117 S342 IS: Working On Rewarding and Keeping Employees Resilient Act
U.S. Senate
2021-02-22
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 342IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 22, 2021Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo advance STEM education, provide for improved worker training, retention, and advancement, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Working On Rewarding and Keeping Employees Resilient Act or the WORKER Act.2.Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title.Sec. 2. Table of contents.TITLE I—Advancing STEM educationSec. 101. Grant program.Sec. 102. Table of contents.TITLE II—Worker training, retention, and advancementSubtitle A—Leveraging effective apprenticeships To rebuild national skillsSec. 201. Short title.Sec. 202. Definitions.Part 1—Promoting registered apprenticeshipsSec. 211. Promoting registered apprenticeship programs.Sec. 212. Promoting integration with postsecondary education.Part 2—Program development and enhancementSec. 221. Expanding registered apprenticeship programs.Subtitle B—Reemployment and trainingSec. 231. Coordinating State unemployment compensation programs with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.Sec. 232. Training stipends.Sec. 233. Authorization of appropriations.TITLE III—Authorization of appropriationsSec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.IAdvancing STEM education101.Grant programPart F of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7251 et seq.) is amended—(1)in section 4601—(A)in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (other than subpart 5) after part; and(B)by adding at the end the following:(c)Authorization of appropriations for subpart 5There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart 5—(1)$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023; and(2)$21,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.; and(2)by adding at the end the following:5Engineering education4651.Grant program authorized(a)In generalFrom amounts appropriated under section 4601(c), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to implement formal and informal engineering education programs in elementary schools and secondary schools to—(1)teach students the overall analytical and experimental approaches used in engineering and engineering technology; and(2)increase participation of under-represented student groups in the engineering and engineering technology pipeline.(b)Maximum grant amountA grant awarded under this subpart may not exceed $1,000,000.(c)Matching fundsAn eligible entity receiving a grant under this subpart shall provide non-Federal funds in amount equal to the grant amount. Such non-Federal funds may include in-kind support (such as equipment, supplies, materials, and participation of personnel in the development and implementation of activities to be carried out under the grant).(d)Uses of funds(1)In generalAn eligible entity receiving a grant under this subpart shall use such funds to carry out a program that—(A)provides engineering instructional materials based on review and analysis of the effectiveness of existing formal, or informal research-based and evidenced-based locally relevant instructional materials;(B)provides professional development for pre-service and in-service teachers to teach engineering;(C)provides instructions on engineering and engineering technology during normal classroom hours or after school;(D)incorporates evidence-based practices to increase diversity of student groups participating in the program;(E)encourages participation of engineers from local private and public organizations to mentor the teachers and students;(F)encourages engineering faculty and students from institutions of higher education as mentors for the elementary school or secondary school students, and teachers as appropriate; and(G)encourages members of local workforce who use engineering technology and methods in the workplace to serve as mentors to teachers and students.(2)Public-private partnershipsEach eligible entity awarded a grant under this subpart shall be encouraged to carry out the program funded under the grant in partnership with one or more of the following:(A)Elementary schools or secondary schools receiving assistance under this subpart.(B)Institutions of higher education.(C)Private sector businesses.(D)Nonprofit organizations.(E)Community-based organizations.(F)Public or private entities with demonstrated record of success in delivering educational support.(G)Summer school programs.(H)Registered apprenticeship programs (meaning a program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.)).(e)ApplicationsAn application for a grant under this subpart submitted by an eligible entity shall demonstrate long-term commitment for the proposed program through—(1)providing laboratory and instructional space;(2)establishing ongoing professional training programs for pre-service and in-service teachers and teachers in-residence; and(3)commitment to scaling successful programs for engineering and engineering technology education in elementary schools and secondary schools under the jurisdiction of the eligible entity.(f)PriorityIn awarding grants under this subpart, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that serve under-represented minorities in engineering.(g)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Eligible entityThe term eligible entity means a consortium of local educational agencies.(2)Instructional materialsThe term instructional materials means materials that—(A)emphasize—(i)engineering fundamentals and concepts, problem-based learning; and(ii)essential skills such as systems thinking, creativity, teamwork, communication, and ethical considerations;(B)are designed to introduce students to modern engineering and engineering technology tools such as computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, statistical analysis, codes and standards, human factors, and reliability analysis; and(C)are aligned with and integrated into relevant science, engineering, and mathematics standards that may exist in the applicable State or may be developed.4652.Annual report to CongressNot later than 1 year after the first grant is awarded under this subpart, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall provide a report to Congress on activities and results under this subpart. Such reports shall describe—(1)the total number of grant applications received for the preceding year;(2)the number and geographic distribution of the grants for such year and for all grants awarded under this subpart;(3)participation of minority-serving institutions of higher education, such as historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions;(4)participation of under-represented and economically disadvantaged student groups;(5)plans for collaboration among eligible entities receiving a grant under this subpart;(6)overall program outcomes and issues of concern; and(7)recommendations for program revisions to achieve the desired program outcome..102.Table of contentsThe table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4644 the following:SUBPART 5—Engineering education Sec. 4651. Grant program authorized. Sec. 4652. Annual report to Congress..IIWorker training, retention, and advancementALeveraging effective apprenticeships To rebuild national skills201.Short titleThis subtitle may be cited as the Leveraging Effective Apprenticeships to Rebuild National Skills Act or the LEARNS Act.202.DefinitionsIn this subtitle:(1)AdministratorThe term Administrator means the Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship appointed under section 211(a).(2)Apprenticeship-readiness programThe term apprenticeship-readiness program means a program or set of strategies that—(A)is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program;(B)is carried out by an eligible entity described in section 211(b)(2)(C) that has an application approved under section 211(b)(3) and that has a documented partnership with at least 1 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; and(C)includes each of the following elements:(i)Training (including a curriculum for the training), aligned with industry standards and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the registered apprenticeships within the documented partnership, that will prepare individuals by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more registered apprenticeship programs.(ii)Provision of hands-on training and theoretical education to individuals that—(I)accurately simulates the industry and occupational conditions of the registered apprenticeship program described in subparagraph (B);(II)is carried out in a manner that includes proper observation of supervision and safety protocols; and(III)is carried out in a manner that does not displace a paid employee.(iii)A formal agreement with a sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program that would enable participants who successfully complete the apprenticeship-readiness program to enter directly into the registered apprenticeship program (if a place in the program is available), and includes agreements concerning earning credit recognized by a postsecondary educational institution for skills and competencies acquired during the apprenticeship-readiness program. (3)Career pathwayThe term career pathway has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).(4)Educational service agencyThe term educational service agency—(A)has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); and(B)includes a collaborative of those agencies.(5)High schoolThe term high school means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school that—(A)provides secondary education, as determined under State law;(B)grants a diploma, as defined by the State; and(C)includes, at least, grade 12.(6)In-demand industry sector or occupationThe term in-demand industry sector or occupation has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).(7)Local and State workforce development boardsThe terms local workforce development board and State workforce development board have the meanings given the terms local board and State board, respectively, in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).(8)National apprenticeship systemThe term national apprenticeship system means the collective group of registered apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship-readiness programs in the Nation (including the rules and regulations governing the 2 types of programs).(9)Postsecondary educational institutionThe term postsecondary educational institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).(10)Recognized postsecondary credentialThe term recognized postsecondary credential has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).(11)Registered apprenticeship programThe term registered apprenticeship program means a program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).(12)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Administrator.(13)SponsorThe term sponsor means an employer, joint labor-management partnership, trade association, professional association, labor organization, or other entity that administers a registered apprenticeship program.1Promoting registered apprenticeships211.Promoting registered apprenticeship programs(a)Establishment of the office of apprenticeship(1)OfficeThere is established, in the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor, an Office of Apprenticeship.(2)AdministratorThe Office shall be headed by an Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training. The Assistant Secretary shall appoint an individual who has the demonstrated knowledge of registered apprenticeship programs necessary to serve as the Administrator.(3)ResponsibilitiesThe Administrator, through the Office of Apprenticeship, shall carry out responsibilities including—(A)determining whether an apprenticeship program meets the requirements to become a registered apprenticeship program and maintains the standards necessary to remain a registered apprenticeship program;(B)managing the national apprenticeship system;(C)carrying out activities under subsection (b) to promote effective apprenticeship-readiness programs;(D)promoting awareness about registered apprenticeship programs, including carrying out activities under subsection (c);(E)engaging in regular updates of the registration process, ensuring that such process is easily accessible and efficient for use by sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs;(F)regularly engaging with the National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships, established under subsection (d), and ensuring that the required reports of the Committee are submitted to the Secretary and transmitted to Congress;(G)promoting greater diversity in registered apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship-readiness programs, including by promoting outreach to underrepresented populations, youth, and veterans, and supporting the development of apprenticeship models;(H)promoting outreach to English language learners through multi-lingual curriculum;(I)providing for evaluations and research, as described in subsection (e);(J)providing technical assistance to sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, entities who are interested in developing and becoming sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, and eligible entities carrying out apprenticeship-readiness programs; and(K)coordinating and aligning registered apprenticeship programs with other Federal education and training programs, including those authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).(b)Supporting the development of apprenticeship-Readiness programs(1)SupportThe Secretary shall support the development of apprenticeship-readiness programs.(2)Grants(A)In generalUsing funds available under subsection (f), the Secretary shall make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to provide the Federal share of the cost of carrying out projects that support that development.(B)PeriodThe Secretary shall make initial grants under this paragraph for periods of not more than 3 years, except that if an eligible entity demonstrates satisfactory performance under paragraph (6) by the end of the third year, the Secretary may extend the grant period for not more than an additional 1 year for that entity.(C)Eligible entityTo be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this subsection, an entity shall be a public-private partnership consisting of—(i)a local educational agency, high school, area career and technical education school (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)), educational service agency, 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution, or collaborative of such entities;(ii)in a State with a State entity recognized by the Secretary of Labor to register apprenticeship programs in that State, that entity;(iii)an industry or business, consisting of an employer, a group of employers, a trade association, a professional association, or an entity that sponsors a registered apprenticeship program;(iv)a State workforce development board or local workforce development board; and(v)to the maximum extent practicable—(I)a labor organization associated with the industry or occupation related to the apprenticeship-readiness program involved; and(II)a community-based organization that provides apprenticeship-readiness programs, as appropriate.