116 HR 2314 IH: Nuclear Powers America Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-04-12
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2314IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 12, 2019Mr. LaHood (for himself, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mrs. Bustos, Mr. Williams, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Smucker, Mr. Katko, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Mr. Ruppersberger, and Mr. Bost) 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 investment tax credit related to the
			 production of electricity from nuclear energy.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Nuclear Powers America Act of 2019. 2.Energy credit for nuclear energy property (a)In generalSection 48(a)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended in clause (vi) by striking or, by inserting or at the end of clause (vii), and by adding at the end the following new clause:

 (viii)qualified nuclear energy property,. (b)Eligible for 30-Percent creditSection 48(a)(2)(A)(i) of such Code is amended by striking and in subclause (III) and by adding at the end the following new subclause:

 (V)energy property described in paragraph (3)(A)(viii) but only with respect to property placed in service before January 1, 2026, and.
 (c)Qualified nuclear energy propertySection 48(c) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:  (5)Qualified nuclear energy property (A)In generalThe term qualified nuclear energy property means any amounts paid or incurred for the refueling of, and any other expenditures described in section 263(a) with respect to, a qualifying nuclear power plant.
 (B)Qualifying nuclear power plantThe term qualifying nuclear power plant means a nuclear power plant which— (i)submitted an application for license renewal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in accordance with part 54 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, before January 1, 2026, or
 (ii)certified to the Secretary (at such time and in such form and in such manner as the Secretary prescribes) that such plant will submit an application for license renewal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in accordance with part 54 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, before January 1, 2026.
							(C)Special rules
 (i)BasisFor purposes of subsection (a), the cumulative amounts paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year with respect to a qualifying nuclear power plant, which are properly chargeable to capital account, shall be treated as the basis of the qualified nuclear energy property placed in service for that taxable year.
 (ii)Placed in serviceFor purposes of subsection (a), qualified nuclear energy property shall be treated as having been placed in service on the last day of the taxable year in which the taxpayer pays or incurs such amounts described in clause (i).
 (iii)RecaptureThe Secretary shall, by regulations, provide for recapturing the benefit of any credit allowable under subsection (a) to any qualifying nuclear power plant which made a certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) but does not file an application of license renewal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in accordance with part 54 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, before January 1, 2026..
 (d)Phaseout of 30-Percent credit rate for nuclear energy propertySection 48(a) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:  (8)Phaseout for qualified nuclear energy propertyIn the case of qualified nuclear energy property, the energy percentage determined under paragraph (2) shall be equal to—
 (A)in the case of any property placed in service after December 31, 2023, and before January 1, 2025, 26 percent, and
 (B)in the case of any property placed in service after December 31, 2024, and before January 1, 2026, 22 percent..
 (e)Coordination with credit for production from advanced nuclear power facilitiesThe last sentence of section 48(a)(3) is amended by inserting or 45J after section 45. (f)Transfer of credit by certain public entities (1)In generalSection 48 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

						(e)Special rule for qualified nuclear energy property
 (1)In generalIn the case of any qualified nuclear energy property, if, with respect to a credit under subsection (a) for any taxable year—
 (A)the taxpayer would be a qualified public entity, and (B)such entity elects the application of this subsection for such taxable year with respect to all (or any portion specified in such election) of such credit, the eligible project partner specified in such election (and not the qualified public entity) shall be treated as the taxpayer for purposes of this title with respect to such credit (or such portion thereof).
 (2)DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection— (A)Qualified public entityThe term qualified public entity means—
 (i)a Federal, State, or local government entity, or any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof,
 (ii)a mutual or cooperative electric company described in section 501(c)(12) or section 1381(a)(2), or (iii)a not-for-profit electric utility which has or had received a loan or loan guarantee under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
 (B)Eligible project partnerThe term eligible project partner means— (i)any person responsible for operating, maintaining, or repairing the qualifying nuclear power plant to which the credit under subsection (a) relates,
 (ii)any person who participates in the provision of the nuclear steam supply system to the qualifying nuclear power plant to which the credit under subsection (a) relates,
 (iii)any person who participates in the provision of nuclear fuel to the qualifying nuclear power plant to which the credit under subsection (a) relates, or
 (iv)any person who has an ownership interest in such facility. (3)Special rules (A)Application to partnershipsIn the case of a credit under subsection (a) which is determined with respect to qualified nuclear energy property at the partnership level—
 (i)for purposes of paragraph (1)(A), a qualified public entity shall be treated as the taxpayer with respect to such entity’s distributive share of such credit, and
 (ii)the term eligible project partner shall include any partner of the partnership. (B)Taxable year in which credit taken into accountIn the case of any credit (or portion thereof) with respect to which an election is made under subsection (e), such credit shall be taken into account in the first taxable year of the eligible project partner ending with, or after, the qualified public entity’s taxable year with respect to which the credit was determined.
 (C)Treatment of transfer under private use rulesFor purposes of section 141(b)(1), any benefit derived by an eligible project partner in connection with an election under this subsection shall not be taken into account as a private business use..
 (2)Special rule for proceeds of transfers for mutual or cooperative electric companiesSection 501(c)(12)(I) of such Code is amended by inserting or 48(e)(1) after section 45J(e)(1). (g)Conforming amendmentSection 48(a)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by striking and (7) and inserting , (7), and (8).
 (h)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to periods after December 31, 2018, in taxable years ending after such date, under rules similar to the rules of section 48(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect on the day before the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990).


110 HRES 1434 EH: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6842) to require the District of Columbia to revise its laws regarding the use and possession of firearms as necessary to comply with the requirements of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, in a manner that protects the security interests of the Federal government and the people who work in, reside in, or visit the District of Columbia and does not undermine the efforts of law enforcement, homeland security, and military officials to protect the Nation's capital from crime and terrorism.
U.S. House of Representatives
2008-09-16
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.

IV
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1434
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

September 16, 2008

RESOLUTION
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6842) to require the District of Columbia to revise its laws regarding the use and possession of firearms as necessary to comply with the requirements of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, in a manner that protects the security interests of the Federal government and the people who work in, reside in, or visit the District of Columbia and does not undermine the efforts of law enforcement, homeland security, and military officials to protect the Nation's capital from crime and terrorism.

That at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6842) to require the District of Columbia to revise its laws regarding the use and possession of firearms as necessary to comply with the requirements of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, in a manner that protects the security interests of the Federal government and the people who work in, reside in, or visit the District of Columbia and does not undermine the efforts of law enforcement, homeland security, and military officials to protect the Nation's capital from crime and terrorism. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The amendment recommended by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the five-minute rule and shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in order except the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. That amendment may be offered only by the Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to amendment. All points of order against that amendment are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill, as amended, to the House with such further amendment as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
2.During consideration in the House of H.R. 6842 pursuant to this resolution, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to such time as may be designated by the Speaker.

Lorraine C. Miller,Clerk.


110 HR 385 IH: Social Security Disability Determination Simplification Act of 2007
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-01-10
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 385
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 10, 2007
Mr. Goode introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as Social Security Disability Determination Simplification Act of 2007.
2.Elimination of reconsideration in the review process governing decisions on benefit entitlement
(a)In generalSection 205(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: Opportunity for a hearing under this title in accordance with this subsection with respect to any initial decision or determination under this title shall be available without any requirement for intervening reconsideration..
(b)Conforming amendmentsSection 205(b) of such Act is amended—
(1)by striking paragraph (2); and
(2)by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
(c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to initial decisions and determinations (subject to opportunity for a hearing to the extent provided under section 205(b) of the Social Security Act) issued after 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.


