.Standard deduction for business use of home (a)In GeneralSubsection (c) of section 280A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(7)Standard home office deduction
(A)In generalIn the case of an individual who is allowed a deduction for the use of a home office because of a use described in paragraph (1), (2), or (4), notwithstanding the limitations of paragraph (5), if such individual elects the application of this paragraph for the taxable year, such individual shall be allowed a deduction equal to the standard home office deduction for the taxable year in lieu of the deductions otherwise allowable under this chapter for such taxable year by reason of such use. (B)Standard home office deductionFor purposes of this paragraph, the standard home office deduction is the lesser of—
(i)$1,500, or (ii)the gross income derived from the individual’s trade or business for which such use occurs.
(C)Inflation adjustmentIn the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2017, the dollar amount in subparagraph (B)(i) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (i)such dollar amount, multiplied by
(ii)the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting 2016 for 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof.Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.. (b)Effective DateThe amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016.


110 HR 3577 IH: To direct the Attorney General to provide grants for

U.S. House of Representatives
2007-09-18
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3577
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			September 18, 2007
			Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of
			 California (for herself, Mr.
			 Pomeroy, Mr. Holt,
			 Ms. DeLauro,
			 Mrs. McCarthy of New York,
			 Mr. Ellsworth,
			 Mr. Poe, Ms. Bordallo, Mr.
			 Chabot, Mr. Kennedy,
			 Mr. McIntyre, and
			 Mr. Kind) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on
			 Energy and Commerce, 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 direct the Attorney General to provide grants for
		  Internet safety education programs.

		1.Grants for Internet safety
			 education programs
			(a)Grant for
			 I-Safe
				(1)GrantSubject
			 to the availability of the funds authorized to be appropriated under paragraph
			 (2), the Attorney General shall provide a grant to i-Safe, Inc., to carry out
			 Internet safety education programs.
				(2)Authorization of
			 AppropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000
			 for grants under paragraph (1) for each of the fiscal years 2008 through
			 2012.
				(b)Competitive
			 grant program
				(1)EstablishmentSubject to the availability of the funds
			 authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall
			 create and administer a competitive grants program for organizations to carry
			 out Internet safety education programs.
				(2)Authorization of
			 AppropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000
			 for grants under paragraph (1) for each of the fiscal years 2008 through
			 2012.
				2.Internet Safety
			 Education Programs Defined
			(a)In
			 generalThe term Internet safety education programs
			 means programs that serve to educate parents, children, educators, and
			 communities about Internet technology and culture, appropriate online behavior,
			 and recognition and prevention of potential Internet dangers.
			(b)Related
			 Definitions
				(1)Internet
			 dangersThe term Internet dangers includes access
			 through the Internet and other electronic devices to inappropriate material,
			 solicitation by sexual predators, sexual or racial harassment, cyberbullying,
			 and identity theft.
				(2)CyberbullyingThe term cyberbullying
			 includes verbal or written psychological bullying or harassment by an
			 individual or group, using an electronic device or devices through means
			 including but not limited to e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, blogs,
			 telephones, pagers, and websites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile
			 behavior that is intended to harm others.


115 S958 IS: Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2017
U.S. Senate
2017-04-27
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II115th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 958IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESApril 27, 2017Ms. Hirono (for herself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Carper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationA BILLTo authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions for innovation or adaptation
			 management development relating to coral reef ecosystems, and for other
			 purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2017.
 2.Prize competitions to promote innovation in coral reef research and conservationThe Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended— (1)by redesignating sections 208, 209, and 210 (16 U.S.C. 6407, 6408, and 6409) as sections 209, 210, and 211, respectively; and
 (2)by inserting after section 207 the following:  208.Coral reef prize competitions (a)In generalThe head of any Federal agency with a representative serving on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force established under Executive Order 13089 issued on June 11, 1998 (16 U.S.C. 6401 note), may, either individually or in cooperation with one or more agencies, carry out a program to award prizes competitively under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719).
 (b)PurposesAny program carried out under this section shall be for the purpose of stimulating innovation to advance the ability of the United States to understand, research, or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to develop management or adaptation options to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems.