(3)ApplicationsTo be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—(A)a description of the training and curriculum that will be used to carry out the program and how the proposed apprenticeship-readiness program makes individuals who successfully complete the apprenticeship-readiness program qualified to enter into an established registered apprenticeship program;(B)evidence that there are or will be sufficient openings available in the registered apprenticeship program referenced in subparagraph (A) to enable the registered apprenticeship program sponsor to place into a corresponding registered apprenticeship those individuals who successfully complete the apprenticeship-readiness program;(C)information about the entity that demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory partnership between the partners described in paragraph (2)(C) and the capacity, of a training and education provider in the entity, to provide the training and education services necessary for an apprenticeship-readiness program; and(D)information about the apprenticeship-readiness program that demonstrates—(i)that the program is in an in-demand industry or occupation in the region in which the project is located;(ii)the use of integrated work-based and academic learning that may include training in the workplace;(iii)the inclusion of career exploration focused activities, such as job shadowing, career information activities, and résumé preparation, in the program;(iv)if the entity carrying out the program includes a high school, that the model to be used for the program leads to a high school diploma for participants without such a diploma;(v)how the apprenticeship-readiness program is aligned with and leverages resources of career and technical education programs, programs and services authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), or activities of entities that provide supportive services for participants in apprenticeship-readiness programs; and(vi)that the project aligns with an established registered apprenticeship program, including that the model used for the program leads to the attainment of skills and competencies necessary for entrance into the registered apprenticeship program for participants.(4)Use of funds(A)In generalAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out a project that implements an apprenticeship-readiness program.(B)Required activitiesThe eligible entity shall use the grant funds—(i)to pay for the cost of training or education associated with the apprenticeship-readiness program;(ii)for curriculum development that align with the requirements of the appropriate registered apprenticeship programs and learning assessments;(iii)to maintain a connection between the apprenticeship-readiness program and registered apprenticeship program;(iv)for assessments of potential participants for, and enrollment of the participants in, the apprenticeship-readiness program; and(v)to conduct evaluations described in paragraph (6)(B).(C)Allowable activitiesThe eligible entity may use the grant funds for—(i)teacher training, including providing externship opportunities for teachers to learn about the skill needs of the industry or occupation that the apprenticeship-readiness program focuses on;(ii)stipends for participants during work-based training in the program; or(iii)coordination of activities under this subsection with activities carried out under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).(5)Federal share(A)In generalThe Federal share of the cost described in paragraph (2)(A) shall be 75 percent.(B)Non-Federal shareThe eligible entity may contribute the non-Federal share of the cost in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.(6)Performance(A)MeasuresThe Secretary shall identify a set of common measures that, at a minimum, include measures of entry into a registered apprenticeship program and that are aligned with performance accountability measures described in section 116(c) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(c)) for the local workforce development area (meaning a local area, as defined in section 3 of that Act) and with corresponding measures under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), as appropriate.(B)EvaluationsEach eligible entity that receives a grant to carry out a project under this subsection shall arrange for another qualified entity to conduct an evaluation, or shall participate in a Department of Labor sponsored evaluation, of the project using the identified common measures, and shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the evaluator in any evaluations of activities carried out under this section.(C)ExtensionsThe Secretary shall use the results of an evaluation for a project to determine whether to extend the grant period, or renew a grant, for the project under paragraph (2)(B).(c)Promoting awareness of registered apprenticeship programs(1)In generalTo promote awareness about registered apprenticeship programs, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall ensure that timely, current information about the value of registered apprenticeship programs in the labor market is made available through a range of widely accessible formats and venues. The information shall be made available to businesses, trade associations, professional associations, students, parents, workers, educational institutions, workforce and economic development organizations, and State and local elected officials.(2)Information for State and local workforce development boardsTo promote awareness about registered apprenticeship programs within the workforce development system, the Secretary shall disseminate information on the value of registered apprenticeship programs, to State workforce development boards and local workforce development boards described in subsection (b)(2)(C)(iv), which information shall include—(A)a list of registered apprenticeship programs in the State involved;(B)guidance for training staff of the workforce development system within the State on the value of registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention, and earnings information, as a training option for participants;(C)guidance on how individual training accounts under section 134(c)(3) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3)) could be used by participants for a registered apprenticeship program; and(D)guidance on how performance accountability measures under section 116 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141) apply to participants in registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention, and earnings information.(3)Information for employers, trade associations, professional associations, industry groups, and labor organizationsTo promote awareness about registered apprenticeship programs to workers and employers, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall provide information about the value of registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention, and earnings information, through the one-stop delivery systems described in section 121 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151), to employers, trade associations, professional associations, industry groups, and labor organizations, which information shall include, at a minimum—(A)a list of registered apprenticeship programs in the State;(B)information on how to develop a registered apprenticeship program; and(C)information on financial resources available to assist with the establishment and implementation of registered apprenticeship programs.(4)Information for students and schoolsTo promote awareness about registered apprenticeship programs among students and school staff, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, shall disseminate information on the value of registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention, and earnings information, to high schools, area career and technical education schools (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)), 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational institutions, and educational service agencies, to enable, at a minimum—(A)parents to understand registered apprenticeship programs and their value in postsecondary education and career pathways;(B)students to understand registered apprenticeship programs and their value in career pathways;(C)career and academic counselors to understand registered apprenticeship programs as a valuable postsecondary education option for students leading to job placement in in-demand industry sectors or occupations; and(D)school administrators, workforce and economic development coordinators, and teachers and faculty to assist with the development, implementation, and continuation of registered apprenticeship programs.(d)Secretary’s National Advisory Committee on apprenticeships(1)Establishment(A)In generalThere is established in the Department of Labor a National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships, referred to in this section as the Advisory Committee.(B)CompositionThe Advisory Committee shall have—(i)21 voting members appointed by the Secretary, composed of—(I)7 representatives of employers who participate in a registered apprenticeship program, including employers who participate in a registered apprenticeship program sponsored by a joint labor-management partnership;(II)7 representatives of labor organizations who have responsibility for the administration of a registered apprenticeship program sponsored by a joint labor-management partnership; and(III)7 representatives of State apprenticeship agencies, community organizations with significant experience with a registered apprenticeship program, and 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institutions with at least one articulation agreement with the entity administering a registered apprenticeship program; and(ii)members who are ex officio nonvoting representatives from the Departments of Labor, Commerce, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services.(C)QualificationsThe members shall be selected upon the basis of their experience and competence concerning apprenticeships.(D)TermsThe Secretary shall appoint the members for terms of 4 years.(2)ChairpersonThe Secretary shall designate one of the members of the Advisory Committee to serve as Chairperson of the Advisory Committee.(3)MeetingsThe Advisory Committee shall hold not fewer than 2 meetings during each calendar year. All meetings of the Advisory Committee shall be open to the public. A transcript shall be kept of each meeting and made available for public inspection.(4)DutiesThe Advisory Committee shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to the administration of this part and the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).(5)Personnel(A)Procurement(i)In generalThe Chairperson of the Advisory Committee may procure the temporary and intermittent services of voting members of the Advisory Committee under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.(ii)Officers or employees of the United StatesAll members of the Advisory Committee who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States.(B)StaffThe Secretary shall supply the Advisory Committee with an executive secretary and provide such secretarial, clerical, and other services as the Secretary determines to be necessary to enable the Advisory Committee to conduct its business.(6)Permanent committeeSection 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.(e)Evaluations and research(1)Evaluations of programs and activities carried out under this partFor the purpose of improving the management and effectiveness of the programs and activities carried out under this part, the Secretary shall provide for the continuing evaluation, by an independent entity, of the programs and activities, including activities carried out under subsection (a)(3)(C). Such evaluations shall address—(A)the general effectiveness of such programs and activities in relation to their cost, including the extent to which the programs and activities—(i)improve the skill and employment competencies of participants in comparison to comparably situated individuals who did not participate in such programs and activities; and(ii)to the extent feasible, increase the level of total employment and recognized postsecondary credential attainment over the level that would have existed in the absence of such programs and activities;(B)the impact of the programs and activities for the participants, sponsors, and employers;(C)the return on investment of Federal, State, local, sponsor, employer, and other funding for registered apprenticeships to capture the full level of investment in, and impact of, registered apprenticeships;(D)the longitudinal outcomes for participants in the programs and activities;(E)the impact of specific policies on the general effectiveness of such programs and activities; and(F)the degree to which training to obtain skill and employment competencies relevant to new and emerging technologies were incorporated into the program.(2)ResearchThe Secretary may conduct, through an independent entity, research on best practices in registered apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship-readiness programs and other issues relating to such programs.(3)TechniquesEvaluations and research conducted under this subsection shall utilize appropriate methodology and research designs.(4)ReportsThe independent entity carrying out the evaluations described in paragraph (1) or research described in paragraph (2) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a final report containing the results of the evaluations or research, respectively, and including policy recommendations. The final report shall be made available for public inspection. Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall produce a final report related to the return on investment described in paragraph (1)(C).(5)Reports to CongressNot later than 60 days after the completion of all the final reports described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall transmit the final reports to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives.(6)Public accessThe Secretary shall develop a mechanism to make research developed under this part publicly available in a timely manner.(f)ReservationThe Secretary shall reserve not less than 10 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (g) for each fiscal year for grants to States. A State that receives such a grant shall use the grant funds for the purpose of assisting the Administrator in carrying out the activities under this section, and may use the grant funds to support the voluntary establishment of a State apprenticeship office, if no such office exists in the State.