		III
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 578
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 22
			 (legislative day, September 21), 2012
			Ms. Murkowski (for
			 herself, Mrs. Feinstein,
			 Mr. Moran, and Mr. Begich) submitted the following resolution;
			 which was considered and agreed to

		RESOLUTION
		Supporting the goals and ideals of Red
		  Ribbon Week, 2012.

		Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established to
			 commemorate the service of Enrique Kiki Camarena, a special
			 agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration for 11 years who was murdered in
			 the line of duty in 1985 while engaged in the battle against illicit
			 drugs;
		Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established by the
			 National Family Partnership to preserve the memory of Special Agent Camarena
			 and further the cause for which he gave his life;
		Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign has been nationally
			 recognized since 1988 and is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program
			 in the United States, reaching millions of young people each year during Red
			 Ribbon Week;
		Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration, established
			 in 1973, aggressively targets organizations involved in the growing,
			 manufacturing, and distribution of controlled substances and has been a
			 steadfast partner in commemorating Red Ribbon Week;
		Whereas the Governors and attorneys general of the States,
			 the National Family Partnership, Parent Teacher Associations, Boys and Girls
			 Clubs of America, PRIDE Youth Programs, Young Marines, the Drug Enforcement
			 Administration, and hundreds of other organizations throughout the United
			 States annually celebrate Red Ribbon Week during the period of October 23
			 through October 31;
		Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote the
			 creation of drug-free communities through drug prevention efforts, education,
			 parental involvement, and community-wide support;
		Whereas drug abuse is one of the major challenges that the
			 United States faces in securing a safe and healthy future for families in the
			 United States;
		Whereas drug abuse and alcohol abuse contribute to
			 domestic violence and sexual assault and place the lives of children at
			 risk;
		Whereas emerging drug threats and growing epidemics demand
			 attention, with a particular focus on prescription medications, the second most
			 abused drug by young people in the United States, and synthetic drugs;
		Whereas, since the majority of teenagers abusing
			 prescription medications get the medications from family, friends, and home
			 medicine cabinets, the Drug Enforcement Administration will host a National
			 Take Back Day on September 29, 2012, for the public to safely dispose of unused
			 or expired prescription medications that can lead to accidental poisoning,
			 overdose, and abuse;
		Whereas synthetic marijuana, also known as
			 K2 or Spice, has become especially popular,
			 particularly among teenagers and young adults, and in 2011 poison centers
			 across the United States responded to about 6,960 calls related to synthetic
			 marijuana, up from approximately 2,900 calls in 2010;
		Whereas Congress recently enacted the Food and Drug
			 Administration Safety and Innovation Act (Public Law 112–144; 126 Stat. 993),
			 which adds 26 synthetic drugs to the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801
			 et seq.), including the drugs commonly found in products marketed as K2, Spice,
			 and bath salts; and
		Whereas parents, young people, schools, businesses, law
			 enforcement agencies, religious institutions, service organizations, senior
			 citizens, medical and military personnel, sports teams, and individuals
			 throughout the United States will demonstrate their commitment to healthy,
			 productive, and drug-free lifestyles by wearing and displaying red ribbons
			 during the week-long celebration of Red Ribbon Week: Now, therefore, be
			 it

		That the Senate—
			(1)supports the
			 goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, 2012;
			(2)encourages
			 children and teenagers to choose to live drug-free lives; and
			(3)encourages the
			 people of the United States—
				(A)to promote the
			 creation of drug-free communities; and
				(B)to participate in
			 drug prevention activities to show support for healthy, productive, and
			 drug-free lifestyles.


116 S530 IS: Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-02-14
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.

II116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 530IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 14, 2019Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Cortez Masto, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsA BILLTo establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council.

		1.Short
 titleThis Act may be cited as the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act of 2019.
		2.Establishment of Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council
 (a)In generalSubchapter I of chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

					7107.Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council
 (a)EstablishmentThere is established a council to be known as the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council (referred to in this section as the Council).
 (b)MembershipThe Council shall be composed of— (1)the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;
 (2)the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget;
 (3)a deputy secretary (or other officer with agency-wide authority) from each of 2 agencies not otherwise represented on the Council, who shall be appointed by the President;
 (4)the Chairman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority;
 (5)the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service;
 (6)2 members who shall be appointed by the President to represent the respective labor organizations representing (as exclusive representatives) the first and second largest numbers of employees subject to this chapter or any other authority permitting employees to select an exclusive representative;
 (7)4 members who shall be appointed by the President to represent labor organizations representing (as exclusive representatives) substantial numbers of employees subject to this chapter or any other authority permitting employees to select an exclusive representative—
 (A)each of whom shall be selected giving due consideration to such factors as the relative numbers of employees represented by the various organizations; and
 (B)not more than 2 of whom may, at any time, be representatives of the same labor organization or council, federation, alliance, association, or affiliation of labor organizations;
 (8)1 member who shall be appointed by the President to represent the organization representing the largest number of senior executives (as that term is defined in section 3132(a)(3)); and
 (9)1 member who shall be appointed by the President to represent the organization representing the largest number of management officials.
 (c)Responsibilities and functionsThe Council shall— (1)advise the President on matters involving labor-management relations in the executive branch;
 (2)support the creation of local labor-management partnership councils that promote partnership efforts in the executive branch;
 (3)collect and disseminate information about and provide guidance on partnership efforts in the executive branch, including the results of those efforts; and
 (4)use the expertise of individuals, both inside and outside the Federal Government, to foster partnership arrangements in the executive branch.
							(d)Administration
 (1)Co-chairsThe Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget shall serve as co-chairs of the Council.
 (2)MeetingsThe Council shall meet quarterly and at the call of the co-chairs or a majority of the members of the Council.
							(3)Outside
 inputThe Council— (A)shall seek input from agencies not represented on the Council, particularly smaller agencies;
 (B)may from time to time, in the discretion of the Council, invite experts from the private and public sectors to submit information; and
 (C)shall seek input from companies, nonprofit organizations, State and local governments, employees, and customers of Federal services, as needed.
								(4)Assistance of
 the Office of Personnel ManagementTo the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall, upon request, provide such staff, facilities, support, and administrative services to the Council as the Director considers appropriate.
							(5)No
 compensationMembers of the Council shall serve without compensation for their work on the Council.
							(6)Cooperation of
 other agenciesEach agency shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide to the Council such assistance, information, and advice as the Council may request.
							(e)General
			 provisions
							(1)Reporting to
 CongressAny reporting to or appearances before Congress that may be requested or required of the Council shall be made by a co-chair of the Council.
							(2)Terms of
 membershipA member appointed under paragraph (3), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of subsection (b) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that any individual chosen to fill a vacancy under any of those paragraphs shall be—
 (A)appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced; and (B)chosen subject to the same conditions as applied with respect to the original appointment.
								(3)Service after
 expiration of termA member appointed under paragraph (3), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of subsection (b) may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until a successor has taken office, but for not more than 60 days after the term expires.
							(4)Not special
 Government employeesA member who is not otherwise an employee shall not be considered a special Government employee for any purpose.
 (5)No terminationSection 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council.
							7108.Implementation of
 labor-management partnerships throughout the executive branchThe head of each agency that is subject to this chapter or any other authority permitting employees of the agency to select an exclusive representative shall take the following actions:
 (1)Create labor-management partnerships by forming labor-management committees or councils at appropriate levels, or adapting existing committees or councils if such groups exist.
 (2)Involve employees and employee representatives as full partners with management representatives to improve the civil service to better serve the public and carry out the mission of the agency.
 (3)Provide systemic training of appropriate agency employees (including line managers, first-line supervisors, and labor organization representatives) in consensual methods of dispute resolution, such as alternative dispute resolution techniques and interest-based bargaining approaches.
 (4)(A)Allow employees and employee representatives to have pre-decisional involvement in all workplace matters to the fullest extent practicable, without regard to whether those matters are negotiable subjects of bargaining under section 7106.
 (B)Provide adequate information on the matters described in subparagraph (A) expeditiously to employee representatives where not prohibited by law.
 (C)Make a good-faith attempt to resolve issues concerning proposed changes in conditions of employment, including those involving the subjects set forth in section 7106(b)(1), through discussions in the labor-management committees or councils established or adapted by the agency under paragraph (1) of this section.
 (5)Evaluate progress and improvements in organizational performance resulting from the labor-management partnerships described in paragraph (1)..
 (b)Technical and conforming amendmentThe table of sections for chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7106 the following:
				7107. Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council.7108. Implementation of labor-management partnerships throughout the executive branch..