 (c)Priority programsPriority shall be given to establish programs under this section that address communities, environments, or industries that are in distress due to the decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems, including—
 (1)scientific research and monitoring that furthers the understanding of causes behind coral reef decline and degradation and the generally slow recovery following disturbances, including ocean acidification and its impacts on coral reproduction;
 (2)the development of monitoring or management options for communities or industries that are experiencing significant financial hardship;
 (3)the development of adaptation options to alleviate economic harm and job loss caused by damage to coral reef ecosystems;
 (4)the development of measures to help vulnerable communities or industries, with an emphasis on rural communities and businesses; and
 (5)the development of adaptation and management options for impacted tourism industries..


117 SRES 63 IS: Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Finance.
U.S. Senate
2021-02-19
text/xml
EN
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III117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 63IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 19, 2021Mr. Wyden, from the Committee on Finance, reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of February 13, 2021, the following original resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and AdministrationRESOLUTIONAuthorizing expenditures by the Committee on Finance.That, in carrying out its powers, duties, and functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, in accordance with its jurisdiction under rule XXV of such rules, including holding hearings, reporting such hearings, and making investigations as authorized by paragraphs 1 and 8 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee on Finance is authorized from March 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021; October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022; and October 1, 2022, through February 28, 2023, in its discretion (1) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the Senate, (2) to employ personnel, and (3) with the prior consent of the Government department or agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and Administration, to use on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis the services of personnel of any such department or agency.2.(a)The expenses of the committee for the period March 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021, under this resolution shall not exceed $5,527,337, of which amount (1) not to exceed $17,500 may be expended for the procurement of the services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended), and (2) not to exceed $5,833 may be expended for the training of the professional staff of such committee (under procedures specified by section 202(j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946).(b)For the period October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022, expenses of the committee under this resolution shall not exceed $9,475,434, of which amount (1) not to exceed $30,000 may be expended for the procurement of the services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended), and (2) not to exceed $10,000 may be expended for the training of the professional staff of such committee (under procedures specified by section 202(j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946).(c)For the period October 1, 2022, through February 28, 2023, expenses of the committee under this resolution shall not exceed $3,948,098, of which amount (1) not to exceed $12,500 may be expended for the procurement of the services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended), and (2) not to exceed $4,166 may be expended for the training of the professional staff of such committee (under procedures specified by section 202(j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946).3.The committee shall report its findings, together with such recommendations for legislation as it deems advisable, to the Senate at the earliest practicable date, but not later than February 28, 2021.4.Expenses of the committee under this resolution shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee, except that vouchers shall not be required (1) for the disbursement of salaries of employees paid at an annual rate, or (2) for the payment of telecommunications provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or (3) for the payment of stationery supplies purchased through the Keeper of the Stationery, United States Senate, or (4) for payments to the Postmaster, United States Senate, or (5) for the payment of metered charges on copying equipment provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or (6) for the payment of Senate Recording and Photographic Services, or (7) for payment of franked and mass mail costs by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate.5.There are authorized such sums as may be necessary for agency contributions related to the compensation of employees of the committee from March 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021; October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022; and October 1, 2022, through February 28, 2023, to be paid from the Appropriations account for Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 79
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			January 6, 2009
			Mr. Kerry introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Finance

		A BILL
		To amend the Social Security Act to establish a Federal
		  Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Healthy Businesses, Healthy
			 Workers Reinsurance Act of 2009.
		2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
			(1)The cost of
			 health insurance premiums for families has risen 100 percent since 2000, 4
			 times the growth in overall inflation and workers’ earnings.
			(2)Health insurance
			 premium increases have resulted in a nearly 6 percentage point drop in the
			 number of firms choosing to offer coverage to their workers over that time
			 period.
			(3)Today, just 49
			 percent of firms with between 3 and 9 employees offer health insurance
			 benefits, down from 58 percent in 2001.
			(4)The decline in
			 employer-sponsored coverage has added to the growing problem of the uninsured.
			 An additional 5,000,000 Americans have been added to the ranks of the uninsured
			 since 2001.
			(5)Health care costs
			 are highly concentrated. Catastrophically or chronically ill individuals
			 account for nearly 80 percent of health care spending, with 10 percent of
			 individuals accounting for over 60 percent of spending, and just 1 percent
			 driving over 20 percent of health care costs.