(g)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and each subsequent year.212.Promoting integration with postsecondary education(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)CollaborativeThe term Collaborative means the Registered Apprenticeship-College Collaborative established under subsection (b)(1).(2)SecretariesThe term Secretaries means the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Administrator, working jointly with the Secretary of Education, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.(b)Collaborative with 2- and 4-Year postsecondary educational institutions(1)EstablishmentThe Secretaries shall establish and maintain a voluntary Registered Apprenticeship-College Collaborative. The Collaborative shall consist of the sponsors carrying out registered apprenticeship programs, 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institutions, and organizations that represent such programs or institutions, that agree to meet certain criteria in order to support the purposes described in paragraph (2).(2)PurposesThe Collaborative shall support the purposes of—(A)promoting stronger connections between the registered apprenticeship programs involved and participating 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational institutions;(B)promoting the translation of experience in a registered apprenticeship program to academic credit at participating 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational institutions;(C)facilitating the enrollment of an individual who has completed a registered apprenticeship program (referred to in this section as an apprentice) at a participating 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution for the purpose of attaining academic credit toward an associate’s or more advanced degree;(D)advancing the attainment of associate’s and more advanced degrees by apprentices;(E)promoting the attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials with value in the labor market;(F)expanding awareness about the value of registered apprenticeship programs as a postsecondary education option; and(G)maintaining the quality and rigor of traditional registered apprenticeship programs.(3)Participant requirementsThe Secretaries shall establish criteria that any interested 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution or sponsor shall meet in order to participate in the Collaborative, which criteria shall include, at a minimum—(A)for a 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution—(i)agreement to recognize and accept the academic credit (as assessed under subparagraph (B)(i)) earned by an apprentice for, and the assessment of the apprentice’s learning in, a registered apprenticeship program at another participating institution;(ii)agreement to have a formal articulation agreement with a participating sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program, other than a 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution; and(iii)agreement to provide certain information, as determined by the Secretaries, to the Collaborative; and(B)for a sponsor—(i)agreement to participate in third-party evaluations of the quality and rigor of the program offerings in order to determine the value of academic credit for learning during a registered apprenticeship program;(ii)agreement to have a formal articulation agreement with a participating 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution; and(iii)agreement to provide certain information, as determined by the Secretaries, to the Collaborative.(4)Memorandum of understanding(A)In generalIn order to participate in the Collaborative, interested 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institutions and sponsors shall agree to meet certain conditions determined by the Secretaries.(B)ConditionsSuch conditions shall address, at a minimum—(i)how learning during a registered apprenticeship program, including related instruction and on-the-job training, will be assessed for academic credit;(ii)how programs and procedures, especially those related to admissions, credit transfer, and recognition of such learning will be structured to support accessibility for apprentices;(iii)how the structure and scheduling of courses will be developed in a way that supports the matriculation of apprentices; and(iv)how residency requirements will support the transferability of credit earned by apprentices.(5)Publicly available informationThe Secretaries shall maintain a publicly accessible website identifying, at a minimum—(A)the participating members of the Collaborative in each State;(B)a model for articulation agreements, and copies of some exemplary articulation agreements for illustrative purposes; and(C)such other information as the Secretaries determine to be necessary to promote awareness of the Collaborative and its members.(6)Use of funds(A)AdministrativeThe Secretaries shall use 30 percent of the funds available under subsection (c) to establish and maintain the Collaborative and the website described in paragraph (5), to support the National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships established under section 211(d) and for technical assistance, evaluation, and research activities.(B)For program participantsThe Secretaries shall use 70 percent of the funds available under subsection (c) to carry out, directly or by grant or contract with an eligible entity, activities consisting of—(i)providing funding to Collaborative participants to support the development of articulation agreements with other Collaborative participants;(ii)providing funding to the Collaborative to support the assessment of learning during a registered apprenticeship program, for academic credit;(iii)providing funding to the Collaborative to support third-party evaluations of the quality and rigor of program offerings, described in paragraph (3)(B)(i), which evaluations shall be conducted by an entity that meets minimum criteria as established by the Secretaries;(iv)providing curriculum development, for participating institutions and sponsors of the Collaborative; and(v)carrying out other purposes that will help participating institutions and sponsors of the Collaborative meet the requirements of paragraphs (3) and (4).(C)Eligible entitiesTo be eligible to receive a grant or contract under subparagraph (B), an entity shall be a partnership comprised of—(i)at least one 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution participating in the Collaborative; and(ii)at least one sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program participating in the Collaborative.(c)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and each subsequent year.2Program development and enhancement221.Expanding registered apprenticeship programs(a)In generalThe Secretary shall provide payments of assistance for eligible sponsors of new (as of the date of submission of an application under subsection (b)) registered apprenticeship programs, or for eligible sponsors of existing registered apprenticeship programs that add employers as new (as of such date) partners, which may include joint labor-management registered apprenticeship programs.(b)ApplicationsTo be eligible to receive payments under this section for a registered apprenticeship program, a sponsor shall submit an application to the Secretary including information demonstrating that (as of the date of submission)—(1)(A)the program received recognition as a registered apprenticeship program within the 36 months preceding that date; or (B)the program (which may include a joint labor-management registered apprenticeship program) added employers as new partners within the 36 months preceding that date;(2)the sponsor offered jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency, as determined by a local workforce development board located in the same local workforce development area (meaning a local area, as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102));(3)the sponsor has demonstrated success in enrolling, instructing, advancing, and graduating individuals in the relevant registered apprenticeship program, and in the employment of such individuals after completion of the program; and(4)the sponsor had not received a payment under subsection (d) for that registered apprenticeship program.(c)Use of fundsIn providing assistance under this section, the Secretary shall arrange to provide payments as described in subsection (a) for eligible sponsors, as funds are available under this section. Funds made available through such a payment shall be used to reimburse an eligible sponsor for the allowable costs of establishing or expanding the registered apprenticeship program involved. The maximum total payment to any one sponsor may not exceed $25,000 or 50 percent of the allowable costs, whichever amount is less.(d)DisbursementThe Secretary shall enter into arrangements with State workforce development boards to make disbursements through the local workforce development boards described in subsection (b)(2) to provide the payments to the eligible sponsors.(e)EvaluationsSponsors receiving payments under this section shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the Secretary in the conduct of evaluations of the activities carried out under this section.(f)Authorization of appropriations(1)In generalThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and each subsequent fiscal year.(2)ReservationThe Secretary may reserve 5 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for distribution to the State workforce development boards and local workforce development boards, to pay for the costs of the boards associated with making determinations under subsection (b)(2) and disbursements under subsection (d), and as funds remain available, other costs of administration and management, technical assistance, research, and evaluation under this subtitle.BReemployment and training231.Coordinating State unemployment compensation programs with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act(a)Referrals to WIOA servicesSection 303(j)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 503(j)(1)(B)) is amended by striking job search assistance services, and inserting career services (including job search assistance and job relocation assistance), training services, and income support services (such as career services, training services, and needs-related, wage insurance, and income support payments, available under section 134 or 135 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174 et seq.)),.(b)Reemployment services and eligibility assessmentsSection 306(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 506(b)(3)) is amended by striking program integration and service delivery and inserting program integration, service delivery, support services, and availability of training services.232.Training stipends(a)ReferencesExcept as otherwise expressly provided in this section, wherever in this section an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to that section or other provision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).(b)Functions of the State boardSection 101(d)(3) (29 U.S.C. 3111(d)(3)) is amended—(1)in subparagraph (F), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;(2)in subparagraph (G), by striking the semicolon and inserting ; and; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(H)the development of strategies to promote the integration of workforce development services provided to unemployment insurance claimants..(c)Local plansSection 108(b) (29 U.S.C. 3123(b)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (21), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;(2)by redesignating paragraph (22) as paragraph (23); and(3)by inserting after paragraph (21) the following:(22)a description of how training services will be administered; and.(d)Required local employment and training activities for adults and dislocated workers(1)Training stipendsSection 134(c)(3) (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3)) is amended—(A)in subparagraph (A)(i)—(i)by inserting stipends for after used to provide; and(ii)by striking subclause (II) and inserting the following:(II)who select programs of training services that are linked to employment opportunities;; (B)in subparagraph (F)—(i)in clause (iii)—(I)by striking the clause heading and inserting the following:(iii)Training stipends; and(II)by striking through an individual training account and inserting through a training stipend; and(ii)in clause (iv), by striking coordinate funding for individual training accounts with funding from other Federal, State, local, or private job training programs or sources to assist the individual in obtaining training services. and inserting assist the individual in obtaining training services and arrange for payments for such services through a training stipend. Such payments may not exceed $8,000, or be available for more than 2 years of training services, per individual.; and(C)in subparagraph (G)—(i)by striking the subparagraph heading and inserting the following:(G)Use of stipends;(ii)in clauses (i), (ii)(III), and (iv), by striking individual training accounts each place it appears and inserting training stipends; and(iii)in clause (ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking an individual training account and inserting a stipend.(2)Income supportSection 134(d)(1)(B) (29 U.S.C. 3174(d)(1)(B)) is amended—(A)in clause (i), by inserting and provide income support for those workers participating in work support activities after enhancing employment; and(B)by adding at the end the following:(iii)Duration and amountsThe income support provided under clause (i) to a worker who is participating in work support activities shall be a weekly income stipend, provided for up to 78 weeks after the participant has exhausted all rights to unemployment compensation under any State or Federal law, to help cover costs related to work support activities, such as child care or transportation. A participant’s weekly stipend shall be equal to—(I)100 percent of the amount of the regular unemployment compensation (including dependents’ allowances) payable to such participant during such participant’s benefit year under the State law for a week of total unemployment, if the participant's household income is less than 130 percent of the poverty line; or(II)50 percent of the amount payable described in subclause (I), if the participant's household income is not less than 130 percent of the poverty line..(3)Conforming amendments(A)Local plansSection 108(b)(19) (29 U.S.C. 3123(b)(19)) is amended by striking individual training accounts and inserting stipends.(B) Training services agreementsSection 122(g) (29 U.S.C. 3152(g)) is amended by striking individual training accounts and inserting stipends.233.Authorization of appropriationsSection 136 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3181) is amended—(1)in subsection (b)—(A)by striking and after 2019,; and(B)by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024; and(2)in subsection (c)—(A)by striking and after 2019,; and(B)by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024.IIIAuthorization of appropriations301.Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.