109 HCON 297 IH: Honoring the life and expressing the deepest condolences of Congress on the passing of Edward Roybal, former United States Congressman.
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-11-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 297
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 15, 2005
Mr. Ortiz (for himself, Ms. Pelosi, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Stark, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of California, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Solis, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Salazar, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Costa, Mr. Baca, Mr. Pastor, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Reyes, Ms. Velázquez, Ms. Harman, Mr. Honda, Mr. Lantos, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. Berman, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Farr, Mr. Waxman, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Lee, Mr. George Miller of California, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. McDermott, Ms. Watson, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Sherman, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Holt, and Mr. Dreier) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and expressing the deepest condolences of Congress on the passing of Edward Roybal, former United States Congressman.

Whereas Edward Roybal was born on February 10, 1916, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and moved at the age of 6 with his family to the Boyle Heights barrio of Los Angeles;
Whereas his pioneering efforts in the Congress for civil rights and social justice on behalf of the elderly, Hispanics, and others has inspired generations of Americans;
Whereas Edward Roybal attended public schools, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1934, and continued his education at both the University of California in Los Angeles, where he studied business administration, and at Southwestern University, where he studied law;
Whereas Edward Roybal is a distinguished veteran who served in the United States Army during World War II;
Whereas Edward Roybal worked as a public health educator for the California Tuberculosis Association, and eventually served as Director of Health Education for the Los Angeles County Tuberculosis and Health Association until 1949;
Whereas Edward Roybal founded the Community Service Organization in 1947 with Fred Ross and a group of Mexican Americans forging a partnership between the Mexican-American and Jewish communities of East Los Angeles, and as the President of the organization, fought against discrimination in housing, employment, voting rights, and education;
Whereas Edward Roybal was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1949 and, as the first Hispanic to serve on the city council in more than a century, served for 13 years;
Whereas on November 6, 1962, Edward Roybal became the first Hispanic elected from California to serve in the House of Representatives since 1879, and served for 30 years;
Whereas during his 3 decades of service in the House of Representatives, Roybal worked to protect the rights of minorities, the elderly, and the physically-challenged;
Whereas during his tenure in the House of Representatives, Congressman Roybal served on several important congressional committees, including the Committee on the Post Office and Civil Service, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and as the Chair of the Select Committee on Aging;
Whereas in 1971, Congressman Roybal was selected to serve on the exclusive Committee on Appropriations, where he remained for the rest of his tenure in the House of Representatives and eventually chaired the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government in 1981;
Whereas, while serving as a member of the Committee on Appropriations, Edward Roybal was a powerful advocate for the funding of education, civil rights, and health programs and was 1 of the first members of Congress to press for and obtain funding for HIV and AIDS research;
Whereas Congressman Roybal was committed to providing opportunities for Spanish-speaking Americans, helped establish a Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-speaking people in 1968 with the goal of improving education, housing, and employment opportunities for Spanish-speaking Americans, and authored the first education bill to provide local school districts with assistance with special bilingual teaching programs;
Whereas in 1976, the County of Los Angeles opened the Edward R. Roybal Clinic in East Los Angeles;
Whereas in 1976, Congressman Roybal was 1 of the founding members and became the first chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a legislative service organization of the House of Representatives that today is comprised of 21 Representatives;
Whereas Congressman Roybal was instrumental in the establishment of several national nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing and promoting a new generation of Latino leaders, such as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials; and
Whereas Congressman Roybal received numerous honors and awards, including two honorary doctor of law degrees from Pacific States University and from Claremont Graduate School, as well as the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal of Honor from President William Jefferson Clinton: Now, therefore, be it

That the United States Congress honors the trail-blazing life and pioneering accomplishments of Congressman Edward Roybal and expresses its condolences on his passing.


		IV
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. RES. 99
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 17, 2011
			Ms. Chu (for herself,
			 Ms. Bordallo,
			 Mr. Al Green of Texas,
			 Ms. Hanabusa,
			 Ms. Hirono,
			 Mr. Honda,
			 Ms. Matsui, and
			 Mr. Wu) submitted the following
			 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

		RESOLUTION
		Recognizing the significance of the 65th
		  anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D.
		  Roosevelt and supporting the goals of the Japanese American, German American,
		  and Italian American communities in recognizing a National Day of Remembrance
		  to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the restriction,
		  exclusion, and internment of individuals and families during World War
		  II.

		Whereas President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed
			 Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which authorized the exclusion of
			 120,000 Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens from the west coast of the
			 United States and the internment of United States citizens and legal permanent
			 residents of Japanese ancestry in internment camps during World War II;
		Whereas the freedom of Italian Americans and German
			 Americans was also restricted during World War II by measures that branded them
			 enemy aliens and included required identification cards, travel restrictions,
			 seizure of personal property, and internment;
		Whereas President Gerald Ford formally rescinded Executive
			 Order 9066 on February 19, 1976, in his speech, An American
			 Promise;
		Whereas Congress adopted legislation which was signed by
			 President Jimmy Carter on July 31, 1980, establishing the Commission on Wartime
			 Relocation and Internment of Civilians to investigate the claim that the
			 incarceration of Japanese Americans and legal resident aliens during World War
			 II was justified by military necessity;
		Whereas the Commission held 20 days of hearings and heard
			 from over 750 witnesses on this matter and published its findings in a report
			 entitled Personal Justice Denied;
		Whereas the conclusion of the commission was that the
			 promulgation of Executive Order 9066 was not justified by military necessity,
			 and that the decision to issue the order was shaped by race prejudice,
			 war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership;
		Whereas Congress enacted the Civil Liberties Act of 1988,
			 in which it apologized on behalf of the Nation for fundamental
			 violations of the basic civil liberties and constitutional rights of these
			 individuals of Japanese ancestry;
		Whereas President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties
			 Act of 1988 into law on August 10, 1988, proclaiming that day to be a
			 great day for America;
		Whereas the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 established the
			 Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, the purpose of which is to
			 sponsor research and public educational activities and to publish and
			 distribute the hearings, findings, and recommendations of the Commission on
			 Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians so that the events surrounding
			 the exclusion, forced removal, and internment of civilians and permanent
			 resident aliens of Japanese ancestry will be remembered, and so that the causes
			 and circumstances of this and similar events may be illuminated and
			 understood;
		Whereas Congress adopted the Wartime Violation of Italian
			 Americans Civil Liberties Act, which was signed by President Bill Clinton on
			 November 7, 2000, and which resulted in a report containing detailed
			 information on the types of violations that occurred, as well as lists of
			 individuals of Italian ancestry that were arrested, detained, and
			 interned;
		Whereas the Japanese American community recognizes a
			 National Day of Remembrance on February 19th of each year to educate the public
			 about the lessons learned from the internment to ensure that it never happens
			 again;
		Whereas H.R. 1492 (Public Law 109–441) was passed by
			 Congress and signed into law in 2006, to allow the Government to identify and
			 acquire sites used to confine Japanese Americans during World War II, in order
			 to preserve and maintain these historic locations for posterity and inspire new
			 generations of Americans to work for justice while demonstrating the Nation’s
			 commitment to equal and fair treatment for all; and
		Whereas the Day of Remembrance provides an opportunity for
			 all people to reflect on the importance of political leadership and vigilance
			 and on the values of justice and civil rights during times of uncertainty and
			 emergency: Now, therefore, be it:

		That the House of
			 Representatives—
			(1)recognizes the
			 historical significance of February 19, 1942, the date Executive Order 9066 was
			 signed by President Roosevelt, restricting the freedom of Japanese Americans,
			 German Americans, and Italian Americans, and legal resident aliens through
			 required identification cards, travel restrictions, seizure of personal
			 property, and internment; and
			(2)supports the goals
			 of the Japanese American, German American, and Italian American communities in
			 recognizing a National Day of Remembrance to increase public awareness of these
			 events.


115 S3203 IS: Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act
U.S. Senate
2018-07-12
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II115th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3203IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 12, 2018Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo plan, develop, and make recommendations to increase access to sexual assault examinations for
			 survivors by holding hospitals accountable and supporting the providers
			 that serve them.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act or SASCA.
 2.PurposeIt is the purpose of this Act to increase access to medical forensic sexual assault examinations and treatment provided by sexual assault forensic examiners for survivors by identifying and addressing gaps in obtaining those services.
 3.DefinitionsIn this Act: (1)Community health aide and community health practitionerThe terms community health aide and community health practitioner have the meanings within the meaning of section 119 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1616l).
 (2)MFEThe term medical forensic examination or MFE means an examination provided to a sexual assault survivor by medical personnel trained to gather evidence of a sexual assault in a manner suitable for use in a court of law.
 (3)SAEThe term sexual assault examiner or SAE means a registered nurse, advanced practice nurse, physician, or physician assistant specifically trained to provide care to sexual assault forensic examinations.
 (4)SAFEThe term sexual assault forensic examiner or SAFE means a medical practitioner who has specialized forensic training in treating sexual assault survivors and conducting medical forensic examinations.
 (5)SANEThe term sexual assault nurse examiner or SANE means a registered nurse who has specialized forensic training in treating sexual assault survivors and conducting medical forensic examinations.
 (6)SARTThe term sexual assault response team or SART means a multidisciplinary team that provides a specialized and immediate response to survivors of sexual assault, and may include health care personnel, law enforcement representatives, community-based survivor advocates, prosecutors, and forensic scientists.
 (7)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (8)Sexual assaultThe term sexual assault means any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the individual lacks capacity to consent.
			IStrengthening the Sexual Assault Examiner Workforce
			101.Understanding sexual assault care
 (a)PurposeIt is the purpose of this section to identify areas for improvement in health care delivery systems providing services to survivors of sexual assault.
 (b)GrantsThe Secretary shall award grants to States to develop and implement State surveys to identify—
 (1)the availability of and patient access to trained SAFE, SANE, and other providers who perform MFEs; (2)the hospitals or clinics that offer MFEs and whether each hospital or clinic has full-time, part-time, or on-call coverage;
 (3)regional, provider, or other barriers to access sexual assault care and services, including MFEs; (4)billing and reimbursement practices for MFEs, including private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, the State’s victims compensation program, and any other crime funding or other sources of funding that contribute to payment for such examinations;
 (5)State requirements, minimum standards, and protocols for training sexual assault examiners; (6)State requirements, minimum standards, and protocols for training non-SANE or SAFE emergency services personnel involved in MFEs;
 (7)the availability of SAFE or SANE training, frequency of when training is convened, the providers of such training, the State’s role in such training, and what process or procedures are in place for continuing education of such examiners;
 (8)the dedicated Federal and State funding to support SAFE or SANE training; and (9)funding opportunities for SANE or SAFE training and continuing education.
 (c)EligibilityTo be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall— (1)have public, private, or nonprofit hospitals that receive Federal funding; and
 (2)submit to the Secretary an application through a competitive process to be determined by the Secretary.
					(d)Public dissemination and campaign
 (1)Public availabilityThe results of the surveys conducted under grants awarded under this section shall be published by the Secretary on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services on a biennial basis.
 (2)CampaignsA State that receives a grant under this section shall carry out the following: (A)Make the findings of the survey conducted under the grant public.
 (B)Use the findings to develop a strategic action plan to increase the number of trained examiners available in the State and create policies to increase survivor access to trained examiners.
 (C)Use the findings to develop and implement a public awareness campaign that includes the following: (i)An online toolkit describing how and where sexual assault survivors can obtain assistance and care, including MFEs, in the State.
 (ii)A Model Standard Response Protocol for health care providers to implement upon arrival of a patient seeking care for sexual assault.
 (iii)A Model Sexual Assault Response Team Protocol incorporating interdisciplinary community coordination between hospitals, emergency departments, hospital administration, local rape crisis programs, law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, and other health and human service agencies and stakeholders with respect to delivering survivor-centered sexual assault care and MFEs.
 (iv)A notice of State and Federal laws prohibiting charging or billing survivors of sexual assault for care and services related to sexual assault.
 (e)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2024.
				102.Improving and strengthening the sexual assault examiner workforce clinical and continuing education
			 pilot program
 (a)PurposeIt is the purpose of this section to establish a pilot program to develop, test, and implement training and continuing education which expands and supports the availability of SAFE, SAE, and SANE, providers and services for survivors of sexual assault.
				(b)Establishment
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a National Continuing and Clinical Education Pilot Program for SAFEs, SANEs, and other individuals who perform such examinations in consultation with the Department of Justice, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice, and the Office on Women’s Health of the Department of Health and Human Services and with input from regional and national organizations with expertise in forensic nursing, rape trauma or crisis counseling, investigating rape and gender violence cases, survivors’ advocacy and support, sexual assault prevention education, rural health, and responding to sexual violence in Native communities. Such pilot program shall be 2 years in duration.
 (2)FunctionsThe pilot program established under paragraph (1) shall develop, pilot, implement, and update, as appropriate, continuing and clinical education program modules, webinars, and programs for all hospitals and providers to increase access to SANE and SAFE services and address ongoing competency issues in SAFE or SANE practice of care, including—
 (A)training and continuing education to help support SAFEs or SANEs practicing in rural or underserved areas;
 (B)training to help connect sexual assault survivors who are Native American with SAFEs or SANEs, including through emergency first aid, referrals, culturally competent support, and forensic evidence collection in rural communities;
 (C)replication of successful SANE or SAFE programs to help develop and improve the evidence base for MFEs; and
 (D)training to increase the number of medical professionals who are considered SAFEs or SANEs based on the recommendations of the National Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Training Standards issued by the Department of Justice on Violence Against Women.
 (3)Eligibility to participate in pilot programsThe Secretary shall ensure that SAFE or SANE services provided under the pilot program established under paragraph (1), and other medical forensic examiner services under the pilot program shall be provided by health care providers who are also one of the following:
 (A)A physician, including a resident physician. (B)A nurse practitioner.
 (C)A nurse midwife. (D)A physician assistant.
 (E)A certified nurse specialist. (F)A registered nurse.
 (G)A community health practitioner or a community health aide who has completed level III or level IV certification and training requirements.
 (4)Nature of trainingThe continuing education program established under this section shall incorporate and reflect current best practices and standards on MFEs consistent with the purpose of this section.