			3.Federal
			 Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs
			(a)ProgramThe Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et
			 seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new title:

					XXIIFederal
				Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs
						2201.Office of
				Federal Reinsurance
							(a)In
				generalThere is established
				within the Department of Health and Human Services an office to be known as the
				Office of Federal Reinsurance.
							(b)DutyThe
				Office of Federal Reinsurance shall establish and administer the Federal
				Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs in accordance with the
				provisions of this title.
							2202.Program
							(a)Establishment
								(1)In
				generalThe Office shall establish and administer a Federal
				Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs under which reinsurance
				payments are provided to eligible health plans that experience catastrophic
				health care costs during a year with respect to an individual covered under the
				plan. For purposes of this title, the term individual covered under the
				plan includes employees, retirees, spouses, and dependants.
								(2)Program to
				begin in 2010The Office shall establish the Program in a manner
				so that reinsurance payments are made with respect to catastrophic health care
				costs occurring on or after January 1, 2010.
								(3)Eligible health
				plan
									(A)In
				generalIn this title, the term eligible health
				plan means any of the following:
										(i)A
				group health plan that meets the requirements described in subparagraph
				(B).
										(ii)A governmental
				plan (as defined in section 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
				Act of 1974) that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (B).
										(iii)A multiemployer
				plan (as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
				Act of 1974) that meets the requirements described in subparagraph (B).
										(iv)A plan that
				offers coverage through health purchasing cooperatives in conjunction with a
				State health program that makes available health insurance coverage to the
				small group market and the individual market on the same terms and that meets
				the requirements described in subparagraph (B).
										(B)RequirementsThe
				requirements described in this subparagraph are that—
										(i)the plan
				involved—
											(I)provides
				eligibility for health insurance coverage (after any waiting period (as defined
				in section 9801(b)(4))) to all full-time employees of the employer maintaining
				or contributing to the plan;
											(II)ensures that if
				there is a deductible under the plan, such deductible does not exceed $1,000
				for an individual and $2,000 for a family;
											(III)ensures that
				the plan offers preventative benefits; and
											(IV)ensures that the
				plan employs effective high-cost case management tools (in accordance with the
				definition of disease management by the Disease Management Association of
				America) in order to reduce costs over time; and
											(ii)the employer
				maintaining or contributing to the plan involved pays at least 50 percent of
				the costs of health insurance coverage for each employee covered under the plan
				(regardless of whether the employee is a full-time or part-time
				employee).
										(C)Cost-of-living
				adjustment
										(i)In
				generalIn the case of any calendar year after 2010. each dollar
				amount in subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be increased by an amount equal to—
											(I)such dollar
				amount, multiplied by
											(II)the
				cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) of the Internal
				Revenue Code of 1986 for such calendar year determined by substituting
				calendar year 2009 for calendar year 1992 in
				subparagraph (B) thereof.
											(ii)Date for
				determinationFor purposes of clause (i), section 1(f)(4) of such
				Code shall be applied by substituting March 31 for August
				31, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish the adjusted
				amounts under subparagraph (B)(ii) for the calendar year not later than June 1
				of the preceding calendar year.
										(iii)RoundingIf
				any increase under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be
				rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.
										(D)EmployerFor
				purposes of this title, the term employer includes the Federal
				government and any other governmental entity (within the meaning of section
				5000(d) of Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
									(b)Enrollment
								(1)ProceduresThe
				Office shall establish procedures for the enrollment of eligible health plans
				in the Program.
								(2)Application and
				annual recertification
									(A)In
				generalThe procedures established under paragraph (1) shall
				include a process for an eligible health plan—
										(i)to submit an
				application to the Office for enrollment in the Program; and
										(ii)to be annually
				recertified for enrollment in the Program.
										(B)RequirementThe
				application and recertification process under subparagraph (A) shall require
				that an eligible health plan submit to the Office—
										(i)a
				detailed description of the projected and actual reduction in total costs under
				the plan that are a result of the Program, including both individual and
				employer portions; and
										(ii)such other
				information determined appropriate by the Office.
										(3)Approval
									(A)In
				generalThe procedures established under paragraph (1) shall
				provide for the approval or disapproval of applications and requests for
				recertification submitted by eligible health plans under paragraph (2).