		II
		109th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 3681
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			July 18, 2006
			Mr. Domenici (for
			 himself, Mrs. Lincoln,
			 Mr. Craig, Mr.
			 Pryor, Mr. Allard,
			 Mr. Brownback, Mr. Burns, Mr.
			 Bond, Mr. Chambliss,
			 Mr. Cornyn, Mr.
			 Crapo, Mrs. Dole,
			 Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hagel, Mr.
			 Lott, Mr. Roberts,
			 Mr. Stevens, Mr. Talent, Mr.
			 Thomas, Mr. Thune,
			 Mr. Burr, Mr.
			 Nelson of Nebraska, and Ms.
			 Landrieu) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
			 referred to the Committee on Environment
			 and Public Works

		A BILL
		To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response
		  Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 to provide that manure shall not be
		  considered to be a hazardous substance, pollutant, or
		  contaminant.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Agricultural Protection and Prosperity
			 Act of 2006.
		2.Animal
			 waste
			(a)Amendment of
			 SuperfundTitle III of the
			 Comprehensive Environmental Response,
			 Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9651 et seq.) is
			 amended by adding at the end the following:

					313.Exception for
				manure
						(a)Definition of
				manureIn this section, the term manure
				means—
							(1)digestive
				emissions, feces, urine, urea, and other excrement from livestock (as defined
				in section 205.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
				regulation));
							(2)any associated
				bedding, compost, raw materials, or other materials commingled with such
				excrement from livestock (as so defined);
							(3)any process water
				associated with any item referred to in paragraph (1) or (2); and
							(4)any byproduct,
				constituent, or substance contained in or originating from, or any emission
				relating to, an item described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
							(b)ExemptionUpon
				the date of enactment of this section, manure shall not be included in the
				meaning of—
							(1)the term
				hazardous substance, as defined in section 101(14); or
							(2)the term
				pollutant or contaminant, as defined in section 101(33).
							(c)Effect on Other
				LawNothing with respect to the enactment of this subsection
				shall—
							(1)impose any
				liability under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986
				(42 U.S.C. 11001 et seq.) with respect to manure;
							(2)abrogate or
				otherwise affect any provision of the Air Quality Agreement entered into
				between the Administrator and operators of animal feeding operations (70 Fed.
				Reg. 4958 (January 31, 2005)); or
							(3)affect the
				applicability of any other environmental law as such a law relates to—
								(A)the definition of
				manure; or
								(B)the
				responsibilities or liabilities of any person regarding the treatment, storage,
				or disposal of
				manure.
								.
			(b)Amendment of
			 SARASection 304(a)(4) of the Superfund Amendments and
			 Reauthorization Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 11004(a)(4)) is amended—
				(1)by striking
			 This section and inserting the following:

						(A)In
				generalThis section
						;
				and
				(2)by adding at the
			 end the following:

						(B)ManureThe
				notification requirements under this subsection do not apply to releases
				associated with manure (as defined in section 313 of the
				Comprehensive Environmental Response,
				Compensation, and Liability Act of
				1980).
						.