 (c)AvailabilityAfter termination of the pilot program established under subsection (b)(1), the training and continuing education program established under such program shall be available to all SAFEs, SANEs, and other providers employed by, or any individual providing services through, facilities that receive Federal funding. The Task Force established under section 201 shall review and recommend updates to the training and continuing education program after the termination of the pilot program.
				(d)Effective date
 (1)In generalThe pilot program established under this section shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date of such establishment.
 (2)Authority for modificationsUpon termination of the pilot program as provided for in paragraph (1), the Secretary or the Task Force established under section 201 may implement modifications relating to training and continuing education requirements based on such program to increase access to SANE and SAFE services for survivors of sexual assault.
 (e)AuthorizationThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021.
				103.National report on sexual assault services in our nation’s health system
 (a)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in consultation with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice, the Office on Women’s Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office of Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice (hereafter referred to in this section collectively as the Agencies), shall submit to the Secretary a report of existing Federal and State practices relating to SAFEs, SANEs, and others who perform such examinations which reflects the findings of the surveys developed under section 101.
 (b)Core competenciesIn conducting activities under this section, the Agencies shall address SAFE or SANE competencies, including—
 (1)providing comprehensive medical care to sexual assault patients; (2)demonstrating the ability to conduct a MFE to include an evaluation for evidence collection;
 (3)showing compassion and sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault; (4)testifying in Federal, State, local, and tribal courts; and
 (5)other competencies as determined appropriate by the Agencies. (c)Publication (1)AHRQThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shall establish, maintain, and publish on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services an online public map of SAFE, SANE, and other forensic medical examiners. Such maps shall clarify if there is full-time, part-time, or on-call coverage.
 (2)StatesA State that receives Federal funds shall maintain and make available an online public map displaying the number and location of available SAFE or SANE programs and other forensic medical examiners in the State. Such maps shall clarify if there is full-time, part-time, or on-call coverage.
 104.Hospital reportingNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, a hospital that receives Federal funds shall submit to the Secretary a report that identifies the level of community access provided by the hospital to trained SAFEs, SARTs, SANEs, and others who perform such examinations. Such report shall describe—
 (1)the number of sexual assault survivors who present at the hospital for MFEs in the year for which the report is being prepared;
 (2)the number of personnel who are trained and practicing as a SANE or SAFE to perform sexual assault exams, indicating the employment basis of such personnel as either full-time, part-time, or on-call;
 (3)the number of sexual assault exams performed by SANEs or SAFEs; (4)the number of sexual assault exams performed by personnel other than a SANE or SAFE;
 (5)the training that such SAFEs or SANEs undergo for purposes of maintaining competency; and (6)the SAFE/SANE standards of care applied by the hospital.
				IIStandards of care
			201.National Sexual Assault Care and Treatment Task Force
 (a)EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish a task force to be known as the SASCA Task Force (referred to in this section as the Task Force) to identify barriers to improving access to SAFE/SANE and other forensic medical examiners.
 (b)MembershipThe Task Force shall include a representative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice, the Office on Women’s Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice, a survivor of sexual assault, and representatives from regional and national organizations with expertise in forensic nursing, rape trauma or crisis counseling, investigating rape and gender violence cases, survivors’ advocacy and support, sexual assault prevention education, rural health, and responding to sexual violence in Native communities.
 (c)ObjectivesTo assist and standardize State-level efforts to improve medical forensic evidence collection relating to sexual assault, the Task Force shall—
 (1)identify barriers to the recruitment, training, and retention of SAFEs, SARTs, SANEs, and others who perform such examinations;
 (2)make recommendations for improving access to medical forensic examinations, including the feasibility of, or barriers to, utilizing mobile units;
 (3)improve coordination of services, and other protocols regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of evidence between law enforcement officials and health care providers; and
 (4)update national minimum standards for forensic medical examiner training and forensic medical evidence collection relating to sexual assault.
					(d)Transparency requirements
 (1)In generalNot later than 1 year after first convening, the Task Force shall report to the Secretary in a public document on—
 (A)the recommendation for best practices with respect to improving medical forensic evidence collection relating to sexual assault; and
 (B)the national minimum standards for MFEs and treatments relating to sexual assault.
 (2)ReportNot later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings and conclusions of the Task Force.
 (e)Annual summitThe Secretary shall convene an annual stakeholder meeting to address gaps in health care provider care relating to sexual assault that includes the Task Force.
 202.Institutions of higher education campus action planEach institution of higher education that receives Federal funds shall— (1)inform survivors of sexual assault about the availability of MFEs, including the nearest available locations at which such examinations are provided by a SANE and that Federal law requires such exams to be provided at no cost to the survivor; and
 (2)make the information described in paragraph (1) available on the website of the institution, to the extent practicable.
 203.Expanding access to unified carePart B of title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					812.Demonstration grants for sexual assault examiner training programs
 (a)Establishment of programThe Secretary shall establish a demonstration program (referred to in this section as the program) to award grants to eligible partnered entities for the clinical training of SAFEs/SANEs (including registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, physician assistants, and physicians) to administer medical forensic examinations and treatments to survivors of sexual assault.
 (b)PurposeThe purpose of the program is to enable each grant recipient to expand access to SAFE/SANE services by providing new providers with the clinical training necessary to establish and maintain competency in SAFE/SANE services and to test the provisions of such services at new facilities in expanded health care settings.
 (c)GrantsUnder the program, the Secretary shall award 3-year grants to eligible entities that meet the requirements established by the Secretary.
 (d)Eligible entitiesTo be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall— (1)be—
 (A)a rural health care services provider or community-based service provider (as defined by the Secretary), a center or clinic under section 330, or a health center receiving assistance under title X, acting in partnership with a high-volume emergency services provider or a hospital currently providing sexual assault medical forensic examinations performed by SANEs or SAFEs, that will use grant funds to—
 (i)assign rural health care service providers to the high-volume hospitals for clinical practicum hours to qualify such providers as a SAFE/SANE; or
 (ii)assign practitioners at high-volume hospitals to a rural health care services providers to instruct, oversee, and approve clinical practicum hours in the community to be served; or
 (B)an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Act, that provides legal training and technical assistance to tribal communities and to organizations and agencies serving Native people; and
 (2)submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of whether the applicant will provide services under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1).
 (e)Grant amountEach grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount not to exceed $400,000 per year. A grant recipient may carry over funds from one fiscal year to the next without obtaining approval from the Secretary.
						(f)Authorization of appropriations
 (1)In generalThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2024.
 (2)Set-asideOf the amount appropriated under this subsection for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 15 percent of such amount for purposes of making grants to entities that are affiliated with Indian tribes or tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)), or Urban Indian organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)). Amounts reserved may be used to support referrals and the delivery of emergency first aid, culturally competent support, and forensic evidence collection training.
							.
 204.Technical assistance grants and learning collectivesPart B of title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296j et seq.), as amended by section 203, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