									(B)Specific
				requirementThe Office shall not approve an application or a
				request for recertification unless the Office finds that the eligible health
				plan is reducing total costs under the plan, based on the information submitted
				under paragraph (2)(B) and audits conducted under paragraph (4).
									(4)AuditsThe
				Office shall conduct audits of claims data of eligible health plans in order to
				ensure that the eligible health plan is in compliance with the requirements
				under the Program, including the requirement under paragraph (3)(B). An
				eligible health plan shall not be eligible for reinsurance payments unless it
				provides the Office with access to such data.
								(c)Cost-sharing in
				costs of Program
								(1)In
				generalAn eligible health plan that participates in the Program
				shall pay the fee established by the Office under paragraph (2).
								(2)AuthorizationThe
				Office is authorized to charge a fee to each eligible health plan that
				participates in the Program. Any amounts collected shall be deposited into the
				Trust Fund.
								(3)RequirementsIn
				establishing the fee under paragraph (2)—
									(A)the Office shall
				consult with interested parties; and
									(B)shall ensure that
				the amount of such fee is not excessive so as to unduly discourage eligible
				health plans from enrolling in the Program.
									(d)Appeals
				processThe Office shall establish an appeals process under the
				Program.
							(e)Procedures To
				protect against fraud, waste, and abuseThe Office shall
				establish procedures to protect against fraud, waste, and abuse under the
				Program.
							2203.Reinsurance
				payments
							(a)Amount
								(1)In
				generalThe amount of a reinsurance payment under the Program to
				an eligible health plan that experiences catastrophic health care costs in a
				year with respect to an individual covered under the plan shall be an amount
				equal to 75 percent of such costs.
								(2)Catastrophic
				health care costs
									(A)In
				generalIn this title, the term catastrophic health care
				costs means, with respect to a year, costs for medical care (as defined
				in section 9832(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) provided under an
				eligible health plan to an individual covered under the plan, but only with
				respect to such costs which exceed $50,000.
									(B)Negotiated
				pricesIn determining the amount of catastrophic health care
				costs under the Program, the eligible health care plan shall take into account
				any negotiated price concessions, such as discounts, direct or indirect
				subsidies, rebates, and direct or indirect remunerations, obtained by the
				plan.
									(C)Inflation
				adjustment
										(i)In generalIn the case of a calendar year after 2010,
				the $50,000 amount in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by an amount equal
				to—
											(I)such dollar
				amount; multiplied by
											(II)the percentage
				(if any) by which the average of the medical care component of the Consumer
				Price Index for all urban consumers (United States city average) for the
				12-month period ending with August of the preceding calendar year exceeds such
				average for the 12-month period ending with August 2009.
											(ii)RoundingIf
				any dollar amount after being increased under clause (i) is not a multiple of
				$1,000, such dollar amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of
				$1,000.
										(b)Requests for
				paymentTo be eligible for a reinsurance payment with respect to
				an individual for a year, an eligible health plan shall submit to the Office,
				at a time and in a manner determined appropriate by the Office, a request for
				payment that contains—
								(1)a
				certification—
									(A)that the plan
				paid or incurred catastrophic health care costs during the year with respect to
				the individual; and
									(B)of the amount of
				such costs; and
									(2)such other
				information determined appropriate by the Office.
								(c)Payments from
				Trust Fund
								(1)In
				generalPayments to eligible health plans under the Program shall
				be made from the Trust Fund.
								(2)Tax
				treatmentFor purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of
				1986—
									(A)payments from the
				Trust Fund to the eligible health plan shall not be included in gross income;
				and
									(B)no deduction
				shall be allowed to the eligible health plan with respect to the payment of any
				catastrophic health care costs for the portion of such costs which was
				reimbursed from the Trust Fund.
									2204.Federal
				Reinsurance for Catastrophic Health Care Costs Trust Fund
							(a)Creation of
				Trust FundThere is established in the Treasury of the United
				States a trust fund to be known as the Federal Reinsurance for
				Catastrophic Health Care Costs Trust Fund, consisting of such amounts
				as may be appropriated or credited to the Trust Fund (including any fees
				deposited under section 2202(c)).