114 S821 IS: BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act
U.S. Senate
2015-03-19
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 821IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 19, 2015Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Leahy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo establish requirements with respect to bisphenol A.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act.
		2.Requirements with
			 respect to bisphenol A
			(a)Regulation of
			 containers composed of bisphenol A
				(1)Safety
 assessment of products composed of BPANot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) shall issue a revised safety assessment for food containers composed, in whole or in part, of bisphenol A, taking into consideration different types of such food containers and the use of such food containers with respect to different foods, as appropriate.
				(2)Safety
 standardThrough the safety assessment described in paragraph (1), and taking into consideration the requirements of section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 348) and section 170.3(i) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, the Secretary shall determine whether there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure to bisphenol A through food containers or other items composed, in whole or in part, of bisphenol A, taking into consideration potential adverse effects from low dose exposure, and the effects of exposure on vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and populations with high exposure to bisphenol A, including workers who are exposed through production practices or handling of final products.
				(3)Application of
 safety standard to alternativesThe Secretary shall use the safety standard described in paragraph (2) to evaluate the proposed uses of alternatives to bisphenol A.
				(b)Container
			 labeling
				(1)In
 generalSection 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (z)If its container is composed, in whole or in part, of bisphenol A, unless the label includes the following statement: This food packaging contains BPA, an endocrine-disrupting chemical, according to the National Institutes of Health...
				(2)Effective
 dateThe amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
				(c)Savings
 provisionNothing in this section (or the amendments made by this section) shall affect the right of a State, political subdivision of a State, or Indian tribe to adopt or enforce any regulation, requirement, liability, or standard of performance that is more stringent than a regulation, requirement, liability, or standard of performance under this section or that—
 (1)applies to a product category not described in this section; or
 (2)requires the provision of a warning of risk, illness, or injury associated with the use of food containers composed, in whole or in part, of bisphenol A.
 (d)DefinitionFor purposes of this section—
 (1)the term container includes the lining of a container; and
 (2)the term food has the meaning given that term in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).


114 HR 5837 IH: To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid program of items and services furnished in an institution for mental diseases in the case of inpatient, non-hospital substance use disorder treatment facility services furnished for nonelderly adults.
U.S. House of Representatives
2016-07-14
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I114th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 5837IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 14, 2016Mr. Hastings (for himself, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Clay, and Ms. Bass) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under
			 the Medicaid program of items and services furnished in an institution for
			 mental diseases in the case of inpatient, non-hospital substance use
			 disorder treatment facility services furnished for nonelderly adults.

		1.Removal of Medicaid IMD exclusion for substance use disorder treatment facility services for
			 nonelderly adults
 (a)FindingsCongress finds the following: (1)Substance abuse exacts a social and economic toll on the United States, with widespread detrimental effects on the Nation’s health, safety, and economy.
 (2)The costs of substance abuse to the Nation’s health care system are estimated at $524 billion a year with an additional $181 billion each year in public health, crime, and lost productivity costs, resulting in illicit drug use costing our country a total of $705 billion annually.
 (3)The human costs of drug addiction cannot be calculated. Every day in the United States, 120 people die as a result of drug overdose, a rate that has more than doubled from 1999 through 2013. Among individuals 25 to 64 years old, drug overdose caused more deaths than motor vehicle traffic crashes.
 (4)For millions of Americans substance use progresses to the point where efforts by individuals, their family and friends, and social networks are not sufficient to cope with the problem. In cases of chronic addiction, access to treatment can be a critical and lifesaving resource.
 (5)Only a fraction of those Americans who need treatment, however, receive it. An estimated 23.1 million Americans ages 12 or older needed treatment for substance abuse in 2012; however, only 2.5 million of them actually received treatment. This shortfall is due primarily to the limited availability of substance use disorder services, particularly for those in need of residential care to address chronic addiction.
 (6)The expansion of insurance coverage for substance use disorder treatment through the Affordable Care Act has served as a powerful tool to enable individuals to access care to address their substance use disorder, especially for those who benefit from outpatient services.
 (7)However, under current law, access to community-based residential treatment for those with the most severe conditions is denied to Medicaid beneficiaries due to an exclusion of coverage of services in institutions of mental disease (IMD) that bars reimbursement for care of patients at facilities with more than 16 beds, resulting in inequitable and inaccessible care for millions of Americans.
 (8)Eliminating this IMD exclusion will allow those who suffer from severe substance use disorders to have equal access to treatment, to achieve stable, long-term recovery, and to become productive members of society, and will reduce the health, public safety, and economic consequences associated with addiction.
				(b)Permitting medical assistance at facilities providing inpatient, nonhospital residential substance
 use disorder treatment for nonelderly adultsSection 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended, in division (B) that follows paragraph (29), by inserting after institution for mental diseases the following: , except that such limitation with respect to an institution for mental diseases shall not apply to a facility insofar as it provides inpatient, nonhospital residential substance use disorder treatment for individuals over 21 years of age.
 (c)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2017.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2712
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 30, 2011
			Mrs. Adams introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Small
			 Business

		A BILL
		To ensure that all of Brevard County, Florida, is treated
		  as a HUBZone, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Shuttle Workforce Revitalization Act of
			 2011.
		2.Brevard County,
			 Florida
			(a)In
			 generalDuring the covered
			 period, any portion of Brevard County, Florida, that is not otherwise a
			 HUBZone, as such term is defined under section 3(p) of the Small Business Act
			 (15 U.S.C. 632(p)), shall be treated as a HUBZone for purposes of that
			 Act.
			(b)Covered period
			 definedIn this section, the
			 term covered period means the period beginning on the date of
			 enactment of this Act and ending on January 1, 2020.


		IB
		Union Calendar No. 364
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5842
		[Report No.
		  112–516]
		IN THE HOUSE OF
		  REPRESENTATIVES

			May 18, 2012
			Ms. Jenkins (for
			 herself, Mr. Paulsen, and
			 Mr. Reichert) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

			June 5, 2012
			Additional sponsors: Mrs.
			 Black, Mrs. Blackburn,
			 Mr. Jones,
			 Mr. Paul, Mr. Walden, Mr.
			 Brady of Texas, Mr. Ross of
			 Florida, Mr. Benishek,
			 Mr. Heck, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers,
			 Mr. Luetkemeyer,
			 Mr. Miller of Florida,
			 Mr. Berg, Mr. Pompeo, Mrs.
			 Ellmers, Mr. Burton of
			 Indiana, Mr. Gosar,
			 Mr. Posey,
			 Mr. Davis of Kentucky, and
			 Mr. Bilbray

			June 5, 2012
			Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of
			 the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be
			 printed
			Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert
			 the part printed in italic

		A BILL
		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
		  to repeal the amendments made by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
		  which disqualify expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings
		  accounts and health flexible spending
		  arrangements.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Restoring Access to Medication
			 Act.
		2.Repeal of
			 disqualification of expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings
			 accounts and health flexible spending arrangements
			(a)HSAsSubparagraph (A) of section 223(d)(2) of
			 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking the last
			 sentence.
			(b)Archer
			 MSAsSubparagraph (A) of section 220(d)(2) of such Code is
			 amended by striking the last sentence.
			(c)Health flexible
			 spending arrangements and health reimbursement
			 arrangementsSection 106 of such Code is amended by striking
			 subsection (f).
			(d)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by
			 this section shall apply to expenses incurred after December 31, 2012.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Restoring Access to Medication Act of
			 2012.
		2.Repeal of
			 disqualification of expenses for over-the-counter drugs under certain accounts
			 and arrangements
			(a)HSAsSubparagraph (A) of section 223(d)(2) of
			 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking the last
			 sentence.
			(b)Archer
			 MSAsSubparagraph (A) of section 220(d)(2) of such Code is
			 amended by striking the last sentence.
			(c)Health flexible
			 spending arrangements and health reimbursement
			 arrangementsSection 106 of such Code is amended by striking
			 subsection (f).
			(d)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by
			 this section shall apply to expenses incurred after December 31, 2012.