					812A.Technical assistance center and regional learning collectives
 (a)In generalThe Secretary shall establish a State and provider technical resource center to provide technical assistance to health care providers to increase the quality of, and access to, MFEs by entering into contracts with national experts (such as the International Forensic Nurses Association and others).
 (b)Regional learning collectivesThe Secretary shall convene State and hospital regional learning collectives to assist health care providers and States in sharing best practices, discussing practices, and improving the quality of, and access to, MFEs.
 (c)RepositoryThe Secretary shall establish and maintain a secure Internet-based data repository to serve as an online learning collective for State and entity collaborations. An entity receiving a grant under section 812 may use such repository for—
 (1)technical assistance; and (2)best practice sharing..
 205.Quality strategiesThe Secretary shall identify SAFE/SANE access and quality in hospitals and other appropriate health care facilities as a national priority for improvement under section 399HH(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280j(a)(2)).
 206.OversightNot later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Office of the Inspector General shall issue a report concerning hospital compliance with section 1867 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395dd) and the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291 et seq.) with respect to access to, and reimbursements for, sexual assault medical forensic examinations at the national, State, and individual hospital level. Such report shall address hospital awareness of reimbursements, total reimbursed costs, and any costs for survivors.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2252
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			June 21, 2011
			Mr. Bartlett (for
			 himself, Mr. Simpson,
			 Mr. Posey,
			 Mr. Burton of Indiana,
			 Mr. Latta,
			 Mr. Calvert,
			 Mr. Hall, Mr. Duncan of Tennessee,
			 Mr. Marchant,
			 Mr. Mica, Mr. McCotter, Mr.
			 Ross of Florida, Mrs. Miller of
			 Michigan, Mr. Forbes,
			 Mr. Brooks,
			 Mr. Gingrey of Georgia,
			 Mr. Flores,
			 Mr. Franks of Arizona, and
			 Mrs. Schmidt) introduced the following
			 bill; which was referred to the Committee
			 on the Judiciary

		A BILL
		To protect the right to obtain firearms for security, and
		  to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the
		  enforcement of such right.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Citizens' Self-Defense Act of
			 2011.
		2.FindingsThe Congress finds the following:
			(1)Police cannot
			 protect, and are not legally liable for failing to protect, individual
			 citizens, as evidenced by the following:
				(A)The courts have
			 consistently ruled that the police do not have an obligation to protect
			 individuals, only the public in general. For example, in Warren v. District of
			 Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, 444 A.2d 1 (D.C. App. 1981), the court
			 stated: [C]ourts have without exception concluded that when a
			 municipality or other governmental entity undertakes to furnish police
			 services, it assumes a duty only to the public at large and not to individual
			 members of the community..
				(B)Former Florida
			 Attorney General Jim Smith told Florida legislators that police responded to
			 only 200,000 of 700,000 calls for help to Dade County authorities.
				(C)The United States
			 Department of Justice found that, in 1989, there were 168,881 crimes of
			 violence for which police had not responded within 1 hour.
				(2)Citizens
			 frequently must use firearms to defend themselves, as evidenced by the
			 following:
				(A)Every year, more
			 than 2,400,000 people in the United States use a gun to defend themselves
			 against criminals—or more than 6,500 people a day. This means that, each year,
			 firearms are used 60 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens
			 than to take lives.
				(B)Of the 2,400,000
			 self-defense cases, more than 192,000 are by women defending themselves against
			 sexual abuse.
				(C)Of the 2,400,000
			 times citizens use their guns to defend themselves every year, 92 percent
			 merely brandish their gun or fire a warning shot to scare off their attackers.
			 Less than 8 percent of the time, does a citizen kill or wound his or her
			 attacker.
				(3)Law-abiding
			 citizens, seeking only to provide for their families' defense, are routinely
			 prosecuted for brandishing or using a firearm in self-defense. For
			 example:
				(A)In 2001, a grand jury had to rule on the
			 case of 2 brothers that used firearms to protect their lives and their
			 livelihood for their involvement in a fatal shooting in Reisterstown, Maryland.
			 The grand jury decided not to press criminal charges. The brothers, at the
			 time, had encountered several burglaries at their concrete business. The
			 brothers spent the night in their warehouse armed with shotguns. One night at
			 1:00 in the morning the burglars returned and the brothers shot and killed 1
			 burglar and injured 2 of the others. The 2 injured men were charged with
			 burglary and 2 others were charged with burglary in connection with burglaries
			 that had occurred in a previous month at the brother’s warehouse. Burglary is
			 known to be a violent crime and the brothers were particularly worried when
			 they realized a gun of theirs had been stolen in a previous break-in.
				(B)In 2008, a Waukegan, Illinois, store clerk
			 shot and injured a robber. According to news reports, there was potential the
			 clerk could face criminal charges, even though he acted in self-defense. The
			 store clerk did not have a firearm owner’s identification card and would be
			 charged with a State firearms violation. Additionally, Illinois law does not
			 allow employees to carry a gun in a place of business. Rather, the law only
			 allows individuals to carry a gun in a place of business if that individual is
			 the owner or has proprietary interest.
				(C)In September 2009, a Lithonia homeowner
			 from Dekalb County, Georgia, was charged with aggravated assault after he shot
			 someone who was trying to knock down the door of his home as an attempt to
			 break into the residence. According to the neighbors, there had been trouble in
			 the neighborhood before. A police spokesperson said the homeowner was charged
			 because the robber was technically not inside the home. The suspected robber
			 was charged with attempted burglary.
				(D)In January 2004, Wilmette, Illinois, police
			 charged and convicted a homeowner with misdemeanors for owning 2 handguns and
			 violating the village handgun ban ordinance. The homeowner was also faced with
			 a potential $750 fine for failing to renew his Illinois firearm owner’s
			 identification card. These charges were brought after he shot a home intruder.
			 The resident stated, My Plan A is to call 911 and keep the family
			 upstairs … But my Plan B is to have a loaded firearm and put a bullet in the
			 intruder. The intruder entered the house 2 times, once through a dog
			 door and the second time with a stolen house key. The homeowner had just put
			 his children to bed when his security system was set off. The homeowner went
			 downstairs and confronted and shot the intruder. The intruder jumped through a
			 window and stole the family’s car to go to the hospital. The intruder was
			 charged with 2 counts of residential burglary and 1 count of possession of a
			 stolen vehicle.
				(4)The courts have
			 granted immunity from prosecution to police officers who use firearms in the
			 line of duty. Similarly, law-abiding citizens who use firearms to protect
			 themselves, their families, and their homes against violent felons should not
			 be subject to lawsuits by the violent felons who sought to victimize
			 them.
			3.Right to obtain
			 firearms for security, and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home;
			 enforcement
			(a)Reaffirmation of
			 rightA person not prohibited
			 from receiving a firearm by section 922(g) of title 18, United States Code,
			 shall have the right to obtain firearms for security, and to use
			 firearms—
				(1)in defense of self
			 or family against a reasonably perceived threat of imminent and unlawful
			 infliction of serious bodily injury;
				(2)in defense of self
			 or family in the course of the commission by another person of a violent felony
			 against the person or a member of the person's family; and
				(3)in defense of the
			 person's home in the course of the commission of a felony by another
			 person.
				(b)Firearm
			 definedAs used in subsection (a), the term firearm
			 means—
				(1)a
			 shotgun (as defined in section 921(a)(5) of title 18, United States
			 Code);
				(2)a
			 rifle (as defined in section 921(a)(7) of title 18, United States Code);
			 or
				(3)a
			 handgun (as defined in section 10 of Public Law 99–408).
				(c)Enforcement of
			 right
				(1)In
			 generalA person whose right under subsection (a) is violated in
			 any manner may bring an action in any United States district court against the
			 United States, any State, or any person for damages, injunctive relief, and
			 such other relief as the court deems appropriate.
				(2)Authority to
			 award a reasonable attorney's feeIn an action brought under
			 paragraph (1), the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing plaintiff
			 a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs.
				(3)Statute of
			 limitationsAn action may not be brought under paragraph (1)
			 after the 5-year period that begins with the date the violation described in
			 paragraph (1) is discovered.