							(b)Mandatory
				appropriationsThere are appropriated to the Trust Fund such sums
				as may be necessary in order to make the reinsurance payments required under
				section 2203.
							(c)Rules regarding
				transfers to and management of Trust FundFor purposes of this
				section, rules similar to the rules of sections 9601 and 9602 of the Internal
				Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply.
							(d)Distribution of
				amounts in Trust FundAmounts
				in the Trust Fund shall be available for making payments under section
				2203.
							2205.Reports
							(a)Secretary
								(1)In
				generalNot later than March 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter,
				the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the Program.
								(2)Requirements
									(A)In
				generalEach report submitted under paragraph (1) shall
				contain—
										(i)a detailed
				description of the Program, including a detailed description of the impact the
				Program has had on reducing premiums for health insurance coverage and
				increasing the number of individuals with health insurance coverage; and
										(ii)any other
				information or recommendations determined appropriate by the Secretary.
										(B)Individual
				marketThe first report submitted under paragraph (1) shall also
				contain recommendations regarding expanding the Program to the individual
				market.
									(C)ConsultationThe
				Secretary shall consult with the National Association of Insurance
				Commissioners in preparing each report under paragraph (1).
									(b)GAO
								(1)In
				generalNot later than March 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter,
				the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress and the
				Secretary a report on the Program.
								(2)Requirements
									(A)In
				generalEach report submitted under paragraph (1) shall
				contain—
										(i)a detailed
				description of the Program, including a detailed description of the impact the
				Program has had on reducing premiums for health insurance coverage and
				increasing the number of individuals with health insurance coverage; and
										(ii)any other
				information or recommendations determined appropriate by the Comptroller
				General.
										(B)Individual
				marketThe first report submitted under paragraph (1) shall also
				contain recommendations regarding expanding the Program to the individual
				market.
									2206.DefinitionsIn this title:
							(1)Group health
				planThe term group health plan has the meaning
				given such term by section 5000(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of
				1986.
							(2)Individual
				market; small group marketThe terms individual
				market and small group market have the meanings given
				such terms by section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act.
							(3)OfficeThe
				term Office means the Office of Federal Reinsurance established
				under section 2201.
							(4)ProgramThe
				term Program means the Federal Reinsurance Program for
				Catastrophic Health Care Costs under this title.
							(5)Trust
				FundThe term Trust Fund means the Federal
				Reinsurance for Catastrophic Health Care Costs Trust Fund established under
				section
				2204.
							.
			(b)Funding
			 start-Up administrative costs for Program
				(1)In
			 generalThere are appropriated to the Secretary of Health and
			 Human Services $200,000,000 to carry out the provisions of, and amendments made
			 by, this Act.
				(2)AvailabilityAmounts
			 appropriated under paragraph (1) shall remain available until September 30,
			 2010.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2375
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 12, 2009
			Mr. Sherman (for
			 himself, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen,
			 Mr. Klein of Florida,
			 Mr. Burton of Indiana, and
			 Mr. Kirk) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the
			 Judiciary,
			 Oversight and Government
			 Reform, and Ways and
			 Means, 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 the application of sanctions against
		  affiliates of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps Designation Implementation
			 Act.
		2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
			(1)The Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
			 is a political and ideological military organization of Iran’s government,
			 separate from the Iranian military. It globally spreads Iran’s ideology to
			 terrorist groups and began deploying fighters abroad during the Iran-Iraq War
			 in an effort to spread the ideology of the Iranian Revolution throughout the
			 Middle East.
			(2)The Qods Force, a
			 paramilitary arm of the IRGC, was created to conduct foreign
			 operations—beginning in Iraq’s Kurdish region—and to forge relationships with
			 Shiite and Kurdish groups. A Qods unit was also deployed to Lebanon in 1982,
			 where it helped to form Hizballah.
			(3)The IRGC was
			 designated as an entity of proliferation concern under Executive Order 13382 on
			 October 21, 2007, and the Qods Force was designated as a terrorism supporting
			 entity under Executive Order 13224 on October 25, 2007.
			(4)To further the
			 support of terrorism abroad, Iran’s government allows the IRGC to raise funds
			 and own businesses. The IRGC often operates through front businesses and
			 affiliate groups.