		June 5, 2012
		Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of
		  the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be
		  printed


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 5729
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			July 13, 2010
			Mr. Thornberry (for
			 himself, Mr. Smith of Washington,
			 Mr. Langevin,
			 Ms. Giffords,
			 Mr. Rehberg,
			 Mr. Poe of Texas,
			 Mr. Miller of Florida,
			 Mr. Tanner,
			 Mr. Boren, and
			 Mr. Rohrabacher) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To modernize authorities to fight and win the war of
		  ideas against violent extremist ideologies over the internet and other mediums
		  of information, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of
			 2010.
		2.Dissemination
			 abroad of information about the United States
			(a)United States
			 Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948Title V of the United States Information
			 and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) is
			 amended—
				(1)in the title
			 heading, by striking abroad; and
				(2)by amending
			 section 501 to read as follows:

						501.The Secretary is authorized to provide for
				the preparation and dissemination of information intended primarily for foreign
				audiences abroad about the United States, including about its people, its
				history, and the Federal Government’s policies, through press, publications,
				radio, motion pictures, the internet, and other information media, and through
				information centers and
				instructors.
						.
				(b)Foreign
			 Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987Section 208 of the Foreign Relations
			 Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 (22 U.S.C. 1461–1a) is amended to
			 read as follows:

					208.
						Clarification on domestic distribution of program
		  material
						(a)No funds
				authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State shall be used for the
				purpose of influencing public opinion or propagandizing in the United States.
				The provisions of this section shall not prohibit or delay the Department from
				responding to inquiries about its operations, policies, programs, or program
				material, or making such available to members of the media, public, or
				Congress.
						(b)No provision of
				this section shall be construed or interpreted to prohibit the Department of
				State to engage in any medium of information on a presumption that a United
				States domestic audience may be exposed to program material. Such material
				shall be available within the United States and disseminated pursuant to
				sections 502 and 1005 of the United States Information and Educational Exchange
				Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1462 and 1437).
						(c)The provisions of
				this section shall apply only to the Department of State and to no other
				department or agency of the Federal
				Government.
						.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2316
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 7, 2009
			Mr. Baca (for himself
			 and Mrs. Napolitano) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
			 Resources

		A BILL
		To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
		  study of water resources in the State of California, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water
			 Plume Assessment Act of 2009.
		2.Inland empire
			 water resources study
			(a)In
			 GeneralNot later than 2 years after funds are made available for
			 this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the
			 United States Geological Survey (referred to in this Act as the
			 Secretary), in coordination with the State of California
			 (referred to in this Act as the State) and any other entities
			 that the Secretary determines to be appropriate (including other Federal
			 agencies and institutions of higher education), shall complete a study of water
			 resources in the State, including—
				(1)a
			 survey of ground water resources, including an analysis of—
					(A)the delineation,
			 either horizontally or vertically, of the aquifers in the Rialto-Colton basin
			 within the State, including the quantity of water in the aquifers;
					(B)the availability
			 of ground water resources for human use;
					(C)the salinity of
			 ground water resources;
					(D)the identification
			 of a recent surge in perchlorate concentrations in ground water, whether
			 significant sources are being flushed through the vadose zone, or if
			 perchlorate is being remobilized;
					(E)the identification
			 of impacts and extents of all source areas that contribute to the regional
			 plume to be fully characterized;
					(F)the potential of
			 the ground water resources to recharge;
					(G)the interaction
			 between ground water and surface water;
					(H)the susceptibility
			 of the aquifers to contamination, including identifying the extent of
			 commingling of plume emanating within surrounding areas in San Bernardino
			 County, California; and
					(I)any other relevant
			 criteria; and
					(2)a
			 characterization of surface and bedrock geology, including the effect of the
			 geology on ground water yield and quality.
				(b)Study
			 AreasThe study carried out under subsection (a) shall include
			 the Rialto-Colton Basin in the State.
			(c)ReportNot
			 later than 2 years after funds are made available for this Act, the Secretary
			 shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and
			 the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report
			 that describes the results of the study.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 4231
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			December 8, 2009
			Mr. Cao introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		A BILL
		To amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement
		  Act of 1994 to reduce the rate of occurrence of homicides and violent crimes in
		  violent and drug crime zones.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Safe Cities Act of
			 2009.
		2.Creation of and
			 assistance for Violent and Drug Crime ZonesTitle XXI of the Violent Crime Control and
			 Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14061 et seq.) is amended by adding at
			 the end the following new subtitle:

				ECoordination with
				Federal agencies to curb violent crime
					21501.Creation of
				and assistance for Violent and Drug Crime Zones
						(a)DefinitionsIn
				this section the following definitions shall apply:
							(1)GovernorThe
				term Governor means a Governor or other chief executive officer of
				a State or the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
							(2)Violent and Drug
				Crime ZoneThe term
				Violent and Drug Crime Zone means a metropolitan area within a
				State or multiple States that is designated as having rates of homicides,
				violent felonies, sex offenses, drug and gang-related crimes that are high in
				proportion to the national average rates of such crimes, as determined by the
				most recent available data of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the
				National Incident Based Reporting System maintained by the uniform crime
				reporting program of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For purposes of the
				previous sentence, rates of a crime for an area shall be treated as high in
				proportion to the national average rates of such crime if such rates for the
				area are greater than 5 times the national average rates.
							(3)StateThe
				term State means a State of the United States, the District of
				Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United
				States.
							(b)Violent and Drug
				Crime Zones
							(1)DesignationThe Attorney General, after consultation
				with the Governor of each appropriate State and with relevant Federal agencies,
				may designate as a Violent and Drug Crime Zone, any specified area that is
				located within 1 or more States, based on the criteria for designation under
				paragraph (4).
							(2)Assistance and
				coordinationIn order to
				provide Federal assistance to Violent and Drug Crime Zones, the Attorney
				General shall, upon consultation with appropriate State and relevant local and
				Federal law enforcement agencies—
								(A)establish a drug and violent crime
				intervention team in each Violent and Drug Crime Zone, which will consist of
				local, State, and relevant Federal law enforcement authorities, for the
				coordinated investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of criminal activity
				in such zone;
								(B)ensure the establishment of a Safe Cities
				Task Force described in subsection (c) for each Violent and Drug Crime
				Zone;
								(C)coordinate with
				appropriate Federal agencies the temporary reassignment of personnel to the
				intervention team established under subparagraph (A);
								(D)provide funding or
				create funding partnership opportunities with one or more States for the
				operation of such intervention teams; and
								(E)require reporting
				from such intervention teams to share intelligence and best practices.
								(3)Composition of
				drug and violent crime intervention teamsEach drug and violent
				crime intervention team established pursuant to paragraph (2)(A) shall consist
				of agents and officers, where feasible, from—
								(A)the Federal Bureau
				of Investigation;
								(B)the Drug
				Enforcement Administration;
								(C)the Bureau of
				Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and
								(D)other relevant
				Federal agencies, as determined by the Attorney General in consultation with
				local law enforcement agencies in the relevant area designated under paragraph
				(1).
								(4)Criteria for
				designationIn considering an area for designation as a Drug and
				Violent Crime Zone under this section, the Attorney General shall
				consider—
								(A)the current levels
				of homicides, violent crimes, sex crimes, and drug-related and gang-related
				crimes in the zone;
								(B)the extent to which State and local law
				enforcement agencies have committed and need additional resources to respond to
				the crimes described in subparagraph (A);
								(C)the extent to
				which a significant increase in the allocation of Federal resources would
				enhance local response to the crimes described in subparagraph (A); and
								(D)any other criteria
				deemed appropriate by the Attorney General.
								(5)Training and
				transfer of best practicesFederal agency personnel who
				participate in a drug and violent crime intervention team under this subsection
				shall, as a condition of such participation, develop and submit to the Attorney
				General best practice reports. The Attorney General shall provide for such best
				practice reports, as well as other intelligence and knowledge-transfer
				opportunities, to be shared with State and local law enforcement agencies to
				enable such agencies to replicate the best practices of the intervention
				teams.
							(c)Safe Cities Task
				Forces
							(1)In
				generalThere shall be established, for each Violent and Drug
				Crimes Zone, a Safe Cities Task Force.
							(2)MembershipEach Safe Cities Task Force, with respect
				to a Violent and Drug Crimes Zone, shall consist of not more than 8 members,
				including the Mayor involved, Chief of Police or equivalent, Governor of the
				applicable State, the city attorney (or equivalent) involved, and
				representatives from Federal law enforcement agencies as determined appropriate
				by the Attorney General.
							(3)DutiesThe
				duties of each Safe Cities Task Force shall include the following:
								(A)Oversight of funding expenditures related
				to the creation and work of the drug and violent crime intervention team for
				the zone involved.
								(B)Assistance with
				coordination of such intervention team.
								(C)Outreach to
				affected communities within the zone served by such intervention team, as
				needed.
								(d)Authorization of
				AppropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated from the
				Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund such sums as may be necessary to carry out
				this
				section.
						.
		3.Authorization of
			 Appropriations for Community-Based Justice Grants for Prosecutors
			(a)In
			 generalSection 31707 of the
			 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13867) is
			 amended to read as follows:

					31707.Authorization
				of appropriationsThere are
				authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle $15,000,000 for each
				of the fiscal years 2010 through 2013
				.
					.
			(b)Increase in
			 prosecutors for intervention team effortsSection 31702 of the Violent Crime Control
			 and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14211) is amended—
				(1)in paragraph (4),
			 by striking and at the end;
				(2)in paragraph (5),
			 by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;
			 and
				(3)adding at the end the following new
			 paragraph:

						(6)to fund programs that would increase the
				number of prosecutors available to work with efforts of drug and violent crime
				intervention teams under section 21501, as determined necessary by the Attorney
				General in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and local law
				enforcement.
						.
				4.Grants to State
			 and local law enforcement to establish State-wide crime prevention
			 databasesSubtitle I of title
			 XXXII of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 is amended
			 by adding at the end the following new section:

				320936.Grants to
				State and local law enforcement to establish State-wide crime prevention
				databases
					(a)Authority To
				Make GrantsThe Office of Justice Programs of the Department of
				Justice shall award grants, in accordance with such regulations as the Attorney
				General may prescribe, to State and local programs designed to establish and
				maintain a State-wide database to track criminals, arrests, prosecutions, and
				convictions.
					(b)Authorization of
				AppropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums
				as may be necessary to carry out this
				section.
					.