113 HR 3837 IH: Vested Employee Pension Benefit Protection Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-01-09
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.

I113th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 3837IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 9, 2014Mr. Luetkemeyer (for himself, Mr. Enyart, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, and Mrs. Wagner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect employees in the building and construction industry who are participants in multiemployer plans, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Vested Employee Pension Benefit Protection Act.2.Minimum age for distributions during working retirement(a)Internal Revenue Code of 1986Paragraph (36) of section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:(36)Distributions during working retirement(A)In generalA trust forming part of a pension plan shall not be treated as failing to constitute a qualified trust under this section solely because the plan provides that a distribution may be made from such trust to an employee who has attained age 62 and who is not separated from employment at the time of such distribution.(B)Certain employees in the building and construction industry(i)In generalIn order to allow for unique conditions of employment in the building and construction industry, subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting age 55 for age 62 in the case of a multiemployer plan described in section 4203(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, with respect to individuals who were participants in such plan on or before April 30, 2013, if—(I)the trust to which subparagraph (A) applies was in existence before January 1, 1970,(II)before December 31, 2011, at a time when the plan provided that distributions may be made to an employee who has attained age 55 and who is not separated from employment at the time of such distribution, the plan received at least 1 written determination from the Internal Revenue Service that the trust to which subparagraph (A) applies constituted a qualified trust under this section, and(III)the plan provides that the benefit accrued on account of service performed after distributions begin under subparagraph (A) (as modified by subparagraph (B) without regard to this subclause) shall be treated and paid as a pension separate from the pension earned before such distributions begin, and that payment of such separate benefit shall not commence until the employee attains the plan’s normal retirement age.(ii)Suspension of payments if plan in endangered or critical statusClause (i) shall not apply to a multiemployer plan during the period for which the multiemployer plan is in endangered or critical status (as defined under section 432) beginning after the first year the plan is in either of such statuses and ending with the first plan year for which the plan is not in either of such statuses..(b)Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974Section 3(2)(A) of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(2)(A)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: (age 55 in the case of a plan to which section 401(a)(36)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 applies).(c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to distributions made before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.


110 HR 2261 IH: Rural America Energy Act of 2007
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-05-10
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
110th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 2261
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 10, 2007
Mr. Lucas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL
To increase the diversity and independence of the United States energy supply by providing encouragement of energy sources from rural America, including biofuels and wind energy, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Rural America Energy Act of 2007.
2.Adjustments to the bioenergy programSection 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8108) is amended—
(1)in subsection (a)—
(A)in paragraph (1)—
(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking and;
(ii)in subparagraph (B), by striking the final period and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii)by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

(C)cellulosic cogeneration;
(D)biomass gasification; and
(E)hydrogen made from cellulosic commodities for fuel cells.;
(B)by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively;
(C)by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:

(3)Cellulosic cogenerationThe term cellulosic cogeneration means combined heat and electrical power produced from cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin found in plant cell walls.; and
(D)in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking corn,; and
(2)by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:

(f)FundingOf the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012..
3.Increased funding for the renewable energy program and adjusting the program to benefit smaller projectsSection 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106) is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following new subsections:

(f)Small projectsThe Secretary shall use not less than 15 percent of the funds available under this section to provide grants for projects that have a total cost $50,000 or less.
(g)FundingOf the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012..
4.5-year extension of credit for electricity produced from certain renewable resourcesSection 45(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to qualified facilities) is amended by striking 2009 each place it appears and inserting 2014.
5.Dedicated ethanol pipeline feasibility studies
(a)In generalThe Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Transportation, shall spend up to $1,000,000 to fund feasibility studies for the construction of dedicated ethanol pipelines.
(b)Conduct of studies
(1)In generalThe Secretary of Energy shall—
(A)through a competitive solicitation process, select 1 or more firms having capabilities in the planning, development, and construction of dedicated ethanol pipelines to carry out the feasibility studies described in subsection (a); or
(B)carry out the feasibility studies in conjunction with such firms.
(2)Timing
(A)In generalIf the Secretary elects to select 1 or more firms under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall award funding under this section not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(B)StudiesAs a condition of receiving funds under this section, a recipient of funding shall agree to submit to the Secretary a completed feasibility study not later than 360 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c)Study FactorsFeasibility studies funded under this section shall include consideration of—
(1)existing or potential barriers to dedicated ethanol pipelines, including technical, siting, financing, and regulatory barriers;
(2)potential evolutionary pathways for the development of an ethanol pipeline transport system, such as starting with localized gathering networks as compared to major interstate ethanol pipelines to carry larger volumes from the Midwest to the East or West coast;
(3)market risk, including throughput risk, and ways of mitigating the risk;
(4)regulatory, financing, and siting options that would mitigate risk in these areas and help ensure the construction of dedicated ethanol pipelines;
(5)financial incentives that may be necessary for the construction of dedicated ethanol pipelines, including the return on equity that sponsors of the first dedicated ethanol pipelines will require to invest in the pipelines;
(6)ethanol production of 20,000,000,000, 30,000,000,000, and 40,000,000,000 gallons per year by 2020; and
(7)such other factors that the Secretary considers to be appropriate.
(d)ConfidentialityIf a recipient of funding under this section requests confidential treatment for critical energy infrastructure information or commercially-sensitive data contained in a feasibility study submitted by the recipient under subsection (b)(2)(B), the Secretary shall offer to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the recipient to maintain the confidentiality of the submitted information.
(e)Review; reportThe Secretary of Energy shall—
(1)review the feasibility studies submitted under subsection (b)(2)(B) or carried out under subsection (b)(1)(B); and
(2)not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress a report that includes—
(A)information about the potential benefits of constructing dedicated ethanol pipelines; and
(B)recommendations for legislation that could help provide for the construction of dedicated ethanol pipelines.
(f)FundingThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, to remain available until expended.
6.Conservation reserve program adjustments to protect the most environmentally sensitive acres and promote production of biofuels crops
(a)ReauthorizationSection 1231(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(a)) is amended by striking Through the 2007 calendar year and inserting the following:

(1)Program requiredThrough the 2012 calendar year.
(b)Maximum enrollmentSection 1231(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)) is amended—
(1)by striking 39,200,000 acres and inserting 40,000,000 acres; and
(2)by striking by striking 2007 and inserting 2012.
(c)Priority for protection of most environmentally sensitive acresSection 1231(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(a)), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(2)Priority for protection of most environmentally sensitive acresIn applying subsection (b) and other provisions of this subchapter for the enrollment of land in the conservation reserve program, the Secretary shall ensure that, as contracts expire and lands are taken out of the program, the lands are replaced with the most environmentally sensitive acres, so that the program continues to protect highly erodible lands while increasing the acreage outside of the program that is available for the production of crops to accommodate biofuel production..
7.Transitional assistance for farmers who plant dedicated energy crops for a local cellulosic refinery
(a)In generalThe Secretary shall make transitional assistance payments to an agricultural producer during the 1st year in which the producer devotes land to the production of a qualified cellulosic crop.
(b)DefinitionsIn this section:
(1)Cellulosic cropThe term cellulosic crop means a tree or grass that is grown specifically to provide raw materials (feedstocks) for conversion to liquid transportation fuels or chemicals through biochemical or thermochemical processes, or for energy generation through combustion, pyrolysis, or co-firing.
(2)Cellulosic refinerThe term cellulosic refiner means the owner or operator of a cellulosic refinery.
(3)Cellulosic refineryThe term cellulosic refinery means a refinery that processes a cellulosic crop.
(4)Qualifed cellulosic cropThe term qualified cellulosic crop means, with respect to an agricultural producer, a cellulosic crop which is—
(A)the subject of a contract (or memorandum of understanding) between the producer and a cellulosic refiner, under which the producer is obligated to sell the crop to the refiner at a certain date in the future; and
(B)produced not more than 70 miles from a cellulosic refinery owned or operated by the refiner.
(5)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(c)Amount of payment
(1)Determined by formulaThe Secretary shall devise a formula to be used to calculate the amounts of the payments to be made to an agricultural producer under this section, which shall be based on the opportunity costs incurred by the producer during the 1st year in which the producer devotes land to the production of the qualified cellulosic crop, subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection. The Secretary shall prescribe a standard to be used to determine opportunity costs using land rental rates and other costs determined by the Secretary.
(2)LimitationThe total of the amounts paid to a single producer under this section shall not exceed 25 percent of the funds made available under subsection (e) for the fiscal year in which the amounts are so paid.
(d)RegulationsThe Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(e)Limitations on authorization of appropriations
(1)In generalTo carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $4,088,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
(2)Availability of fundsThe amounts made available under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended.
8.Credit for installation of wind energy property including by rural homeowners, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses
(a)In generalSubpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

30D.Wind energy property
(a)Allowance of creditThere shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to $1,500 with respect to each half kilowatt of capacity of qualified wind energy property placed in service or installed by the taxpayer during such taxable year.
(b)LimitationNo credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) unless at least 50 percent of the energy produced annually by the qualified wind energy property is consumed on the site on which the property is placed in service or installed.
(c)Qualified wind energy propertyFor purposes of this section, the term qualified wind energy property means a wind turbine of 100 kilowatts of rated capacity or less if—
(1)such turbine is placed in service or installed on or in connection with property located in the United States,
(2)in the case of an individual, the property on or in connection with which such turbine is installed is a dwelling unit,
(3)the original use of such turbine commences with the taxpayer, and
(4)such turbine carries at least a 5-year limited warranty covering defects in design, material, or workmanship, and, for property that is not installed by the taxpayer, at least a 5-year limited warranty covering defects in installation.
(d)Limitation based on amount of tax
(1)In generalThe credit allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess of—
(A)the sum of the regular tax liability (as defined in section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by section 55, over
(B)the sum of the credits allowable under this part (other than under this section and subpart C thereof, relating to refundable credits) and section 1397E.
(2)Carryover of unused creditIf the credit allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed by paragraph (1) for such taxable year, such excess shall be carried to the succeeding taxable year and added to the credit allowable under subsection (a) for such taxable year.
(e)Special rulesFor purposes of this section—
(1)Tenant-stockholder in cooperative housing corporationIn the case of an individual who is a tenant-stockholder (as defined in section 216(b)(2)) in a cooperative housing corporation (as defined in section 216(b)(1)), such individual shall be treated as having paid his tenant-stockholder’s proportionate share (as defined in section 216(b)(3)) of any expenditures paid or incurred for qualified wind energy property by such corporation, and such credit shall be allocated appropriately to such individual.
(2)Condominiums
(A)In generalIn the case of an individual who is a member of a condominium management association with respect to a condominium which he owns, such individual shall be treated as having paid his proportionate share of expenditures paid or incurred for qualified wind energy property by such association, and such credit shall be allocated appropriately to such individual.
(B)Condominium management associationFor purposes of this paragraph, the term condominium management association means an organization which meets the requirements of section 528(c)(2) with respect to a condominium project of which substantially all of the units are used by individuals as dwelling units.
(f)Basis adjustmentFor purposes of this subtitle, if a credit is allowed under this section for any expenditure with respect to a dwelling unit or other property, the increase in the basis of such dwelling unit or other property which would (but for this subsection) result from such expenditure shall be reduced by the amount of the credit so allowed.
(g)Application of creditThe credit allowed under this section shall apply to property placed in service or installed after December 31, 2006, and before January 1, 2012..
(b)Conforming amendmentSubsection (a) of section 1016 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to general rule for adjustments to basis) is amended by striking and at the end of paragraph (36), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (37) and inserting , and, and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(38)in the case of a dwelling unit or other property with respect to which a credit was allowed under section 30D, to the extent provided in section 30D(f)..
(c)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections for subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 30C the following new item:

Sec. 30D. Wind energy property..
(d)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years ending after December 31, 2006.
9.Modification of accounting practicesWithin 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall revise the accounting practices to be followed in the preparation of accounts by persons engaged, in whole or in part, in the production of crude oil or natural gas in the United States that were developed pursuant to section 503 of the Energy Policy Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6383) to establish a renewable reserves classification and disclosure system. Such classification and disclosure system shall treat contracted biomass crops for a cellulosic biorefinery as renewable reserves.


I
108th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 3992
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 17, 2004
Mr. Tancredo (for himself and Mr. Rohrabacher) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL
To amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to require preparation of statements regarding the environmental impacts of legal and illegal immigration.

1.Statements describing the environmental impacts of legal and illegal immigrationSection 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332) is amended—
(1)by inserting (a) before the first sentence; and
(2)by adding at the end the following:

(b)The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly prepare and publish every 5 years a statement in accordance with subsection (a)(2)(C) with respect to the environmental impacts of legal and illegal immigration, for use in determining and setting appropriate and environmentally sustainable levels for legal immigration and the most effective measures needed to prevent illegal immigration. .


115 SRES 120 IS: Designating April 20, 2017, as “National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day”.
U.S. Senate
2017-04-06
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.

		III
		115th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. RES. 120
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			April 6 (legislative day, April 4), 2017
			Mr. Manchin (for himself and Mrs. Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

		RESOLUTION
		Designating April 20, 2017, as National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day.

 Whereas the United States should reduce dependence on foreign oil and enhance energy security by creating a transportation sector that is less dependent on oil;
 Whereas the United States should improve the air quality of the country by reducing emissions from the millions of motor vehicles that operate in the United States;
 Whereas the United States should foster national expertise and technological advancement in the development of cleaner, more energy-efficient alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles;
 Whereas a robust domestic industry for alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and advanced technology vehicles will create jobs and increase the competitiveness of the United States in the international community;
 Whereas the people of the United States need more options for clean and energy-efficient transportation;
 Whereas the mainstream adoption of alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles will produce benefits at the local, national, and international levels;
 Whereas consumers and businesses require a better understanding of the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles;
 Whereas numerous audiences, such as first responders, require comprehensive training to become fully prepared for any precautionary measures for working with alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles; and
 Whereas the Federal Government can lead the way toward a cleaner and more efficient transportation sector by choosing alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles for the fleets of the Federal Government: Now, therefore, be it

 That the Senate— (1)designates April 20, 2017, as National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day;
 (2)proclaims National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day as a day to promote programs and activities that will lead to the greater use of cleaner, more efficient transportation that uses new sources of energy; and
 (3)urges the people of the United States— (A)to increase the personal and commercial use of cleaner and energy-efficient alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles;
 (B)to promote public sector adoption of cleaner and energy-efficient alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technology vehicles; and
 (C)to encourage the adoption of Federal policies to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign oil through the advancement and adoption of alternative, advanced, and emerging vehicle and fuel technologies.