			(5)The IRGC and Qods
			 Force front businesses and affiliate groups represent an important part of the
			 Iranian economy. The National Iranian Gas Company issued one such firm,
			 Khatam-ol-Anbia (Ghorb), a $1.3 billion contract to construct Iran’s seventh
			 gas pipeline. In June 2006, Pars Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of the
			 state-owned National Iranian Oil Company, awarded Ghorb a $2.3 billion contract
			 to develop Phases 15-16 of Iran’s South Pars development—the world's second
			 largest gas field. In July 2006, Tehran Urban & Suburban Railway Company
			 granted Ghorb a $1.2 billion contract to build the seventh line of Tehran’s
			 metro system and a $350 million civil engineering contract for the fourth
			 line.
			(6)In 2008, IRGC
			 naval ships aggressively approached the USS Port Royal, USS Hopper, and USS
			 Ingraham, during a routine transit at the Strait of Hormuz.
			(7)Members of the
			 IRGC captured 15 British sailors and marines who were inspecting ships in the
			 Persian Gulf near the demarcation line that separates the territorial waters of
			 Iran and Iraq.
			(8)In December 2006
			 and January 2007, Iranian surrogates—the Qazali and Sheibani networks, which
			 are now collectively referred to as the Special Groups—stepped up their attacks
			 on Iraqi and Coalition forces. The Qazali network conducted sophisticated
			 operations against United States forces at the Karbala Joint Provincial
			 Coordination Center, kidnapping and killing five United States soldiers during
			 the aborted operation.
			(9)The Qods Force has
			 provided aid in the form of weapons, training, and funding to Hamas, Palestine
			 Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General
			 Command, Hizballah, Iraq-based militants, and Taliban fighters in
			 Afghanistan.
			(10)The United States
			 military reported in February 2007 that the Qods Force was furnishing
			 assistance to Shiite militias in Iraq to assemble improvised explosive devices
			 (IEDs) and explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) that had been used to kill
			 over 150 United States service personnel.
			(11)United States
			 commanders in Afghanistan—along with the Department of State’s Report on
			 International Terrorism for 2007 and 2008—have cited specific weapons shipments
			 by Iran, implemented by the Qods Force, to Taliban militants in Afghanistan.
			 The Qods Force provided training to the Taliban on small unit tactics, small
			 arms, explosives, and indirect fire weapons. Since at least 2006, Iran has
			 arranged arms shipments including small arms and associated ammunition, rocket
			 propelled grenades, mortar rounds, 107-mm rockets, and plastic explosives to
			 select Taliban members.
			3.Sanctions against
			 affiliates of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps
			(a)Publication of
			 names of affiliates in federal registerNot later than 90 days after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act, and as appropriate thereafter, the President shall
			 publish in the Federal Register the name of each foreign person or foreign
			 entity for which there is credible information indicating that the person or
			 entity is as an agent, alias, front, instrumentality, official, or affiliate of
			 the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps or is an individual serving as a
			 representative of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps.
			(b)Application of
			 existing sanctions against Iran to affiliatesThe President shall apply to each foreign
			 person or foreign entity identified in the Federal Register pursuant to
			 subsection (a) all applicable sanctions of the United States in force against
			 the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps as of the date of publication of the name of
			 the person or entity in the Federal Register, including measures contained in
			 the following Executive orders:
				(1)Executive Order
			 13224 (66 Fed. Reg. 49079; relating to blocking property and prohibiting
			 transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support
			 terrorism).
				(2)Executive Order 13382 (70 Fed. Reg. 38567;
			 relating to blocking property of weapons of mass destruction proliferators and
			 their supporters).
				(c)Sanctions under
			 Executive Order 13438
				(1)Publication of
			 names of affiliates in federal registerNot later than 90 days
			 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and as appropriate thereafter, the
			 President shall publish in the Federal Register the name of each foreign person
			 or foreign entity—
					(A)for which there is credible information
			 indicating that the person or entity is as an agent, alias, front,
			 instrumentality, official, or affiliate of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps
			 or is an individual serving as a representative of the Iran Revolutionary Guard
			 Corps; and
					(B)for which there is
			 credible evidence that the foreign person or foreign entity—
						(i)has
			 committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of
			 violence that have the purpose or effect of—
							(I)threatening the
			 peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or
							(II)undermining
			 efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to
			 provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;
							(ii)has
			 materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or
			 technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts
			 of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked
			 pursuant to Executive Order 13438; or
						(iii)is owned or controlled by, or has acted or
			 purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose
			 property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order
			 13438.