117 HR 1945 IH: Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-03-16
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. 1945IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 16, 2021Ms. Sánchez (for herself, Mr. Estes, Ms. Chu, Mr. McCaul, Ms. DelBene, and Mrs. Napolitano) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an election to expense certain qualified sound recording costs otherwise chargeable to capital account.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act or the HITS Act.2.Treatment of certain qualified sound recording productions(a)Election To treat costs as expensesSection 181(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking qualified film or television production, and any qualified live theatrical production, and inserting qualified film or television production, any qualified live theatrical production, and any qualified sound recording production.(b)Dollar limitationSection 181(a)(2) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(C)Qualified sound recording productionParagraph (1) shall not apply to so much of the aggregate cost of any qualified sound recording production, or to so much of the aggregate, cumulative cost of all such qualified sound recording productions in the taxable year, as exceeds $150,000..(c)No other deduction or amortization deduction allowableSection 181(b) of such Code is amended by striking qualified film or television production or any qualified live theatrical production and inserting qualified film or television production, any qualified live theatrical production, or any qualified sound recording production.(d)ElectionSection 181(c)(1) of such Code is amended by striking qualified film or television production or any qualified live theatrical production and inserting qualified film or television production, any qualified live theatrical production, or any qualified sound recording production.(e)Qualified sound recording production definedSection 181 of such Code is amended by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection:(f)Qualified sound recording productionFor purposes of this section, the term qualified sound recording production means a sound recording (as defined in section 101 of title 17, United States Code) produced and recorded in the United States..(f)Bonus depreciation(1)Qualified sound recording production as qualified propertySection 168(k)(2)(A)(i) of such Code is amended—(A)by striking or at the end of subclause (IV), by adding or at the end of subclause (V), and by inserting after subclause (V) the following:(VI)which is a qualified sound recording production (as defined in subsection (f) of section 181) for which a deduction would have been allowable under section 181 without regard to subsections (a)(2) and (h) of such section or this subsection,; and(B)in subclauses (IV) and (V) (as amended) by striking without regard to subsections (a)(2) and (g) both places it appears and inserting without regard to subsections (a)(2) and (h).(2)Production placed in serviceSection 168(k)(2)(H) of such Code is amended by striking and at the end of clause (i), by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting , and, and by adding after clause (ii) the following:(iii)a qualified sound recording production shall be considered to be placed in service at the time of initial release or broadcast..(g)Conforming amendments(1)The heading for section 181 of such Code is amended to read as follows: Treatment of certain qualified productions..(2)The table of sections for part VI of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the item relating to section 181 and inserting the following new item:Sec. 181. Treatment of certain qualified productions..(h)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to productions commencing in taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this Act.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 4035
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 15, 2012
			Mr. Reichert (for
			 himself and Mr. Larson of Connecticut)
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means

		A BILL
		To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt
		  private foundations from the tax on excess business holdings in the case of
		  certain philanthropic enterprises which are independently supervised, and for
		  other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Philanthropic Enterprise Act of
			 2012.
		2.Exception from
			 private foundation excess business holding tax for certain philanthropic
			 business holdings
			(a)In
			 generalSection 4943 of the
			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new
			 subsection:

					(g)Exception for
				certain philanthropic business holdings
						(1)In
				generalSubsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the
				holdings of a private foundation in any business enterprise which for the
				taxable year meets—
							(A)the exclusive
				ownership requirements of paragraph (2),
							(B)the minimum
				distribution requirement of paragraph (3), and
							(C)the independent
				operation requirements of paragraph (4).
							(2)Exclusive
				ownershipThe exclusive ownership requirements of this paragraph
				are met if—
							(A)all ownership
				interests in the business enterprise are held by the private foundation at all
				times during the taxable year, and
							(B)all the private foundation’s ownership
				interests in the business enterprise were acquired under the terms of a will or
				trust upon the death of the testator or settlor, as the case may be.
							(3)Minimum
				distribution
							(A)In
				generalThe minimum
				distribution requirement of this paragraph is met if the business enterprise,
				not later than 120 days after the close of the taxable year, distributes an
				amount equal to its net operating income for such taxable year to the private
				foundation.
							(B)Net operating
				incomeFor purposes of this paragraph, the net operating income
				of any business enterprise for any taxable year is an amount equal to the gross
				income of the business enterprise for the taxable year, reduced by the sum
				of—
								(i)the deductions
				allowed by chapter 1 for the taxable year which are directly connected with the
				production of such income,
								(ii)the tax imposed
				by chapter 1 on the business enterprise for the taxable year, and
								(iii)an amount for a reasonable reserve for
				working capital and other business needs of the business enterprise.
								(4)Independent
				operationThe independent operation requirements of this
				paragraph are met if, at all times during the taxable year—
							(A)no substantial
				contributor (as defined in section 4958(c)(3)(C)) to the private foundation, or
				family member of such a contributor (determined under section 4958(f)(4)) is a
				director, officer, trustee, manager, employee, or contractor of the business
				enterprise (or an individual having powers or responsibilities similar to any
				of the foregoing),
							(B)at least a
				majority of the board of directors of the private foundation are not also
				directors or officers of the business enterprise, and
							(C)there is no loan outstanding from the
				business enterprise to a substantial contributor (as so defined) to the private
				foundation or a family member of such contributor (as so determined).
							(5)Certain deemed
				private foundations excludedThis subsection shall not apply
				to—
							(A)any fund or
				organization treated as a private foundation for purposes of this section by
				reason of subsection (e) or (f),
							(B)any trust
				described in section 4947(a)(1) (relating to charitable trusts), and
							(C)any trust
				described in section 4947(a)(2) (relating to split-interest
				trusts).
							.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable
			 years beginning after December 31, 2011.
			3.Exception to
			 unrelated business tax on specified payments from certain controlled
			 entities
			(a)In
			 generalParagraph (13) of
			 section 512(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the
			 end the following new subparagraph:

					(G)Subparagraph not
				to apply to payments from certain philanthropic controlled
				entitiesSubparagraph (A)
				shall not apply to any payment not in excess of fair market value to a private
				foundation from an entity which is a business enterprise described in section
				4943(g)(1) with respect to such
				foundation.
					.
			(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable
			 years beginning after December 31, 2011.


		II

		109th CONGRESS

		1st Session

		S. 1431

		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED

		  STATES

			July 20, 2005

			Mr. DeWine (for himself

			 and Mr. Rockefeller) introduced the

			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the

			 Committee on Health, Education, Labor,

			 and Pensions

		A BILL

		To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965

		  to provide loan forgiveness for attorneys who represent low-income families or

		  individuals involved in the family or domestic relations court

		  system.

		1.FindingsCongress makes the following

			 findings:

			(1)Across the United States, family, juvenile,

			 and domestic relations courts experience shortages of qualified attorneys to

			 represent the interests of men, women, and children involved in the court

			 system.

			(2)The Constitution of the United States

			 provides that everyone charged with a crime is entitled to adequate

			 counsel.

			(3)In 1967, the Supreme Court held, for the

			 first time, that children were persons under the provisions of the 14th

			 amendment to the Constitution relating to due process and entitled to certain

			 constitutional rights.

			(4)In the case of In re Gault (387 U.S. 1)

			 (1967), the Supreme Court held that juveniles are entitled to notice of the

			 charges against them, legal counsel, questioning of witnesses, and protection

			 against self-incrimination in a hearing that could result in commitment to an

			 institution.

			(5)Studies have indicated that many juveniles

			 do not receive the due process protections to which they are entitled. More

			 importantly, they frequently do not receive effective assistance of legal

			 counsel.

			(6)Lawyers who represent juveniles often labor

			 under enormous caseloads with little training or support staff.

			(7)Public defenders who represent juveniles

			 have, on average, more than 500 cases per year, with more than 300 of those

			 cases being juvenile cases.

			(8)Public defenders often lack specialized

			 training in representing juveniles. Approximately one-half of public defender

			 offices do not even have a section devoted to juvenile delinquency practice in

			 their office training manuals.

			(9)Due to relatively low wages, there is a

			 nationwide shortage of family law attorneys willing to represent

			 juveniles.

			(10)The shortage of family law attorneys

			 results in a severe, disproportionate, and negative impact upon children,

			 impoverished parents, and victims of domestic violence.

			(11)Children involved in family court cases are

			 assigned attorneys to protect their interests. Adults are entitled to

			 representation by attorneys. The lack of available representation by family law

			 attorneys causes children to spend more time in foster care because cases are

			 adjourned or postponed due to lack of appropriate representation. Victims of

			 domestic violence seeking protection from their abusers often will remain in

			 the abusive situation, choose to represent themselves, or wait until an

			 attorney becomes available, all of which risk their personal safety.

			(12)In 1995, 3,100,000 children were reported

			 to child protection agencies as being abused or neglected, which is about

			 double the number reported in 1984. Of these, 996,000 children were confirmed

			 after investigation to be abused or neglected. A 1996 study by the Department

			 of Health and Human Services found that the number of children seriously

			 injured nearly quadrupled between 1986 and 1993 from 141,700 to 565,000.

			(13)As of 1995, year-end, about 494,000

			 children were in foster care, a considerable rise from the estimated 280,000

			 children in foster care at the end of 1986. Most of these children were in

			 foster care because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment by their parents. Many

			 are also placed in foster care due to a court order during a child protection

			 case.

			(14)Some estimates suggest that in 70 percent

			 of homes where there is domestic violence, there is also child abuse.

			(15)Children who witness domestic violence can

			 also develop posttraumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, anxiety,

			 depression, eating disorders, and destructive behavior that can last through

			 adulthood, limiting an individual’s ability to achieve academically, socially,

			 and on the job. However, early intervention and education can help prevent

			 further danger to children.

			(16)Continued adjournment forces victims to

			 repeatedly confront their abusers in court. This not only increases the risk of

			 retribution, but also the chance that the victim will abandon the process

			 because of the burden.

			(17)Between 1984 and 1994 there was a 65

			 percent increase in domestic relations cases and a 59 percent increase in the

			 number of juvenile cases.

			(18)The caseload for child abuse in New York

			 State alone has increased by more than 300 percent between 1984 and

			 1988.

			(19)Judges in Chicago hear on average 1,700

			 delinquency cases per month, and in Los Angeles judges for juvenile cases have

			 about 10 minutes to devote to each case.

			2.PurposeThe purposes of this Act are—

			(1)to encourage attorneys to enter the field

			 of family law, juvenile law, or domestic relations law;

			(2)to increase the number of attorneys who

			 will represent low-income families and individuals, and who are trained and

			 educated in such field; and

			(3)to keep more highly trained family law,

			 juvenile law, and domestic relations attorneys in those fields of law for

			 longer periods of time.

			3.Loan

			 forgivenessPart B of title IV

			 of the Higher Education Act of 1965

			 (20 U.S.C.

			 1071 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 428K

			 (20 U.S.C.

			 1078–11) the following:

				428L.Loan forgiveness

				for family law, juvenile law, and domestic relations attorneys who work in the

				defense of low-income families, individuals, or children

					(a)DefinitionsIn this section:

						(1)Eligible

				loanThe term eligible

				loan means a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part or part D

				(excluding loans made under section 428B or 428C, or comparable loans made

				under part D) for attendance at a law school.

						(2)Family law or

				domestic relations attorneyThe term family law or domestic

				relations attorney means an attorney who works in the field of family

				law or domestic relations, including juvenile justice, truancy, child abuse or

				neglect, adoption, domestic relations, child support, paternity, and other

				areas which fall under the field of family law or domestic relations law as

				determined by State law.

						(3)Highly

				qualified attorneyThe term

				highly qualified attorney means an attorney who has at least 2

				consecutive years of experience in the field of family or domestic relations

				law serving as a representative of low-income families or minors.

						(b)Demonstration

				program

						(1)In

				generalThe Secretary may

				carry out a demonstration program of assuming the obligation to repay eligible

				loans for any new borrower after the date of enactment of this section

				who—

							(A)obtains a Juris Doctorate (JD) and takes

				not less than 1 law school class in family law, juvenile law, domestic

				relations law, or a class that the Secretary finds equivalent to any such class

				pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary; and

							(B)has worked full-time for a State or local

				government entity, or a nonprofit private entity, as a family law or domestic

				relations attorney on behalf of low-income individuals in the family or

				domestic relations court system for 2 consecutive years immediately preceding

				the year for which the determination was made.

							(2)Award

				basisLoan repayment under

				this section shall be on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to the

				availability of appropriations.

						(3)PriorityThe Secretary shall give priority in

				providing loan repayment under this section for a fiscal year to student

				borrowers who received loan repayment under this section for the preceding

				fiscal year.

						(c)Loan

				repayment

						(1)In

				generalFor each eligible

				individual selected for the demonstration program under subsection (b), the

				Secretary shall assume the obligation to repay—

							(A)after the third consecutive year of

				employment described in subparagraph (B) of subsection (b)(1), 20 percent of

				the total amount of all eligible loans;

							(B)after the fourth consecutive year of such

				employment, 30 percent of the total amount of all eligible loans; and

							(C)after the fifth consecutive year of such

				employment, 50 percent of the total amount of all eligible loans.

							(2)ConstructionNothing in this section shall be construed

				to authorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan made under this part or

				part D.

						(3)InterestIf a portion of a loan is repaid by the

				Secretary under this section for any year, the proportionate amount of interest

				on such loan that accrues for such year shall be repaid by the

				Secretary.

						(4)Ineligibility

				of national service award recipientsNo student borrower may, for the same

				service, receive a benefit under both this section and subtitle D of title I of

				the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).

						(d)Repayment to

				eligible lendersThe

				Secretary shall pay to each eligible lender or holder for each fiscal year an

				amount equal to the aggregate amount of eligible loans which are subject to

				repayment pursuant to this section for such year.

					(e)Application for

				repayment

						(1)In

				generalEach eligible

				individual desiring loan repayment under this section shall submit a complete

				and accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and

				containing such information as the Secretary may require.

						(2)ConditionsAn eligible individual may apply for loan

				repayment under this section after completing each year of qualifying

				employment. The borrower shall receive forbearance while engaged in qualifying

				employment unless the borrower is in deferment while so engaged.

						(f)Evaluation

						(1)In

				generalThe Secretary shall

				conduct, by grant or contract, an independent national evaluation of the impact

				of the demonstration program assisted under this section on the field of family

				and domestic relations law.

						(2)Competitive

				basisThe grant or contract

				described in this subsection shall be awarded on a competitive basis.

						(3)ContentsThe evaluation described in this subsection

				shall determine whether the loan forgiveness program assisted under this

				section—

							(A)has increased the number of highly

				qualified attorneys;

							(B)has contributed to increased time on the

				job for family law or domestic relations attorneys, as measured by—

								(i)the length of time family law or domestic

				relations attorneys receiving loan forgiveness under this section have worked

				in the family law or domestic relations field; and

								(ii)the length of time family law or domestic

				relations attorneys continue to work in such field after the attorneys meet the

				requirements for loan forgiveness under this section;

								(C)has increased the experience and the

				quality of family law or domestic relations attorneys; and

							(D)has contributed to better family outcomes,

				as determined after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human

				Services and the Attorney General.

							(4)Interim and

				final evaluation reportsThe

				Secretary shall prepare and submit to the President and Congress such interim

				reports regarding the evaluation described in this section as the Secretary

				determines appropriate, and shall prepare and submit a final report regarding

				the evaluation by September 30, 2010.

						(g)RegulationsThe Secretary is authorized to prescribe

				such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this

				section.

					(h)Authorization

				of appropriationsThere are

				authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal

				year 2006, and such sums as are necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal

				years.

					.