						(2)Application of
			 sanctions under executive order 13438The President shall apply to each foreign
			 person or foreign entity identified in the Federal Register pursuant to
			 paragraph (1) all applicable sanctions and measures of the United States
			 contained in Executive Order 13438 (72 Fed. Reg. 39719; relating to blocking
			 property of certain persons who threaten stabilization efforts in Iraq).
				(d)Exclusion from
			 United StatesThe Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and
			 the Secretary of Homeland Security shall exclude from the United States, any
			 alien who, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, is a foreign
			 person identified in the Federal Register pursuant to subsection (a) or
			 (c).
			(e)Rule of
			 constructionNothing in this
			 section shall be construed to remove any sanction of the United States in force
			 against the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps as of the date of the enactment of
			 this Act by reason of the fact that the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps is an
			 entity of the Government of Iran.
			4.Measures against
			 foreign persons or entities supporting the Iran Revolutionary Guard
			 Corps
			(a)NotificationWhenever
			 the President determines that there is credible information indicating that a
			 foreign person or foreign entity, on or after the date of the enactment of this
			 Act, knowingly—
				(1)provided material support to the Iran
			 Revolutionary Guard Corps or any affiliated foreign person or foreign entity
			 identified pursuant to section 3 (a) or (c), or
				(2)conducted any commercial transaction or
			 financial transaction with the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps or any
			 affiliated foreign person or foreign entity identified pursuant to section 3
			 (a) or (c),
				the
			 President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
			 notification that contains the name of the foreign person or foreign entity (as
			 the case may be).(b)FormThe
			 President may submit the notification required under subsection (a) in
			 classified form.
			(c)Executive Order
			 12938 sanctionsNot later than 60 days after the date on which
			 the President provides notice to the appropriate congressional committees
			 pursuant to subsection (a), the President shall apply to each foreign person or
			 foreign entity identified in such notice, for such time as the President may
			 determine, the measures set forth in section 4 of Executive Order 12938 (59
			 Fed. Reg. 59099; relating to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction) and
			 shall terminate such measures in accordance with the provisions of such
			 section.
			(d)IEEPA
			 sanctionsThe President may exercise the authorities the
			 President has under section 203(a) of the International Emergency Economic
			 Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702(a)) to impose additional sanctions on each foreign
			 person or foreign entity identified pursuant to subsection (a) of this section,
			 for such time as the President may determine, without regard to section 202 of
			 that Act.
			(e)WaiverThe
			 President may waive the application of any measure described in subsection (c)
			 with respect to a foreign person or foreign entity if the President—
				(1)(A)determines that the
			 person or entity has ceased the offending activity and has taken measures to
			 prevent its recurrence; or
					(B)determines that it is vital to the
			 national security interests of the United States to do so; and
					(2)submits to the
			 appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the reasons for the
			 determination.
				5.Special measures
			 against foreign governments supporting the Iran Revolutionary Guards
			 Corps
			(a)Executive Order
			 12938 sanctionsWith respect to any foreign entity identified
			 pursuant to section 4(a) that is a foreign government, the President shall, in
			 addition to applying to the entity the measures described in section 4(d),
			 apply to the entity the measures set forth in section 5(b) of Executive Order
			 12938.
			(b)WaiverThe
			 President may waive the application of any measure described in subsection (a)
			 with respect to a foreign entity if the President—
				(1)(A)determines that the
			 entity has ceased the offending activity and has taken measures to prevent its
			 recurrence; or
					(B)determines that it is vital to the
			 national security interests of the United States to do so; and
					(2)submits to the
			 appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the reasons for the
			 determination.
				6.DefinitionsIn this Act:
			(1)Appropriate
			 congressional committeesThe
			 term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on
			 Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
			 Relations of the Senate.
			(2)Foreign
			 personThe term foreign person has the meaning
			 given the term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996.
			(3)Iran
			 Revolutionary Guard CorpsThe
			 term Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps includes the Iran
			 Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.